By Chris Vetter, ProWrestling.net Contributor (@chrisvetter73)
Rhodes Wrestling Association “Final Reckoning”
May 17, 2026, in Leander, Texas, at the RWA Training Center
Replay released May 23, 2026, via YouTube.com
I’ve seen several of their shows. This is a factory-style building with a really high roof. The 100 or so fans all sit on just one side of the ring. Lighting over the ring is pretty good; overall production values are high. They also have on-screen graphics, so I’m not guessing at spellings of the newcomers. Their commentary team is much better than when they launched.
* Backstage, Brittnie Brooks told Sophia Rose that she’s taking Rose’s title tonight. To the ring, where Emily Mae warmed up the crowd.
1. Vin Parker vs. TY Shane vs. Just Jared vs. “Dark Child” Chad Lennex vs. Cordell Bennett in a gauntlet match to be the No. 1 contender. Coming out to start the match were TY Shane and Just Jared. My first time seeing Jared, who is clearly around 20, and a clean-cut white kid. Shane is a bit older with long, dirty hair.
1a) Just Jared vs. TY Shane. A basic lockup to open. Jared hit some armdrags and punches. Shane hit a DDT for the pin. My guess is Jared has only had a few matches, as his stuff was fine but basic.
TY Shane defeated Just Jared at 2:56.
1b) TY Shane vs. “Dark Child” Chad Lennex (w/Tonda). Lennex wore all black and had a goth presence. Tonda is a woman with some muscle definition; I don’t think I’ve seen either before. Shane and Lennex brawled on the floor; I restarted the stopwatch as they made first contact. In the ring, Lennex splashed him in some corners. Shane hit a dropkick at 2:00 and hit a running knee to the jaw for a nearfall. Tonda reached in and struck Shane! Lennex hit a DDT for the tainted pin.
“Dark Child” Chad Lennex defeated TY Shane at 3:07.
1c) Chad Lennex (w/Tonda) vs. Vin Parker. I’ve seen Vin here before; he has short, dark hair and a decent physique. They immediately traded rollups on the mat, and Vin got the pin. Not much of a match! Lennex hit him from behind after the bell! He hit a DDT, too.
Vin Parker defeated Chad Lennex at 00:42.
1d) Vin Parker vs. Cordell Bennett. No surprise that the two guys I’m most familiar with are in the final mini-match of the gauntlet. Cordell has a good physique, and he’s comparable to a heel Anthony Bowens. Cordell stomped on Vin and choked him in the ropes. He hit a suplex for a nearfall at 1:30 and some punches. Vin fired up and hit a clothesline. Cordell hit a powerslam and a frog splash for a nearfall at 4:00. Cordell put on brass knuckles, but the ref confiscated them. Vin shoved Cordell head-first into a chair wedged in the corner, then he hit a Miz-style faceplant for the pin. As expected, the best portion of the match.
Vin Parker defeated Cordell Bennett at 5:45 to win the five-man gauntlet.
* A vignette aired for Vert Vixen, who is frustrated. She’s done playing by the rules, and she’s taking control! She has clearly turned darker and more sinister!
2. Auzzy vs. Mop Guy. Two new guys for me. Auzzy wore a crown and carried a large trophy cup. He’s from Peru, and he’s the Peruvian Prince! Yes, his opponent is just called “Mop Guy” (it’s not me being lazy and not trying to find out his name). Yes, he wore a custodian’s blue outfit and carried a wide mop. He looks like Matt Riddle if Matt had never lifted any weights. Auzzy hit some chops and stomped on Mop Guy in the corner. He hit a leaping elbow drop for a nearfall at 2:00. Auzzy hit a Meteora. He put his crown on and did an Old School tight-rope walk, but Mop Guy pulled him down and hit a stunner at 4:30, and they were both down. Auzzy hit a running knee to the side of the head for the pin.
Auzzy defeated Mop Guy at 5:41.
* Outside, Emily Mae interviewed Wyatt Rhodes and Wayne Rhodes as they were loading haybales on the back of their pickup truck. Wyatt (who looks more like his uncle Dustin and grandfather Dusty) vowed they would win tonight. Wayne (who is older but looks younger than Wyatt) said their opponents better be prepared for them. Again, Wayne looks more like his half-uncle, Cody.
3. Jazmin Allure vs. Brooke Havok. This is one of the matches I tuned in for. Allure has had multiple AEW/ROH TV matches. Brooke (who was trained by Cody!) just returned from a three-day wrestling trip to South America and was back in time for this show (and the ROH taping in Florida the next day!) They are both perhaps 5’5″. Standing switches to open and some good reversals; this is already better than the first two matches. Allure hit some chops. Havok hit a huracanrana and a second-rope missile dropkick for a nearfall at 2:00. Allure yanked Brooke off the ropes to the mat and got a nearfall. Allure hit a snap suplex and tied up Havok on the mat.
Allure hit a standing neckbreaker for a nearfall at 5:00. She choked Brooke in the ropes. Brooke hit a Buzzsaw Kick. They hit stereo clotheslines and were both down at 7:00. Brooke hit a running neckbreaker and a pumphandle back suplex for a nearfall. Havok hit a running spin kick to the jaw for a nearfall at 9:00. Allure got a rollup with a handful of tights, but the ref saw it and stopped counting. Jazmin got in his face. She hit a swinging neckbreaker for the pin. I enjoyed that.
Jazmin Allure defeated Brooke Havok at 9:56.
* Vert Vixen ran into the ring and attacked Allure from behind! She hit a Snowplow Driver, mounted Jazmin, and repeatedly punched her. Abadon, wearing black with ghostly white facepaint today, ran in and made the save. Vert scampered to the back. Abadon stood between Brooke and Jazmin and raised both of their hands! “What is this?” a commentator said.
4. Korey Konstantine vs. Apollo Gold. I’ve seen Korey at least once before. He wore a black jacket and a necklace with a pendant on it — everything he’s doing reminds me of “Fallen Angel” Christopher Daniels. “He looks like a cult leader,” a commentator said. I don’t think I’ve seen Apollo before; he has the good physique that anyone who names themself “Apollo” should have! He has long hair and wore gold trunks. A clean lockup to open. Gold hit a second-rope moonsault at 1:00. Korey hit a pop-up kick. They brawled on the floor, and Korey hit a running knee to the side of the head as Gold was lying on the apron. Korey rolled him to the center of the ring and scored the pin. Okay.
Korey Konstantine defeated Apollo Gold at 3:55.
* In a post-match segment, Korey “welcomed” Gold into his cult— I mean, faction.
5. Garrett Borden vs. Brandon Barretta. Barretta has short hair, looks like a drill sergeant, and wore the most generic black singlet. Garrett’s physique is pretty impressive; it’s my first time seeing him in the ring. A basic tie-up, and Brandon is shorter. Garrett shrugged Brandon to the mat. Brandon hit a low-blow punt kick when the ref was out of position! He stomped on Borden, backed him into a corner, and hit some chops. He slammed Borden to the mat and kept him grounded. Garrett fired up and hit some clotheslines. He hit a Stinger Splash at 3:30! He hit one to Brandon’s back. He got Barretta across his shoulders and hit a Samoan Drop for the pin. Basic, but he has the pedigree and charisma.
Garrett Borden defeated Brandon Barretta at 4:11.
6. “The 8th Day” Father Oday and Timur the Great vs. Wayne Rhodes and Wyatt Rhodes in a best of three falls match for the RWA Tag Team Titles. I’ve seen the 8th Day regularly in New Texas Pro. All eight brawled at the bell. The Rhodes Bros. were wearing blue jeans, and they backed the heels into corners and hit punches at 1:00. Timur hit a double suplex. Timur hit a back-body drop, sending Wyatt through a door in the corner, and he got a pin at 2:37! (I hate when pins come that early in a best-of-3-falls match.) The heels removed their belts, and they whipped the Rhodeses over their backs. These blows were leaving visible welts! Wayne had wide marks across his back! Timur hit one across his stomach, too! Ouch!!!
Wyatt ran into the ring, and he had a kendo stick! He struck the heels with it until it shattered. He stomped on the bald Oday. All four fought at ringside. In the ring, Wayne hit some jab punches on Timur, then a scoop bodyslam at 7:30. More kendo sticks were thrown into the ring, plus a garbage can. Timur struck Wayne with a ladder on the floor. In the ring, Timur was repeatedly striking Wyatt with the kendo stick. The kids were really getting a whipping tonight! Wayne put a garbage can over Timur’s head and hit a dropkick at 11:30. Timur hit some splashes in the corners. The brothers hit a Team 3D for a believable nearfall, but Oday made the save. They pulled off their belts (what took them so long??) and they took turns striking Oday with it at 13:30.
Wyatt tied a rope around Oday’s legs. Wayne hit a frog splash onto the garbage can over Oday’s body; Wyatt covered Oday for the pin at 13:57. We’re tied, 1-1! All four continued to brawl in the ring. Wayne kept striking the heels with the kendo stick. Timur hit a flying shoulder tackle. Wayne hit a swinging neckbreaker on Timur. Oday hit an assisted stunner on Wayne for a nearfall at 16:30. Wayne hit a Doomday clothesline as Wyatt was hitting a powerbomb through a door, and Wyatt pinned Oday. New champions!
Wayne Rhodes and Wyatt Rhodes defeated Timur the Great and Father Oday in a best-of-three-falls match to win the RWA Tag Team Titles at 18:32.
* Jesse Funaki was being interviewed outside, but Movie Myk attacked him! They have a match coming up!
7. Sophia Rose vs. Brittnie Brooks for the RWA Women’s Title. Rose now has dark, curly hair; I’ve seen her both as a blonde and a redhead in the past two years. The commentators said this is Brittnie’s RWA debut. (Well, how did she earn a title shot, then?) An intense lockup to open. Rose is a bit taller and thicker, and likely stronger, and she knocked Brooks down with a shoulder tackle. She hit a running knee to the jaw in the corner and a Facewash Kick for a nearfall at 2:00. Brooks began stomping on Rose’s left knee and she hit a Dragonscrew Legwhip, then a Bulldog for a nearfall. Brooks now hit a running knee to the jaw in the corner for a nearfall at 4:00.
They sat on the mat and traded punches, and Brooks applied a half-crab, but Rose reached the ropes. Rose hit a running kick that sent Brooks to the floor, and they were both down. In the ring, Rose hit a face-buster over her knee for a nearfall at 6:00. Brooks hit an Orton-style DDT out of the ropes for a nearfall. Rose hit a German Suplex for a nearfall. Brooks tripped Rose on the apron, then she hit a slingshot elbow drop for a nearfall at 8:00. Brooks hit a top-rope crossbody block, and they were both down. Rose hit a springboard bulldog faceplant for the clean pin! Good action.
Sophia Rose defeated Brittnie Brooks to retain the RWA Women’s Title at 9:27.
8. Jesse Funaki vs. Movie Myk. Yes, Jesse is the son of former WWE wrestler Sho Funaki. Myk’s big, poofy hair makes me think of Velveteen Dream. They brawled out of the back! I started my stopwatch immediately. Jesse hit a plancha. They traded chops on the floor, and Myk accidentally struck the ring post. In the ring, Myk caught Funaki and hit a fallaway slam at 2:00, then a release suplex for a nearfall. Jesse got up, and they traded chops. Myk slowed him in a cravat in the center of the ring. Myk hit a double-underhook suplex for a nearfall at 5:30. He hit a series of forearm strikes in the corner.
Jesse hit an enzuigiri at 7:00 and a dropkick into the corner, then a flying Fame-asser leg drop, then a tornado DDT for a nearfall. They traded more forearm strikes. Jesse hit a dropkick. Myk dropped him stomach-first across the top rope at 9:00 and hit a running knee to the head for a nearfall. He mounted Jesse and hit some heavy forearm strikes. Myk got what appeared to be the size of a license plate, and he collapsed for the “Eddie spot.” Funaki also collapsed! The ref turned around, and both guys were down. Jesse got up and hit a shotgun dropkick into the corner, then a running leg lariat to the jaw for the pin.
Jesse Funaki defeated Movie Myk at 11:03.
9. Jimmy House vs. Hitt for the RWA Title. I’ve noted before that Hitt looks a lot like Chris Kanyon, but he’s taller (maybe 6’6″!!) and a bit thicker. Jimmy is also known as WWE ID prospect CJ Valor, but he’s going by ‘Jimmy House” tonight. The WWE ID logo was part of Jimmy’s on-screen graphic; I like it. They stood toe-to-toe and jawed, and Hitt is a full head taller than Jimmy. Standings witches to open and House leapt on Hitt’s back, but he shrugged him to the mat. House again jumped on Hitt’s back. Hitt slowed him down in a headlock on the mat. Jimmy hit a dropkick, and he applied a cross-armbreaker at 3:00, then hit another dropkick.
Jimmy knocked Hitt to the floor at 4:30. He followed and hit some chops as they fought along the guardrail in front of the fans. In the ring, House tried an ankle lock, but Hitt rolled free. Hitt took control again and kept Jimmy grounded. He hit a hard clothesline for a nearfall at 7:00. He hit clotheslines in opposite corners and got another nearfall. Jimmy couldn’t lift Hitt off the ground. Hitt hit a bodyslam and a senton for a nearfall at 9:30. Jimmy fired up and hit some roundhouse kicks to the chest, then a flying shoulder tackle, then an Angle Slam. Jimmy hit a moonsault, but his feet came down hard across the stomach, and he got a nearfall at 11:30.
They fought on the ropes in the corner, and Hitt nailed a second-rope superplex, then a spinning sideslam for a nearfall, and they were both down. Hitt set up for a move, but Jimmy caught him with a spear for a nearfall at 13:30. Jimmy was fired up! He pulled down the straps of his singlet and charged, but Hitt nailed a spin kick to the jaw, and they were both down. Auzzy came to the ring with his giant cup! He could “cash it in” and join this match! However, Jimmy hit a German Suplex, then a spear for the pin! New champion! A commentator said Auzzy just cost Hitt the title.
Jimmy House defeated Hitt to win the HWA Title at 15:51.
* Auzzy and Hitt hugged, but then Auzzy hit a low blow and a running kick!
Final Thoughts: I enjoy these shows. The production is good, the wrestling is solid, and I generally like their style of wrestling. The street fight didn’t have any blood or gross weapons, although those strikes with the belt across the back were nasty! I’ll take that best-of-three tag match for best, ahead of the main event. I’ll narrowly go with Brittnie-Sophie ahead of Brooks-Allure for third. Funaki’s match was good, and Borden looked alright, too. If you can’t watch the whole show, it’s okay to skip the gauntlet and the Mop Guy and Konstantine matches.
Be the first to comment