This week’s wrestling schedule includes an Undisputed title showdown in Kansas City, the continuation of Fantastica Mania over in Mexico City, some high-level women’s wrestling both in AEW and on the STARDOM mat, and much more. Don’t know what to watch this weekend? Here are 12 different options to consider, plus where and when you can catch them all.
Friday
WWE Friday Night Smackdown / 8 p.m. ET / USA Network
There’s a lot to discuss regarding tonight’s episode of WWE Friday Night Smackdown from the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri.
The biggest headline for tonight is the rematch between Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes and Gunther. A controversial finish in their Clash in Italy showdown has allowed Gunther to negotiate his way into a second chance against Rhodes, which will come tonight as part a commercial-free first hour of the show. But not only that, he has potentially tipped the odds in his favor by recruiting Sami Zayn as a special guest referee for the match, betting that the Canadian’s rocky relationship with the champ as of late could help him prevail.
The grand finals for this year’s King and Queen of the Ring brackets will be determined, as the last of the tournament’s semi-final action will go down. Charlotte Flair will take on Raw champ Liv Morgan, and yeet-man Jey Uso will square off against Je’Von Evans.
Damian Priest and R-Truth will defend their tag belts against the MFTs, and the next opponent for U.S. champ Trick Williams will be determined in a bout between Ricky Saints and Carmelo Hayes.
Oftentimes, I start my weekend preview column by saying that WWE has yet to announce much for tonight’s episode of Smackdown. With five high-stakes bouts already known, this week was quite different. I could get used to this.
- Ricky Saints vs. Carmelo Hayes (WWE United States Championship #1 Contender Match)
- Charlotte Flair vs. Liv Morgan (Queen of the Ring Semi-Final)
- Jey Uso vs. Je’Von Evans (King of the Ring Semi-Final)
- Damian Priest & R-Truth vs. Talla Tonga & Tama Tonga (WWE Tag Team Championships)
- Cody Rhodes vs. Gunther (Undisputed WWE Championship) (Special Guest Referee Sami Zayn)
GCW Race Against Time / 8 p.m. ET / TrillerTV+
A doubleheader this weekend from GCW will get started at the 20th Century Theater in Cincinnati, Ohio, tonight, where two title matchups will go down. While there’s a lot to point out here, including a deathmatch between Otis Cogar & Anakin Murphy, as well as AEW’s Hook in action, I’m most looking forward to the madness that will be Billie Starkz teaming with Bustah and the Brain to take on August Matthews, Davey Bang and Terry Yaki.
- Joey Janela vs. Hook
- Vipress vs. Priscilla Kelly
- Billie Starkz, Alec Price & Jordan Oliver vs. August Matthews, Davey Bang & Terry Yaki
- Otis Cogar vs. Anakin Murphy (GCW Ultraviolent Championship)
- Atticus Cogar vs. Aaron Williams (GCW World Championship)
House of Glory Inferno / 9 p.m. ET / TrillerTV+
New York’s House of Glory will make a trip over to Chicago for “Inferno” this evening. The lineup features rising Euro star Ricky Sosa taking on Amazing Red, Illinois’ own Mustafa Ali putting his TNA International Championship up against Rich Swann, plus Nic Nemeth meeting Charles Mason in the main event.
- Joey Silver vs. Joe Alonzo
- Amazing Red vs. Ricky Sosa
- Mustafa Ali vs. Rich Swann (TNA International Championship)
- Shotzi Blackheart vs. Steph De Lander (HOG Women’s Championship)
- Charles Mason vs. Nic Nemeth (HOG Heavyweight Championship)
CMLL Fantastica Mania Mexico 2026 / 10:30 p.m. ET / CMLL Youtube
A collaborative lineup between CMLL and their Japanese partners, NJPW and STARDOM, will go down tonight at Arena Mexico.
The main event tonight will see Tiger Mask, who is soon to retire in Japan, get his send-off match in Mexico, teaming with Mistico and Blue Panther to face Black Tiger, Averno and Volador Jr. The bout I’m most looking forward to is the co-main, which sees Konosuke Takeshita and Hechicero team up to face Ultimo Guerrero and Gran Guerrero.
Notable bouts earlier in the night include Barbaro Cavernario against El Phantasmo, and CMLL’s Japanese Women’s title on the line in a bout between India Sioux and Rina.
- Valiente Jr., Futuro & Max Star vs. Yutani, Okumura & Shoma Kato
- India Sioux vs. Rina (CMLL-Japan Women’s Championship)
- Mascara Dorada, Templario & Neon vs. Titan, Robbie X & Taiji Ishimori
- Angel de Oro & Niebla Roja vs. SANADA & Dick Togo (CMLL World Tag Team Championships)
- Barbaro Cavernario vs. El Phantasmo
- Ultimo Guerrero & Gran Guerrero vs. Konosuke Takeshita & Hechicero
- Mistico, Tiger Mask & Blue Panther vs. Averno, Black Tiger & Volador Jr.
Saturday
STARDOM The Conversion 2026 / 2 a.m. ET / Stagecrowd PPV
STARDOM is scheduled to visit Yoyogi National Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan on Saturday morning for the third-annual The Conversion pay-per-view card. The main event of the night sees 23-year-old Suzu Suzuki attempt to earn her first-ever singles title in STARDOM, challenging world champ Sayaka Kurara. Suzuki won the opportunity by prevailing in an electric four-way bout last month, making her Kurara’s second opponent since capturing the title in a shock result over Saya Kamitani earlier this year.
Saturday’s show also features Momo Watanabe’s official in-ring return following months away due injury, what could be a fun IWGP Women’s Championship showdown between Syuri and Rina Yamashita, and much more.
- Yuna Mizumori vs. Matoi Hamabe (Pre-Show)
- Mei Seira vs. Ema Maishima (Pre-Show)
- Aya Sakura vs. Anne Kanaya
- Koguma & Maika vs. Kiyoka Kotatsu & Ranna Yagami vs. Akira Kurogane & Itsuki Aoki
- Ami Sourei, Hina & Lady C vs. Kikyo Furusawa, Maki Itoh & Rian (Artist of STARDOM Championships)
- Natsupoi, Saori Anou, Fuwa-chan & Hazuki vs. Azusa Inaba, Fukigen Death, Natsuko Tora & Ruaka
- Xena vs. HANAKO
- Mei Seira, Miyu Amasaki, Starlight Kid & Utami Hayashishita vs. Bea Priestley, Konami, Momo Watanabe & Saya Kamitani
- Syuri vs. Rina Yamashita (IWGP Women’s Championship)
- Hanan vs. Saya Iida (Wonder of STARDOM Championship)
- Sayaka Kurara vs. Suzu Suzuki (World of STARDOM Championship)
NJPW Yuji Nagata Produce Blue Justice XVIII / 4 a.m. ET / NJPW World
The latest Yuji Nagata-booked NJPW card will air on Saturday morning for NJPW World subscribers. The card will most notably feature the return of Josh Barnett to an NJPW ring, teaming with Aaron Wolf and Yuji Nagata in the main event against House of Torture. The match will be just Barnett’s third NJPW appearance over the past two decades!
- Hiroshi Yamato, Satoshi Kojima & Taisei Nakahara vs. Tatsuya Matsumoto, Togi Makabe & Toru Yano
- Masatora Yasuda & Master Wato vs. DOUKI & SHO
- Ryusuke Taguchi & Shota Umino vs. Jake Lee & Zane Jay
- Great-O-Khan, HENARE & Jakob Austin Young vs. Hartley Jackson, Kosei Fujita & Ryohei Oiwa
- El Desperado, Taichi & Yuya Uemura vs. Daiki Nagai, OSKAR & Yuto-Ice
- Gedo, Shingo Takagi & Yota Tsuji vs. Hirooki Goto, YOH & YOSHI-HASHI
- Aaron Wolf, Josh Barnett & Yuji Nagata vs. Ren Narita, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Yujiro Takahashi
GCW The Last Ones Left / 8 p.m. ET / TrillerTV+
Indianapolis will play host to GCW tomorrow night when “The Last Ones Left” goes down. A lot of the singles matchups here interest me, specifically Shotzi taking on Gringo Loco and Calvin Tankman returning to GCW for the first time in nearly a year, going head-to-head with Mad Dog Connelly.
- Shotzi Blackheart vs. Gringo Loco
- Atticus Cogar & Otis Cogar vs. Dominic Garrini & Kevin Ku
- Joey Janela vs. Priscilla Kelly
- Vipress vs. Dr. Redacted
- Jay Lucas & Terry Yaki vs. August Matthews & Davey Bang
- Calvin Tankman vs. Mad Dog Connelly
AEW Collision / 8 p.m. ET / TNT
A pre-taped edition of AEW Collision this week is jam-packed, with eight segments confirmed for it thus far. The biggest matchup will see Owen Hart Tournament underdog Maya World attempt to earn herself a spot in the Forbidden Door grand finals, taking on ROH forever-champ Athena. World was a last-minute addition to the tournament and has become a dark horse name in the bracket following a solid first-round performance over Skye Blue. But, Athena is one of the most successful women’s talents in the world, and she’ll have to pull off the biggest win of her career thus far to get past her.
Other highlights on the card include: Mistico & Zack Sabre Jr. in action, Mina Shirakawa facing Kris Statlander, and The Hurt Syndicate hitting the ring.
- Chris Jericho & Tommaso Ciampa face-to-face
- The Hurt Syndicate in action
- PAC in action
- Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Adam Priest
- Dante Martin vs. Mistico
- Mina Shirakawa vs. Kris Statlander (TBS Championship Survival of the Fittest Qualifier)
- Matt Jackson, Nick Jackson & Jack Perry vs. Jay Lethal, Blake Christian & Lee Johnson
- Athena vs. Maya World (Women’s Owen Hart Tournament Semi-Final)
Sunday
CMLL Domingo Familiar Festejo del Dia del Padre / 7 p.m. ET / CMLL Youtube
While not officially billed as a “Fantasticamania” event, the crossover action between CMLL and their partner brands will continue as part of Sunday night’s show in Mexico City. The weekend will come to a close with singles action between CMLL top-dog Mistico and El Phantasmo, who will be facing off in a first-time ever one-on-one showdown. The show will also see STARDOM’s Rina back in action, and, in her first appearance since officially departing the TNA roster, Tessa Blanchard will appear.
- Garra Negra vs. Rina
- Tessa Blanchard vs. Lluvia
- Hijo del Pantera & Pantera Jr. vs. Villano III Jr. & El Hijo del Villano III
- Difunto & Furia Roja vs. SANADA & Dick Togo
- Euforia vs. El Valiente
- Soberano Jr. & Neon vs. Robbie X & Taiji Ishimori
- Averno vs. Zandokan Jr.
- Mistico vs. El Phantasmo
Three more options for you…
- This Saturday’s edition of AAA will feature the return of Mega Champion Dominik Mysterio, who hasn’t been on the program for a few weeks. A hero’s welcome will also be provided to El Grande Americano, coming back to TV for the first time since winning his high-profile mask-versus-mask bout three weeks ago (Youtube)
- NOAH vet Eita will celebrate his 15th anniversary as a wrestler on Saturday by giving himself a shot at GHC Junior Heavyweight Champion Dragon Bane. In front of his home supporters in Nagano, will the Team 2000X member be able to kick off his third run with the belt? Or will Bane’s inaugural campaign with the title survive past its first defence? (Wrestle Universe)
- MARIGOLD’s World Championship will be defended on Saturday afternoon (Friday evening in America), when U.K.’s Nightshade takes on defending champ Miku Aono. It would be a gigantic upset if Aono were to lose this weekend, a result that would end a reign of over 200 days. (Wrestle Unvierse)
