By Chris Vetter, ProWrestling.net Contributor (@chrisvetter73)
Reality of Wrestling “Summer of Champions XII”
August 8, 2026, in Texas City, Texas, at Walker Texas Lawyer Arena
Streamed live on YouTube.com
The lighting is always really good here. This is the largest crowd I’ve seen here in recent months; it might be 400. Chris Van Vliet, Chris Russo, and Brad Gilmore provided commentary.
* Several NXT and WWE ID talents were advertised for the show. There was a WWE ID show here on Friday, and the results from that show were referenced frequently.
1) A Battle Royal. About 20 guys all walked to the ring together. Blake Troop is a regular here, and he stands out with his shootfighter look. I am counting 14 in the ring. Zack “Zilla” Mason got his own intro. Nasir Dey (formerly Warren Johnson!) got his own entrance. (He and Zack Mason were tag partners.) The dorky Buck Gator entered. He was attacked from behind, but the guy who attacked him was tossed, and we’re underway. (So by count, there are 17 men in this.) The rotund Fat Jitsu is in there; he had a good showing last month.
Wrestlers in there include: Jay Davis, Hoka, Quinten Wynters, The Savage King. Fat Jitsu (think Fallah Bahh) clotheslined two guys to the floor. Several guys worked together to flip Fat Jitsu. Hans Steel was tossed by Blake Troop. Mike Anthony was tossed at 3:00. Hoka tossed TY Shane. We are already down to NINE. Hoka tossed someone else. Savage King hit an impressive spinebuster. “Arn Anderson would be proud of that one,” a commentator said. Semsei is in there, but he just got eliminated at 5:30.
We’re down to seven. Wynters dropkicked Blake Troop over the top rope to the floor. Hoka eliminated Savage King, and we’re down to five. The commentators talked about how packed the building is tonight. Buck Gator was tossed, and we’re down to four! It’s Nasir Dey, Quinten Wynters, Hoka, and Zack Zilla remaining! Former tag partners Zack and Nasir fought. Zack eliminated Nasir at 8:00. Wynters kicked Zack in the side of the head. Hoka knocked Wynters to the floor, and we’re down to our final two. The crowd was behind the tall Hoka. Zack hit some chops. Hoka hit a flying forearm to knock Zack to the floor to win the match.
Hoka won an 18-man Battle Royal at 11:12 to earn a title shot.
* Backstage, Taylor interviewed Mystii Marks. Mysti vowed to win the match. Tonight, she’s taking a stand!
2. Mia Friday vs. Mystii Marks for the vacant ROW Glory Women’s Title. Mia (think Kelani Jordan) hit some armdrags early on, sending Mystii to the floor to regroup. Mia hit a basement dropkick, then she leapt off the apron to the floor on Mystii. In the ring, Mystii hit a running boot to the face at 2:00, and she stomped on Mia. Mia got a rollup for a nearfall. Mystii hit a jumping butt-bump and got a nearfall at 4:00.
Mystii grabbed Mia’s hair and threw her to the mat, and that earned some boos. Mia hit an armdrag and a grazing enzuigiri. They hit stereo crossbody blocks and were both down. Mia hit some hair-mare faceplants. Mystii hit a suplex for a nearfall at 6:30. Mia nailed a Sabin-style Cradle Shock for a believable nearfall. Mystii hit a standing neckbreaker for a nearfall. Mia got a backslide for a nearfall, then a springboard bulldog for the pin! Good action. The crowd popped for the win.
Mia Friday defeated Mystii Marks to win the vacant ROW Glory Women’s Title at 8:40.
* Backstage, Taylor interviewed Chazz “Starboy” Hall. She said he had a great match last night against Cap Jones. Tonight, he’s facing CJ Valor. Hall said he will leave everyone “Star-struck.”
* Kirby Caron and Sammy Kay took over on commentary.
3. Chazz “Starboy” Hall vs. CJ Valor. Standing switches and basic reversals early on. They had a standoff and shook hands at 1:30. Hall hit a dropkick. He went to the top rope, but Valor hit an impressive leaping dropkick, sending Starboy to the floor. In the ring, Valor hip-tossed and slammed Starboy. Chazz hit the Cosmic Swirl (standing corkscrew moonsault) at 4:00. Valor went for a Chaos Theory, but Starboy avoided it, and he hit a Pele Kick. Starboy hit a DDT, and they were both down, and we got a “This is awesome!” chant.
Valor charged but struck the corner shoulder-first, and he fell to the floor. Starboy hit the Sasuke Special dive to the floor. In the ring, he missed the Shooting Starboy Press. CJ hit the Chaos Theory (rolling German Suplex). Starboy hit a springboard crossbody block. Valor hit a pop-up powerbomb for the pin! That was really entertaining.
CJ Valor defeated Chazz “Starboy” Hall at 7:34.
* Outside, Terrale Tempo spoke about an upcoming four-way title match. We then heard from Cappuccino Jones and Chandler Hopkins. We last saw the champ Jay Alexander (who looks a lot like a shorter Bron Breakker).
4. Jay Alexander vs. Terrale Tempo vs. Cappuccino Jones vs. Chandler Hopkins for the ROW Texas Title. The cowboy Hopkins really does look a lot like Jay White’s current look. Jones has a Black woman with him, and she is also wearing a 1970s-style gold outfit. They look like they are ready to head to the disco afterwards! Hopkins and Tempo both attacked Cap at the bell and shoved him to the floor. Jay grabbed Tempo and hit a belly-to-belly suplex! He hit a German Suplex, too. Cap and Jay traded reversals, and Jones hit a dropkick.
Chandler hit a chop block on the back of Jay’s knee at 1:30, then hit a running knee to the forehead for a nearfall. Tempo hit a leaping side kick on Cap for a nearfall. Tempo hit a delayed vertical suplex on Cap. Hopkins kicked Jones to the floor. Jay hit a spinebuster on Hopkins, then a Stormbreaker slam off his shoulders. Cap nailed the top-rope Froggy Brew elbow drop on Chandler for the pin! New champion! Jay Alexander loses his belt without being pinned. Fast-paced but far too short.
Cappuccino Jones defeated Jay Alexander, Terrale Tempo and Chandler Hopkins to win the ROW Texas Title at 4:06.
5. Will Allday and Cam Cole vs. It’s Gal and Vin Parker vs. Rhys Maddox and Erik Lockhart vs. “The Mod Squad” Jacari Ball and Santi Rivera in a No. 1 contender’s match. (Here, they call him Vin Parc. I don’t get it.) I’ve seen Parker in nearby Rhodes Wrestling Association and Pandemonium Pro. Allday and Jacari opened, with the other six on the apron. Gal tagged in so he and Jacari could have a pose-off. Jacari did some one-armed pushups. Vin tagged in and battled Jacari. Parc hit a Northern Lights Suplex at 1:30. Jacari hit a Poetry In Motion (and a commentator made a Hardys reference). Allday came off the top rope, but Jacari caught him with a superkick.
Jacari hit another Poetry In Motion. Lockhart and Rhys worked over Allday. From the apron, Gal kicked Allday in the back. All eight began brawling at 4:00 as the ref had lost control. Allday and Lockhart brawled. The Mod Squad hit a team delayed vertical suplex on Rhys. Cole hit a dropkick. Allday hit a jump-up Frankensteiner. He hit a second one in a different corner. He went for a third one, but Lockhart blocked it, and Lockhart hit a powerbomb to the mat. Gal hit a top-rope double missile dropkick at 7:00. Vin put Lockhart in a Torture Rack and slammed him face-first. Jacari hit a German Suplex. Allday dove through the ropes to the floor. Cam hit a Lungblower to score the pin!
Will Allday and Cam Cole defeated It’s Gal and Vin Parker and Rhys Maddox and Erik Lockhart and “The Mod Squad” Jacari Ball and Santi Rivera at 8:47 to become No. 1 contenders.
* Carolina Teague interviewed Gianna Capri backstage. We saw footage of her match against Lady Bird Monica Monroe from last night. Capri scored the pin to become champion! Booker T came out and ordered an immediate rematch. Back to the interview, where Capri was angry that she has to defend the belt she just won a day ago.
6. Gianna Capri vs. “Lady Bird” Monica Monroe for the ROW Women’s Title. The heel commentator was upset that Capri has to defend the belt she won 24 hours ago. Monroe tossed her to the floor, then dove through the ropes and crashed onto Capri at 1:00. In the ring, Gianna hit her splits leg drop for a nearfall, then a spinebuster for a nearfall. Monroe hit a Lionsault for a nearfall at 3:30. She slammed Monroe to the mat for a nearfall. She missed the splits leg drop.
Monroe set up for a dive, but Capri caught her with an uppercut. Gianni tossed a chair into the ring. As the ref was putting it away, Capri struck Monroe in the head with the title belt! Gianna jumped back into the ring, but the ref started counting! Monroe dove back in at the nine-count at 5:30. Monroe hit a Cradle Shock and a top-rope Swanton Bomb to get the pin! She wins back the belt she lost a day ago!
“Lady Bird” Monica Monroe defeated Gianna Capri to win the ROW Women’s Title at 5:55.
* Sharmell Huffman came to the ring with a brand new title belt, and she pressed it to Monroe.
* Carolina Teague interviewed Hank Walker and Tank Ledger backstage. Hank noted that they have held the ROW tag titles before.
7. “Motion” Sam Holloway and EJ Nduka vs. Hank Walker and Tank Ledger for the ROW Tag Team Titles. It is worth reiterating that Sam is 6’8″ and EJ is nearly that tall. They attacked from behind, and we’re underway. We finally got a bell at 00:49. Nduka hit a splash into the corner on Tank. Sam hit a flying elbow drop, and the champs worked over Tank in their corner. Walker tagged in at 2:00, and they hit a team bodyslam on Nduka. Sam hit a Mafia Kick on Hank and stomped on him and was booed. The champs hit a team slam on Hank.
Sam choked Hank in the ropes. He hit a slingshot spear for a nearfall at 5:00. EJ yanked Tank off the apron so he wasn’t there when Hank tried to tag out. The champs hit a team spinebuster for a nearfall. Tank finally got the hot tag at 7:00, and he hit a clothesline on EJ and a swinging back suplex on Sam! He clotheslined EJ to the floor and dove onto Sam! In the ring, Hank and Tank removed their shirts and hit stereo body blocks on EJ. Hank covered Nduka for the pin! New champs!
Hank Walker and Tank Ledger defeated “Motion” EJ Nduka and Sam Holloway to win the ROW Tag Team Titles at 7:56 (official time of 7:07).
* More footage aired of Friday’s WWE ID show, with Timothy Thatcher getting Jacari Ball to tap out to a Fujiwara Armbar. Clay Roberts came out and challenged Thatcher. (Again, the short, bald Clay always earns an Oney Lorcan comparison from me.)
8. Timothy Thatcher vs. Clay Roberts. Thatcher has a big height and overall size advantage. Thatcher immediately tied up the left arm and twisted the left wrist. Thatcher tied him in a bow-and-arrow on the mat. Thatcher kept him grounded, and he snapped the elbow and got a nearfall at 4:00. Clay tied up Thatcher’s legs in the ropes and stomped on him. Clay hit a chop block, and he tied up Thatcher’s legs. They got up and traded chops.
Thatcher hit some European Uppercuts at 7:00, then a punch to the abdomen! Clay hit a jumping knee for a nearfall. Clay tied him in a Sharpshooter! Thatcher escaped, dragged Clay to the mat, locked in a Fujiwara Armbar, and Clay frantically tapped out. That finish came out of nowhere! Fans of Thatcher’s style will love this.
Timothy Thatcher defeated Clay Roberts at 8:08.
* Booker T and several guys on the roster came to the ring and applauded the match. Booker got in the ring and said he wanted to thank Thatcher in person. Booker said he just met Thatcher for the first time a day ago. (Really? How is that possible?) Booker T had a plaque that he presented to Thatcher for his leadership in pro wrestling. A nice ovation for Thatcher.
* Backstage, Chris Van Vliet was chatting with Jesse Funaki. However, Richard Holliday walked up and told Chris that he should be interviewing him, not Jesse. Holliday boasted that he’s “The most talked about pro wrestler today.” He teased that he might check out Funaki’s match.
* The next match was slated to be Jesse Funaki vs. Ryan Davidson for the ROW Legacy Title. Again, indy vet Davidson has the body shape, ring gear, and overall wrestling style that always makes me think of PCO. Before the bell, Booker T came back out. He made it a three-way!
9. Jesse Funaki vs. Ryan Davidson vs. Richard Holliday in a three-way for the ROW Legacy Title. Funaki hit a dropkick on Davidson, and we’re underway! Jesse dove over the top rope onto both opponents. He hit another flip dive to the floor. In the ring, Jesse hit an enzuigiri on Ryan, then a stunner at 1:30. Jesse hit a series of forearm strikes on Davidson, who absorbed them. Jesse hit a tornado DDT on Davidson. Richard finally got back into the ring, and he stomped on Funaki at 4:30.
Holliday hit a backbreaker over his knee on Funaki for a nearfall. Davidson splashed Holliday into the corner at 6:30. Those two traded clotheslines while Funaki was on the floor. They traded forearm strikes and chops. Funaki hit a top-rope missile dropkick onto both of them, and they were all down. Funaki hit a dropkick. He hit one in the corner on Holliday, then a bulldog for a nearfall at 8:30.
Davidson accidentally splashed the ref in the corner, but Ryan shrugged in indifference. Holliday clotheslined Davidson to the floor, then he hit His Signature Move (a low blow uppercut) and the 2008 twisting suplex for a visual pin, but we had no ref! Chris Van Vliet rolled into the ring. Holliday shoved him, so Chris removed his jacket. Chris hit a uranage on Richard! He woke up the ref! Funaki nailed the running knee to Holliday’s sternum for the pin! The crowd loved that finish.
Jesse Funaki defeated Ryan Davidson and Richard Holliday in a three-way to retain the ROW Legacy Title at 11:03.
* Outside, Danny Limelight vowed he was winning tonight, and he’s regaining his title. Zilla Fatu had travel issues, so he’s not here. (He competed on Friday in New York.)
10. Niko Vance vs. Max Castellanos (w/Ms. Alexa) vs. Danny Limelight vs. Hoka for the ROW Title. Hoka is replacing Zilla Fatu. Max and Limelight have been feuding here, so they brawled and went to the floor. Niko and Hoka brawled in the ring. Danny hit a springboard Blockbuster. Hoka shoved Danny face-first into the top turnbuckle at 2:30 and hit some chops on Limelight. Hoka hit some chops on Max, too. A commentator said Hoka was in the new “Moana” film. Vance hit a top-rope flying headbutt. Niko hit a suplex on Danny at 4:30.
Niko dove over the top rope onto two guys. In the ring, he hit a suplex on Max. He accidentally struck the ref with a back elbow! Hoka hit a Jackhammer on Max for a visual pin, but we had no ref! Ms. Alexa tried to pass the belt to Max, but Hoka blocked that. Danny picked up the belt and struck Hoka! Max hit his swinging uranage on Danny! A new ref slid in and made the three count! New champion! Niko loses his belt without getting pinned. Shockingly short.
Max Castellanos (w/Ms. Alexa) defeated Niko Vance, Danny Limelight and Hoka to win the ROW Title at 6:23.
* In the back, AJ Francis was chatting with his House Money faction. He’s the first-ever two-time Glory Champion, and he’s the longest-reigning Glory Champion, too! He declared he’s the best big man in the business. He told his lackeys he’s going to handle this on his own! (I am skeptical!)
11. AJ Francis vs. Big Luther for the ROW Glory Title. Again, Luther is like a young Keith Lee — he’s a big, strong kid, and he’s beloved here. AJ wore his Miami Dolphins-themed ring gear. They jawed nose-to-nose. AJ appears to be an inch taller, but Luther is undoubtedly heavier. They locked up, and Francis hid in the ropes. Luther knocked him down with a shoulder block at 2:30. He hit a big hip-toss! “Nobody has ever done this to AJ Francis,” a commentator said, as AJ recovered on the floor.
Luther followed to the floor, but AJ shoved him head-first into the ring post, then whipped him into the ring stairs. In the ring, AJ nailed a Vader Bomb at 4:00. He hit a running knee in the corner. Luther pulled Francis into the ring post, but Francis hit a powerslam onto the apron. In the ring, AJ hit a second-rope moonsault for a nearfall at 6:30! “Where the hell did that come from?” a commentator shouted. AJ hit a Death Valley Driver for a nearfall.
Luther hit a spear. He hit a Joe Hendry-style slam to the mat, but Tiana appeared and put AJ’s foot on the ropes. Jossiah Jean and Quentin Wynters jumped in the ring and struck Luther while the ref was distracted. Francis hit a chokeslam for a nearfall at 9:30, and the crowd popped for the kickout! Luther flipped Jean. He hit a World’s Strongest Slam on Francis! He slammed Wynters, too. Wynters accidentally knocked Tiana off the apron to the floor. Luther hit a Choke Bomb and pinned Francis! Fun match.
Big Luther defeated AJ Francis to win the ROW Glory Title at 10:57.
* Luther posed with the belt and the crowd chanted, “You deserve it!” He hugged a woman in the front row and held the belt above his head.
Final Thoughts: A really fun show. Big Luther has that ‘it factor.’ He’s big and strong… and green and raw… but there is a lot of potential there. The crowds love the guy. It was the right time to put the belt on him, including overcoming a four-on-one situation to pull out the win. But let’s not overlook how much AJ Francis has improved since his WWE runs. He’s thinner and faster. He pulled off a moonsault! The Funaki three-way earned second. I will go with Starboy vs. Valor for third place, ahead of the tag title match for honorable mention.
I really don’t get what the point of having Gianna Capri win the women’s title on Friday, only to lose it right back on Saturday. The only new faces were a handful of guys in the battle royal. Whatever happened to Promise Braxton? She was so hot here last year, then she just … vanished.
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