Ring Of Honor
Date: March 5, 2026
Location: WJCT Studios, Jacksonville, Florida
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

And then everything changed. Apparently from now on, the show is going to be taped from this studio, with multiple weeks already in the can. That could make for some better focus around here, but there is also the chance that this is going to result in the shows being even longer with more mostly tossed out there matches. We can hope for the best though so let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Opening video.

Video on Persephone.

Persephone vs. Sara Leon

Persephone grabs a headlock to start and elbows Leon in the face to put her down. Back up and Leon’s chops don’t do much good, with Persephone taking over on the arm instead. A fall away slam sets up a hammerlock but Leon manages a headscissors into the ropes. Leon German suplexes her for two but Persephone is back with a missile dropkick for the same. A Razor’s Edge doesn’t work for Persephone so she hits a spear, followed by the Razor’s Edge for the pin at 5:37.

Rating: C. Commentary kept hyping up Persephone’s shot at the CMLL Women’s Title on Friday so this was a glorified warmup match. Leon got in some offense here and did well enough, but this was all about Persephone getting ready for Mercedes Mone. Not a bad match, but pretty much the same kind of thing that you would see on any of the older shows. That’s hardly the best way to start off a new era, if if the match was ok.

Komander vs. Sidney Akeem

They take turns spinning out of wristlocks to start and we get a handshake, with Akeem pulling him into a waistlock. Akeem flips out of a sunset flip and hits a running Meteora to put Komander down. A running shooting star press gives Akeem two but Komander is back up with a spinning high crossbody for the same. Komander superkicks him to the apron, where Akeem pops up and over a baseball slide for a dive to the floor (geez). Back in and Akeem flips away from some shots but gets sent outside for a suicide dive. Cielito Lindo finishes for Komander at 5:55.

Rating: B-. The match was all over the place as Akeem continues to look like a human video game character. The kinds of things he can do in the ring are absolutely insane and while he’s hardly a top star, there is pretty much no one else who can keep up with him. It’s worth a look, especially with Komander being one of the few people close to what he can do.

Video on Bustah And The Brain (Jordan Oliver/Alec Price). They’re described as “on the rise”. Their career record in ROH/AEW: 0-5.

Top Flight vs. Grizzled Young Veterans

Their respective friends are here too. Darius takes Gibson down by the arm to start and they’re quickly on the mat for a technical off. Back up and Darius hits a dropkick, meaning it’s already time for a double tag. Dante comes in for a hurricanrana to Drake, who goes to the hair to pull Dante down. It’s back to Gibson, who is taken into the wrong corner so Top Flight can pick up the pace.

Darius is back in and gets cut off on the apron, allowing Drake to elbow him in the face for two. A suplex gets Darius out of trouble and it’s back to Dante to start flipping and kicking. The springboard high crossbody gets two on Drake with Gibson making the save. Everything breaks down and Isla Dawn jumps Zayda Steel on the floor. Darius is dropped as well as Steel fights back to go after Dawn. Back in and the double underhook double DDT finishes Gibson at 9:25.

Rating: B-. Another fun match, though forgive me for not believing that these teams are on the way up the ladder. Top Flight has been around for the better part of ever and never accomplished anything of note, which is rather frustrating. The Veterans aren’t much better, but you can probably pencil in a six person tag out of this thing.

Post match Top Flight goes to leave but walk past Big Bill and Bryan Keith, apparently now known as Paid In Full.

Paid In Full vs. Darian Bengston/Kiran Grey

Keith throws his gear at Bengston to start and shoulders him down for two. Bengston’s comeback is cut out with a spinning forearm to the face and it’s off to Bill. A running splash in the corner hits Grey and Bill does it a second time for extra oomph. Back to back big boots finish Grey at 2:47. Total squash.

Video on Athena vs. Maya World, with a Proving Ground match being set for next week.

Josh Woods vs. Nathan Cruz

Pure Rules. An early cross armbreaker sends Cruz straight over to the ropes for his first break before Woods works on a hammerlock. Back up and Cruz is sent crashing out to the floor, with a suplex bringing him back inside. The armbar goes on again but this time Cruz takes him into the ropes, with Woods being pulled into them for a break. Not a Rope Break but a break. A neckbreaker puts Woods down for two and a belly to back suplex gets two. Cruz’s sleeper is countered into an armbar with Woods using his legs to make Cruz tap at 4:23.

Rating: C+. As usual, Woods looks good in these things and can do some rather impressive technical stuff, but it only gets him so far when he’s barely ever around. If nothing else, it would be nice to see him go after the Pure Rules Title, just so it can be defended in a way that isn’t “the challenger doesn’t know the rules”. That finisher certainly looked good as I can go for someone using a unique way to torture their opponent.

Tommy Billington and Adam Priest are going to get to the Swirl and Jay Lethal, but they have something else to do this week.

Tommy Billington/Adam Priest vs. Workhorsemen

Priest uppercuts Henry down to start and it’s already off to Billington. Drake breaks up a double suplex though and Billington is taken outside for a piledriver on the floor. Back in and Priest gets caught in the wrong corner. Drake gives him a suplex and it’s back to Henry for some ripping at the face. Priest escapes but Billington is still down on the floor (that’s nice to see for a change) and Drake hits Priest in the face again.

The villains take turns beating on Priest in the corner again but Billington is back in for the save. Everything breaks down and back to back dives take the Workhorsemen down on the floor. Back in and Billington manages a rollup to pin Henry (that didn’t look great as Billington seemed to let go early) at 7:45.

Rating: C+. At least Priest and Billington are getting a push and are in an actual feud. That’s a heck of a lot better than what you would get otherwise, as there is something to be said about having two wrestlers actually doing something rather than running on the treadmill that is the tag division. The Workhorsemen are good in their spots, but they’re firmly locked into those spots and that isn’t going to change anytime soon.

Mina Shirakawa vs. Zayda Steel

Christopher Daniels is here with Steel. Shirakawa slides into the dance to start so Steel goes around her for a quick spank and dance of her own. Back up and Shirakawa pulls her into something of a Texas Cloverleaf and drops her into a backbreaker. The block of the Figure Four is blocked and Shirakawa gets it on, with Steel making the rope rather quickly.

A neckbreaker gives Steel two and a running knee in the corner rocks Shirakawa again. They trade the big forearms until Steel hits a running elbow against the ropes, only for Shirakawa to do the same. A missile dropkick and the top rope Sling Blade give Shirakawa two but Steel is back with a dropkick. Shirakawa just decks her with a spinning backfist though and the Figure Four finishes Steel at 7:47.

Rating: C. Hey look: Steel loses again. That’s almost all she does around here (and in AEW) and it’s getting more and more difficult to care about her. I’m not sure how many more matches she’s going to lose but odds are it’s going to be several, all while she’s “climbing the ladder” or whatever the latest term is around here.

Post match respect is shown.

Billie Starkz seems to have attacked Deonna Purrazzo and Athena says this is a message/warning to Maya World. Ignore that Purrazzo seems to be smiling her head off.

Bang Bang Gang vs. MxM Collection

Robinson sticks his finger in his nose for Mansoor’s tip to tip touch, earning himself a hair pull. An armbar puts Mansoor down and into the ropes, meaning Robinson is back up with an atomic drop. Gunn comes in and gets his eyes raked, only to hit Mansoor low. It’s off to Madden to hammer on Gunn in the corner so Robinson makes a blind tag. The Gang starts taking turns to stagger Madden, who suplexes both of them at once.

Mansoor comes in to stomp away, with Madden adding the running hips to the face. A belly to back suplex puts Gunn down and a side slam/running legdrop combination gets two. Madden misses a middle rope elbow though and it’s back to Robinson, who runs into a boot in the corner. Mansoor gets crotched on the top rope for some bouncing, with Madden hitting a double spear for the save. A double suplex drops Madden though and Mansoor gets thrown onto him. Robinson’s forward DDT finishes Mansoor at 12:01.

Rating: C+. So I guess the Gang is another team who is being added to the rotating roster around here because that’s what this place needs. Robinson is still a ball of charisma but as usual, there’s only so much that can be done with Robinson and one half of the Gunns. The team just feels like some scraps thrown together and that isn’t likely to go very far.

La Faccion Ingobernable brags about being undefeated as a tag team but they have to defend the belts. Therefore, it’s open challenge time for any former Tag Team Champions to come after the belts. And there’s the kind of thing that makes this weekly show feel useless. Commentary spends the entire show talking about how someone can win to move up in the title standings and all that, but instead it’s “anyone can come get a shot”. In other words, all of the previous matches mean nothing, because “eh screw it, open challenge time”.

Lacey Lane vs. Robyn Renegade

Renegade takes over with the power game to start so Lane does a rather springboardy wristdrag. Lane hits some running kicks in the corner but Renegade is back with a springboard stomp of all things. A sitout gordbuster gives Renegade two but Lane is back up with some running shots to the face. What looks like a Nightmare On Helm Street (which looked like it had a camera edit) gets two on Renegade, followed by something like an AA into a legdrop to finish for Lane at 5:17.

Rating: C. This was another match on a show with a lot of them. I’m really not sure what else there is to say here, as neither of these two have anything going on and it’s hard to believe that they’re going to have anything going on. Maybe Lane gets a TV Title shot or something, but it’s not like there’s any story there. That’s the problem with so many matches around here, as they’re just things that happen rather than matches that go anywhere.

Matt Menard vs. Shane Taylor vs. Lee Johnson vs. AR Fox

The winner gets an immediate title shot at a mystery championship and this is under elimination rules. Menard and Taylor start things off, with Taylor powering him into the corner. That has Menard bailing away a few times but getting dropped with a running shoulder. It’s off to Johnson vs. Fox for an exchange of quick escapes and counters until Taylor comes back in. A Tower Of London to the floor plants Johnson hard but Menard is back in to slug away on Taylor. Everything breaks down and Taylor punches Menard in the jaw for the elimination at 6:09.

Taylor takes Fox into the corner but gets low bridged down to the floor. Fox dives over the top onto both of them but Taylor is back in for running splashes in the corner. That doesn’t last long either though as Fox rolls Taylor up for the pin and elimination at 8:47. Johnson immediately rolls Fox up for some near falls, followed by Fox’s tiger bomb for two more.

The Swanton hits raised knees though and they trade some rapid fire kicks. Johnson hits a brainbuster and they’re both down (with their heads on the other’s arms, which should probably be a double pin. Johnson suplexes him hard and a frog splash gets two but Fox is back with a quick slam. The 450 gives Fox the pin at 13:34.

Rating: B-. This was another match that felt rather long and is designed to set up another match on this show, which feels rather crammed on at the end. Fox winning is a nice way to go as there is something to be said about having him fight like this and then win a title as a way to end the show. The other three were fine as well here and it was nice to see Menard getting hit in the face.

And now, a title match, with Fox pulling the announcement out of a box.

AEW International Title: Kazuchika Okada vs. AR Fox

Fox is challenging and we are again reminded that Okada is the greatest tournament wrestler of all time. I still have no idea what that has to do with a non-tournament match but that’s what we need to be told over and over. Okada dropkicks him into the corner to start as commentary tries to say Okada is wrestling on short rest as well after winning the Trios Titles last night (despite him not having that belt or being announced as such due to the taping schedule).

Fox gets choked on the rope and a DDT plants him on the floor. Back in and another DDT gives Okada two but he misses a charge and gets sent to the apron. That means a running DDT from Fox, followed by a kick to the face. An Air Raid Crash onto the knee sets up the top rope elbow to give Okada two. Back up and Fox kicks him in the face, followed by a 450 for two more. Okada misses a few Rainmakers but his the dropkick, setting up the Rainmaker to retain at 5:44.

Rating: C+. Well that happened. The bigger star came in, beat up the tired challenger, kicked out of his finisher, and retained the title. It was deflating to have Fox lose like that after his big win as it was little more than a quick loss. Maybe like, let the match be built up for a bit and get some time on another show?

Overall Rating: D+. Nope. I’m not sure what this was supposed to be, but it was more of the same mess that has gotten Ring Of Honor in its current place. This was supposed to be some new era of the promotion and NOT ONE OF THE EIGHT TITLES THIS SHOW HAS TO OFFER is on the line?

No no, instead your big moment is an AEW star coming in (unannounced of course) because Heaven forbid the Women’s Title, World Title or even the Six Man Titles are defended (I mean, none of them have been defended since Final Battle, three months ago). Instead, it’s the usual bunch of matches, most of which are just wrestling for the sake of wrestling. The show ran two hours because every single thing (even down to Josh Woods vs. Nathan Cruz and Lacey Lane vs. Robyn Renegade) absolutely had to be here.

Ring Of Honor isn’t a wrestling promotion. It’s Tony Khan getting to pretend that he owns two promotions because he thinks it’s impressive while putting on the least important weekly show he can imagine. As usual, this absolutely isn’t a problem from the wrestlers, but rather spending two hours with almost nothing involving Ring Of Honor taking place. I’m sure TV is coming though. Any…what is it, year now?

Results
Persephone b. Sara Leon – Razor’s Edge
Komander b. Sydney Akeem – Cielito Lindo
Top Flight b. Grizzled Young Veterans – Double underhook double DDT to Gibson
Paid In Full b. Darian Bengston/Kiran Grey – Big boot to Grey
Josh Woods b. Nathan Cruz – Leg armbar
Tommy Billington/Adam Priest b. Workhorsemen – Rollup to Henry
Mina Shirakawa b. Zayda Steel – Figure Four
Lacey Lane b. Robyn Renegade – Fireman’s carry slam into a legdrop
AR Fox b. Shane Taylor, Lee Johnson and Matt Menard last eliminating Johnson
Kazuchika Okada b. AR Fox – Rainmaker

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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Ring Of Honor
Date: October 2, 2025
Location: Marshall Health Network Arena, Huntington, West Virginia
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

We continue our usual deliberate pace around here, which likely won’t include another match in the Women’s Pure Rules Title tournament. One of those took place last week so we’re probably months away from seeing the next step. Other than that, we need some new challengers for various titles so let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

MxM TV is ready for a big night but apparently the TSA took away Mansoor’s giant load of Seed. It’s ok though because they’re still ridiculously good looking and ridiculously good wrestlers.

Opening sequence.

We run down the card.

MxM TV vs. Skyflight

Grey and Valkyrie start things off and shove each other a bit until Valkyrie misses a charge into the corner. A knee to the face staggers Valkyrie and it’s off to Darius vs. Mansoor, with the latter grabbing a headlock. That’s broken up and Darius mocks Mansoor’s pose, allowing Dante to come in, only to get dropped by Madden. A chokebomb gives Madden two and Mansoor’s running backsplash hits Dante.

Valkyrie even gets in a running hurricanrana so Madden can add a running hip attack for two more. Dante gets up and manages a springboard flip dive and it’s back to Darius as everything breaks down. Madden gives Darius a fireman’s carry flipping slam for two but he accidentally crotches Mansoor on top. Top Flight’s double double arm DDT finishes Mansoor at 6:25.

Rating: C+. I know they don’t have a chance to do anything going forward but it’s nice to see Skyflight, or in this case Top Flight, actually winning something. It’s better than nothing, as they’ve been running on a treadmill for so long that it feels like they’ll never get a chance. The villains were their usual funny selves and that’s all they needed to be here.

Workhorsemen vs. Chance Prophet/Rosario Grillo

Grillo works on Henry’s arm to start but Henry gets in a pop up knee to take over. Drake comes in and gets his eyes raked so it’s off to Prophet, who gets slammed down and headbutted. A Downward Spiral/enziguri combination finishes Prophet at 2:32. This was in fact a Workhorsemen match and there was nothing you haven’t seen them do before.

Post match LFI comes out for a staredown with the Workhorsemen. Of all the teams who might get a title shot…the Workhorsemen? That’s the best you have.

Yuka Sakazaki vs. Zoey Lynn

Pure Rules and of course it’s not a tournament match. Sakazaki works on the arm to start and Lynn uses her first rope break less than forty seconds in. A dropkick puts Lynn outside and Sakazaki gives her a clothesline on the floor for two. Lynn gets in a high crossbody for two and a middle rope stomp to the back gets two more. Sakazaki kicks her in the face and grabs a spinning hammerlock slam to finish Lynn at 4:23.

Rating: D+. As a regular match it was fine, but it’s another case where the Pure Rules adds absolutely nothing. It’s adding in a match (and don’t worry because there’s another one tonight) for the sake of having Pure Rules and that’s a waste of time. The whole tournament is but we’ll be seeing it for months on end because this tournament, which was announced in April and started in August with two matches in two months, has to exist.

We go back to the Frat House, with Blue Meanie, as they get yelled at for making too much noise. The complaint comes from GLACIER, in his Coach gear. Then we cut to Glacier, in his Glacier gear, beating up some of the team. With Glacier gone, the team decides to drink anyway. What in the world am I even watching?

Frat House vs. Nick Hammer/Casey King/Corey Sparks

The House jumps them to start fast and beat up the very tall King. Sparks comes in and gets sent into the corner for a double kick to the face. That doesn’t last long either as Hammer comes in and gets to slug away but gets dropped with a discus lariat. The 450 gives Karter the pin at 2:19. If you ignore the team getting taken out by the 61 year old Glacier about five minutes ago, the Frat House can be so dumb that it’s fun. They also had a nice enough squash here.

LFI is willing to give the Workhorsemen a Tag Team Title shot at any time.

Aaron Solo vs. Jay Lethal

Solo knocks him off the top during his entrance but Lethal is right back up with a triangle dropkick. The suicide dive drops Solo again and now we ring the bell. Some kicks to the head stagger Solo but he’s able to reverse the Lethal Injection into a small package for two. Lethal hits a superkick but gets cuttered and they’re both down.

Hail To The King is countered into a rollup for two more and the Figure Four is blocked…so Lethal quickly switches legs and puts the Figure Four on the other leg (that was great). Solo escapes and hits a spinning enziguri for two, followed by a top rope double stomp. Lethal shrugs that off and the Lethal Injection finishes at 4:58.

Rating: C+. The match was the usual back and forth trading of moves with very little standing out, though that quick switch on the Figure Four was rather smart. Lethal continues to be good at just about anything he does, though he’s not going to be doing anything of note anytime soon. At least he had a nice enough match here.

Premiere Athletes vs. Cowpoke Paul/Gen Z/Reese Ramone

Daivari gives Z a rough handshake and gets shoved away to start. Z gets taken into the corner and stomped but it’s off to Paul to…well get dropped just as fast. Denali comes in and Ramone slugs away, which works about as well as you would expect. Paul gets chokeslammed and a spinebuster finishes Ramone at 2:58. Remember last week when the Athletes squashed a team? They did it again here.

Video on Serena Deeb, who wants the Pure Rules Title.

Serena Deeb vs. Katie Arquette

Pure Rules. Deeb easily wins a battle over the arm to start and a neckbreaker over the middle rope drops Arquette. Why that isn’t a rope break isn’t clear but that’s the least of this concept’s problem. A hammerlock lariat cuts Arquette off again and a Black Widow makes her give up at 2:27.

Post match Yuka Sakazaki comes out for a staredown with Deeb.

Diamante/Billie Starkz vs. Alex Windsor/Sareee

Windsor backs Starkz into the corner to start and takes her down with a headlock takeover. Sareee comes in and hits a dropkick, followed by a Mega Powers elbow for two on Starkz. Windsor misses a charge though and gets tripped down by Diamante, who comes in to take over. A double snap suplex gets two on Windsor and Diamante gets to choke her in the corner.

Starkz’s chinlock doesn’t last long as Windsor forearms her way out of trouble and it’s back to Sareee to pick up the pace. A Muta Lock has Diamante in trouble…and Sareee just lets it go. Diamante fights back and makes Windsor Stun Sareee, who pops back up with a suplex. Windsor’s Sharpshooter makes Diamante tap at 8:36.

Rating: C+. This was right back to the same issues that have plagued AEW when it comes to international stars. Rather than let us see what Sareee can do, it’s basically “she’s AWESOME” and then she has a pretty mediocre match. Outside of a pretty nothing run in NXT, Sareee is hardly that well known around here. Show us what she can do rather than tell us.

We get a preview of a sitdown interview with Lee Moriarty.

Beef vs. Dralistico

Dralistico rolls outside at the bell but the rest of LFI offers a distraction so he can take over. A running knee hits Beef on the apron and Dralistico gets to pose on the buckle. Beef comes back with a dropkick and hammers away in the corner, only to get caught with the top rope double stomp. Riccaboni declares that “Beef is ground” and a top rope Codebreaker finishes Beef at 4:03.

Rating: C. So Beef was set up with some kind of a story with Lance Archer, which was mentioned at the start of the match, and then he loses to perennial midcarder Dralistico. Why would I want to see Beef going on after this? Actually why would I want to see Beef in the first place?

Post match the beatdown is on but the Workhorsemen make the save.

Alex Windsor is happy with teaming with Sareee but challenges her for the IWGP Women’s Title for next week.

We take a quick look back at the opening video.

Johnny TV vs. AR Fox

The rest of MxM TV is here too. TV kicks him into the corner to start but Fox is right back with a spinning suplex. Mansoor offers a distraction and Fox is pulled outside, followed by a running shooting star press to give TV two. The chinlock goes on for a bit before Fox is sent outside, where the other villains get in a stomping.

Valkyrie gets in to kiss TV, who gets two off the Flying Chuck. Fox fights out of a chinlock and hits a pendulum DDT, followed by an enziguri. A rolling cutter gets two and Fox takes out the rest of the villains with a flip dive. The Swanton gets two on TV but Valkyrie offers a distraction. That doesn’t exactly work though as Fox reverses a neckbreaker into a rollup for the pin on TV at 6:47.

Rating: C+. I can go with the result, as Fox has not been having much success in recent months but has been putting in all kinds of solid performances. I have no reason to believe he’s going to become a big deal, but I’ll take a win over doing nothing. It’s not much of a main event, though there is something to seeing Fox overcome these odds.

Overall Rating: C-. My goodness I can’t believe what I just watched here. This was one of the least interesting, most useless shows I’ve ever seen. The wrestling was completely adequate, but in an hour and twenty minutes, absolutely nothing interesting happened. It was a bunch of matches from the same people who are here most of the time, naturally including TWO Pure Rules matches because that STILL has to be a thing. I haven’t been so bored during a show in a long time and unfortunately I don’t expect it to get any better anytime soon. Or ever.

Results
Skyflight b. MxM TV – Double double arm DDT to Mansoor
Workhorsemen b. Chance Prophet/Rosario Grillo – Downward Spiral/enziguri to Prophet
Yuka Sakazaki b. Zoey Lynn – Spinning hammerlock slam
Frat House b. Nick Hammer/Casey King/Corey Sparks – 450 to Hammer
Jay Lethal b. Aaron Solo – Lethal Injection
Premiere Athletes b. Cowpoke Paul/Gen Z/Reese Ramone – Spinebuster to Ramone
Serena Deeb b. Katie Arquette – Black Widow
Alex Windsor/Sareee b. Diamante/Billie Starkz – Sharpshooter to Diamante
Dralistico b. Beef – Top rope Codebreaker
AR Fox b. Johnny TV – Rollup

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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Ring Of Honor
Date: September 18, 2025
Location: 2300 Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

It’s another week of the show and we’re back to a regular edition after last year’s Action Dean edition. That means we should be back to the same style that we tend to get around here and hopefully the action is there to back it up. At the same time, it would be nice to see some bigger storyline developments. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Opening sequence.

We run down the card.

Mistico vs. Mansoor

The rest of MxM TV is here with Mansoor, who kicks him down to start, followed by a running shoulder. Mistico is right back with a running hurricanrana to take over. Hold on though as Mansoor claims a cheap shot from Alex Abrahantes, allowing him to jump Mistico and take over again. Mansoor misses a moonsault though and Mistico powerslams him down for two. Taya Valkyrie gets caught interfering and Mistico fights back with a kick to the face. A springboard high crossbody into La Mistica finishes Mansoor at 5:22.

Rating: C+. Mistico is set for a big title match against MJF in CMLL this week and this is his last boost up before the show. At the same time, I’m not sure how much that really matters as this match was barely (if at all) advertised in advance and it’s not like Mansoor means much. I’m still not sure why you would waste Mistico like this, but it’s what they keep doing.

We recap the Women’s Pure Rules Title tournament.

Olympia vs. Viva Van

Pure Rules. Olympia hits a clothesline to start and adds a basement dropkick but Van knocks her into the corner. That’s broken up and Van is back with a slingshot Bronco Buster for two. Van gets in another running shot but Olympia is back with a fireman’s carry and does some squats. That’s escaped as well and Van hits a springboard crossbody. Olympia is right back up with a German suplex into a swinging Side Effect for the pin at 4:49.

Rating: C-. Olympia was impressive here, but there was zero reason for this to be a Pure Rules match other than getting to say it was a special match. There wasn’t even a rope break here, which is often the big focal point of the Pure Rules. We’re getting a lot more of these things and it still feels like they’re just trying to validate having another title that doesn’t need to be around.

Alan Angels vs. The Beast Mortos

Angels actually drops him with a quick dropkick and kicks Mortos out to the floor. A suicide dive connects as well but Mortos is back in with a backbreaker. The Samoan drop finishes for Mortos at 1:52.

MJF’s Abraham Lincoln looking associate threatens MJF in English and Spanish.

Matt Mako vs. Katsuyori Shibata

Pure Rules. Shibata works on the wrist to start and pulls him down into an armbar. The cross armbreaker is switched into a Figure Four, which Mako turns over, but Shibata turns it right back over. The first rope break gets Mako out of trouble so it’s back to the armbar, with Mako’s attempt at a counter getting pulled into a triangle choke. That’s escaped as well and Mako kicks him into a suplex for two. Mako’s choke is countered into a legbar, with Mako going to the second rope. Another legbar makes Mako use his final rope break so Shibata sleepers him into the PK for the win at 7:27.

Rating: C. At least they seemed to understand what kind of match they were having. At the same time, this was another match that felt like it was tacked onto the card for the sake of putting people on the show. Shibata has nothing going on in Ring Of Honor but here he is anyway, doing just about the same thing he always does.

Respect is shown post match.

We look at the Premiere Athletes’ contingency plan, who will join them in the ring next week.

Death Riders vs. Aleah James/Man Like Dereiss

James is sent outside, leaving Yuta to take over on Dereiss. That’s broken up and Dereiss gets to stomp away in the corner. It’s off to the women, with Shafir kicking James down without much trouble. James snaps off a headscissors but Shafir ties up all of her limbs in quite the painful visual.

James gets thrown down again so it’s off to Dereiss for a 619 to Yuta, who kicks Dereiss in the head. Dereiss ducks a clothesline though and comes back with a jumping cutter. A high crossbody gives James two on Shafir, who judo throws her down into Mother’s Milk to make James tap at 5:22.

Rating: C. The Death Riders showing up to wreck people on here isn’t exactly interesting but at least they’re important on another show. At the same time, it would be nice to see Dereiss used for something better than a way to make Yuta look good. He’s a talented star but he didn’t get to show much of that here for the sake of the Death Riders.

Lance Archer beats up various people backstage, including Beef.

The Frat House do frat things.

Satnam Singh vs. CPA

Yes he’s a wrestling accountant. For some reason CPA goes for the leg and loses his tie as a result. Singh finishes with a chokeslam at 1:07.

We go to QTV, where the cast is a bit confused about QT Marshall’s match with Paul Walter Hauser. He’s also not sure what is up with the Costco Guys.

Yuka Sakazaki vs. Janai Kai

Pure Rules. Again. The grappling doesn’t go anywhere to start and they trade armdrags. Sakazaki sends her outside for a dive but Kai nails a big kick to the head back inside. Kai grabs a dragon sleeper and Sakazaki has to use her first rope break. A running hurricanrana and dropkick put Kai down and Sakazaki’s spinning hammerlock slam finishes at 4:42.

Rating: C. Yeah it’s another one, as we have Sakazaki in the tournament so she needs to beat someone who isn’t around very often in a Pure Rules match. It’s still not a particularly good match as they barely had time to do anything and the Pure Rules didn’t change anything. Why should that matter though when we have another tournament for a new title? That’s what matters most right?

Shane Taylor Promotions wants competition.

Six Man Tag Team Titles: Kingdom/AR Fox vs. Shane Taylor Promotions

Fox and the Kingdom are challenging and they’ve at least won a match as a trio before. The champs clear the ring to start until Bennett gets caught in the corner for some running forearms from the Infantry. The chinlock doesn’t last long and it’s off to Taylor for a loud chop in the corner.

Bennett fights out of trouble and shrugs off a knee, setting up a bit clothesline to put Taylor down. Taven comes in to clean house but misses the Lionsault. Fox is in with a spinning suplex, followed by Taven and Fox hitting big dives to the floor. Back in and Rockstar Supernova into a 450 gets two on Bravo with Dean making the save. Taylor knees Fox into the double stomp to give Bravo the pin to retain at 6:38.

Rating: C+. That’s one of the best parts of the show, as if nothing else it had something of a story to build upon and that helped. Fox and the Kingdom worked well together, though it still only means so much when they’ve barely teamed up before. At least it wasn’t more Pure Rules for a change.

Overall Rating: D+. This was the latest edition of Ring Of Honor where they threw a bunch of matches out there and tried to act like there was some reason to have them out there. Instead, it was a bunch of people having matches which mean very little, with a big focus on the Pure Rules stuff. As in the tournament that took months to be set up, started, and is now getting what feel like preview matches because we have to stretch this out longer and longer. Just more matches to fill in time that doesn’t need to be done and that’s going to be the case most of the time.

Results
Mistico b. Mansoor – La Mistica
Olympia b. Viva Van – Swinging Side Effect
The Beast Mortos b. Alan Angels – Samoan drop
Katsuyori Shibata b. Matt Mako – PK
Death Riders b. Aleah James/Man Like Dereiss – Mother’s Milk to James
Satnam Singh b. CPA – Chokeslam
Yuka Sakazaki b. Janai Kai – Spinning hammerlock slam
Shane Taylor Promotions b. AR Fox/Kingdom – Double stomp to Bravo

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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Ring Of Honor
Date: September 11, 2025
Location: 2300 Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Dylan Hales, Johnny Mosley

This is a special show produced by Ring Of Honor and Action Wrestling under the name “Action Dean 3”. This was previously done back in May and the show was fun enough, though I have no idea what to expect here. There will be a bunch of luchadors included, which could make for an interesting night. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Hechiero/Xelhua/Dr. Cerebro vs. Blue Panther/Virus/El Panthera

2/3 falls, submission only. Cerebro and Panthera start things off with Panthera taking him down to escape a headlock. Panther and Xelhua come in and they go to the mat for a quickly escaped headscissors. Panther goes after the legs and rides around a bit before getting us to a standoff. Virus and Hechicero come in with more grappling, including Hechicero rolling him around for a cradle but realizing that there are no pins. Hechicero is sent outside so Panther can hit a diving hurricanrana off the apron. Back in and Xelhua ties Virus (almost a reverse cross armbreaker) for the tap and the first fall at 7:35.

Panthera sends Xelhua into the corner and headscissors him down, meaning it’s off to Panther vs. Hechicero. Cerebro has to come in for a save so Panther armdrags him down. Virus dropkicks Cerebro into a frog splash from Panthera and Panthera ties Xelhua’s arms and legs up for the submission at 13:27.

Xelhua comes back in and takes Virus down with an elbow to the face but Virus ties up some limbs. Hechicero makes the save so Panther breaks that up, leaving Cerebro to armbar Panthera. That’s broken up so Hechicero comes off the top with a forearm but quickly lets go of Panthera’s leg. Panther dives onto Hechicero on the floor, leaving Panthera to crawl to the ropes. Back in and Panthera sunset flips Hechicero, which means nothing, so Hechicero ties up all four limbs to make Panthera submit for the win at 19:57.

Rating: B-. I never know what to say about a match like this because I barely know anything about it. That’s the thing with this kind of a show: I need to know a lot more about what I’m seeing and that isn’t being offered. Instead it’s just “here these people are, have fun”. That made for a good enough match, but commentary only offered so much here.

Nicole Matthews vs. Billie Starkz

Commentary points out that Starkz is reckless, even as she grabs a headscissors. Matthews isn’t having any of the mocking offers of a test of strength so Starkz gives her an Alabama Slam into the corner. With that rather scary crash out of the way, Matthews fights up with some clotheslines but Starkz hits a Death Valley Driver onto the knee. A brainbuster gets two more but Matthews misses the moonsault. Starkz kicks her in the head and hits an electric chair driver for the pin at 7:44.

Rating: C-. Starkz’s reputation for being sloppy in there is becoming her signature thing, which isn’t a good sign for anyone. This match featured two spots where Matthews’ head took a scary bump and that is far from a one off for Starkz. Either that needs to improve or Starkz shouldn’t be in the ring, because the safety thing can’t be ignored.

Sammy Guevara and Rush, with the rest of La Faccion Ingobernable, is ready for everyone.

Matt Mako vs. Wheeler Yuta

Marina Shafir is here with Yuta. Mako takes him down into a kneebar to start, with Yuta going straight to the rope. An armbar is blocked so Mako goes after him, with Yuta having to cover up. Back up and Yuta sends him outside and then knocks him off the apron, allowing Yuta to work on the arm back inside. Cattle Mutilation keeps Mako in trouble, only for him to escape into a slightly better headlock. Back up and Mako sends him into the corner, where Yuta gets a turnbuckle pad off.

We’ll get to that later as they head outside, with Mako grabbing a choke. That’s broken up so Mako tries his cross armbreaker back inside. Yuta fights out of that so Mako sits him on top for a suplex into a powerbomb for two. Mako’s kick to the face is shrugged off and Yuta German suplexes him for two. They go up top, with Mako flipping him into a cross armbreaker. Shafir offers a distraction, allowing Yuta to go to the eyes. A running knee finishes for Yuta at 11:46.

Rating: B-. Nice technical match here, as Mako has shown some skills during his limited appearances. I’m not sure if there is a place for him in AEW either long or short term, but he’s done well in the chances he has received. Yuta might be boring, but he knows how to do this kind of match rather well.

Video on the Premiere Athletes and their newest acquisition, Sori Denali.

La Faccion Ingobernable vs. Cheeseburger/Rhett Titus/Eli Isom

Mortos and Titus start things off but it’s Guevara coming in without any contact being made. Dralistico comes in to take him into the corner and it’s off to Mortos for a hard clothesline to Cheeseburger. A triple dropkick puts Isom down and everything breaks down, with Titus being sent into the barricade. Guevara drops the Swanton to pin Isom at 3:41.

Rating: C. Total squash here, with La Faccion getting to smash through some people. That’s nice to see after Guevara and Rush (who wasn’t wrestling here) won the Tag Team Titles, as they haven’t been around much since. It didn’t set anything up, but I’ll take something showing me that they’re at least still here.

Post match Guevara gets the mic and gets booed out of the building. Guevara talks about how great the team is and they want more titles.

Lee Johnson says Swirl is awesome and they want Blake Christian to get the next title shot against Bandido.

Demus El Demonico vs. Mad Dog Connelly

Hair vs. Hair and Connelly has a bad eye. Connelly misses some right hands to start but elbows Demus in the face. What looks like a shirt is used to choke Demus across the ropes as there are A LOT of empty seats visible. They go outside with Demus being sent into the steps but he whips Connelly in as well. Back in and a spinning middle rope crossbody gives Demus two and he goes after the eye.

Demus bites Connelly’s nipple but Connelly is back with a gutwrench suplex for two. A chair to the back has Demus in trouble but a spear only hits the open chair. Demus chairs him down for a change, only to miss a middle rope backsplash. A cradle piledriver gives Connelly two but he gets caught with a kneeling MuscleBuster for the same. Demus ties a chain around Connelly’s neck and chokes him over the ropes for the win at 10:31.

Rating: C+. I’m sure there’s a big story here but there apparently wasn’t time to tell us what that story was. Commentary mentioned a history but not exactly why they’re fighting. Then again there’s really no explanation for why we’re watching most of this so it fits in with the theme of the night. It was a nice enough power brawl, but I’m going to need a bit more of a reason to care about what I’m seeing.

Post match Demus goes to cut the hair but Connelly does it himself.

Video on the Pure Title.

Pure Title: Josh Woods vs. Lee Moriarty

Moriarty is defending. Woods takes him down by the leg to start and they trade small packages for two. Moriarty starts in on the arm and the Border City Stretch goes on. They go to the ropes, with Woods using the first break. A kneebar makes Moriarty us his first break and it’s time to trade armbars. Back up and Woods hits a release gordbuster but Moriarty uses the ropes to block a fisherman’s buster.

Woods’ gutwrench suplex is countered with a hurricanrana to the floor, followed by another armbar. Woods uses another rope break but Moriarty is right there with a springboard forearm for two more. The cross armbreaker into a triangle choke has Woods in trouble, until he powerbombs his way to freedom. That lets Woods cover him for three, but Moriarty’s foot was underneath the ropes for his final break. An exchange of rollups goes to Moriarty to retain the title at 10:10.

Rating: B. Pretty easily the best match of the night as both of them are rather good at this style. At the same time, it’s still Moriarty having the same kind of a match that he’s had for over a year as champion. It was barely built up and came and went, as Moriarty’s record setting reign continues.

Shane Taylor Promotions come out to celebrate and Shane Taylor himself wants a fight with someone from Action Wrestling.

Shane Taylor vs. AR Fox

Fox ducks away from some right hands to start and kicks Taylor in the back. Taylor is sent to the floor for some dives but he pulls one out of the air. Fox gets swung into the barricade and some hard chops give Taylor two. A hard clothesline drops Fox for two and a release Rock Bottom puts him down again.

Fox gets in some enziguris and elbows him down in the corner. The skin the cat dropkick connects but they head to the apron, with Fox being thrown onto the barricade. That just earns Taylor a jumping cutter, followed by a Swanton for two back inside. Taylor punches him out for the pin at 5:55.

Rating: B-. For a match that had very little time, they got something going here and I wanted to see Fox win. That’s a good sign for how far he’s come, but at some point he needs to win one of these featured matches. I get it as Taylor is a fresh champion, but dang it’s frustrating to see Fox lose again.

Overall Rating: C+. This was a show where it felt like I was dropped into the middle of a book and just expected and figure it out from there. Action Wrestling is hardly some big time promotion but we’re thrown into the middle of a tribute show for someone you might not know. The wrestlers aren’t exactly household names either and that made for a show where it’s rather hard to care about what I’m seeing. I’ll certainly take a break from the dull ROH show, but do a better job of telling me what I’m seeing.

Results
Hechicero/Xelhua/Dr. Cerebro b. Blue Panther/Virus/El Panthera 2-1
Billie Starkz b. Nicole Matthews – Electric chair driver
Wheeler Yuta b. Matt Mako – Running knee
La Faccion Ingobernable b. Cheeseburger/Rhett Titus/Eli Isom – Swanton to Isom
Demus El Demonico b. Mad Dog Connelly – Choke with a chain over the ropes
Lee Moriarty b. Josh Woods – Rollup
Shane Taylor b. AR Fox – Right hand

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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Ring Of Honor
Date: September 5, 2025
Location: 2300 Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

It’s a special bonus show, because we didn’t get enough matches on this week’s regular show. The advertised card features eleven matches, making it a good deal longer than yesterday’s episode. I’m not sure how well that is going to go, but hopefully it’s more interesting than what we usually get. Let’s get to it.

Here are this week’s edition if you need a recap.

We open with a Death Before Dishonor recap.

Opening sequence.

Frat House vs. AR Fox/Kingdom

The Frat House pose on the floor and get taken down by some dives because Taven and Fox don’t like toasts. We start with Taven dropkicking Vance but Jakked Jameson offers a distraction, allowing Garrison to get in a cheap shot. Fox’s dive is pulled out of the air and he gets sent into the barricade, leaving Taven to get caught in a delayed suplex.

Taven manages an enziguri and brings Fox in to pick up the pace. The skin the cat dropkick sets up a cutter to Vance, followed by a flipping stomp and flipping dive. Bennett comes in and gets dropped with a discus lariat as everything breaks down. Karter misses a 450 though and Rockstar Supernova into the 450 gives Fox the pin at 7:51.

Rating: B-. Hot match to start here with a bunch of people flying around and doing their thing to get the show going. I’m not sure I can imagine Fox and the Kingdom going after the Six Man Tag Team Titles, but at least there’s a chance of something happening. Just get something happening with the titles already.

At Death Before Dishonor, Shane Taylor Promotions are happy with winning the Six Man Tag Team Titles. This might mean more if they didn’t lose so frequently in AEW/ROH but it’s still better than the Sons Of Texas. I think.

Premiere Athletes vs. Spanish Announce Project

In case you needed to know the most Ring Of Honor match possible. Before the match, Mark Sterling says he’s injured but has a contingency plan. Nese takes over on Angelico to start but they roll around a bit until Angelico snaps off a dropkick. Serpentico comes in and gets hiptossed onto Nese, followed by a falling splash for two. It’s off to Daivari, who chokes Serpentico on the ropes, which allows Nese to…well do the exact same thing actually.

Nese misses a triangle moonsault though and Serpentico rolls away, allowing the needed tag to Angelico. A kick to the head gets two on Daivari and a Downward Spiral into the Swanton gets two. Sliced Bread gets two more on Daivari but Sterling gets on the apron. Cue a rather tall woman to chokeslam Serpentico so Daivari can get the pin at 7:40.

Rating: C+. This is one of those matches where it’s hard to imagine that this is going to mean much. I like the idea of the Athletes having their version of Chyna, as it’s something that could suit them well. At the same time, this match couldn’t feel much less important given what these teams have meant over the years.

Post match Sterling announces the woman (who is a good 3-4 inches taller than the Athletes) is the contingency plan.

Rachael Ellering vs. Deonna Purrazzo

Pure Rules, but NOT a tournament match, because we need preview matches. Ellering has to burn a rope break about thirty seconds in but she’s right back with a running mare. A backsplash gets two but Ellering has to get out of a Fujiwara armbar. Another Fujiwara armbar makes Ellering use another rope break. Some forearms and a suplex get Ellering out of the armbar and Purrazzo accidentally uses a rope break to get out of an O’Connor roll. The Boss Woman Slam connects but Purrazzo is right back with the Venus de Milo for the tap at 5:13.

Rating: C. Yes, the woman in the Pure Rules tournament, who is known for her technical abilities, beat someone who…well isn’t either of those things. Why this match needed to be on this show rather than another part of the tournament is beyond me, but at least Purrazzo won in fairly convincing fashion. Now just do the tournament already so the title can almost never be defended.

Post match Trish Adora comes out to stare down Purrazzo (who she’s facing in the tournament).

Trish Adora vs. Ashley Vox

Pure Rules and Adora uses a rope break less than thirty seconds in. Adora works on the arm and powers Vox up, making Vox use her first rope break. A backpack Stunner sets up a double hammerlock to make Vox tap at 2:46.

Post match Adora kicks Vox outside.

The MxM Collection and Johnny TV are happy with the Seed fragrance and say you’ll be facing it when you face them.

Alex Zayne vs. Johnny TV

The MxM Collection and Taya Valkyrie are here with TV. Zayne starts fast but has a superplex attempt broken up. TV has to bail out of a springboard but settles for a running knee for two instead. Zayne is sent outside for a cheap shot from the Collection and TV powerbombs Valkyrie onto him against the apron. Back in and we hit the chinlock, followed by the Flying Chuck.

TV stops to kiss Valkyrie, which is enough of a distraction for Zayne to knock TV into the corner. The flipping faceplant gives Zayne two, with the Collection pulling TV outside. Zayne dives onto everyone but TV, who drops him with a superkick. Back in and a cutthroat driver connects for Zayne, only for Valkyrie to distract the referee. Mansoor sprays seed in Zayne’s eyes to give TV the win at 5:17.

Rating: B-. I was having a good time with this one and it’s nice to see the Collection getting to do something that ties into what they’re doing. Zayne is someone who can have an exciting match and do a bunch of cool stuff so he’s a fun addition to the show. Not exactly a lengthy classic, but it was at least a bit different.

The Premiere Athletes’ contingency plan is Story Denali and yes she’s an official member of the team.

Jordan Oliver vs. The Beast Mortos

Mortos uses the ropes to flip into a wristlock before Pouncing Oliver into the ropes. Oliver tries to strike away but Mortos flips over him and hits a headbutt for two. A dropkick to the knee gets Oliver out of trouble and he hits a springboard hurricanrana. Oliver dragon screw leg whips him out of the corner but Mortos is fine enough to hit a pop up Samoan drop. Oliver goes to the knee again and hits a slingshot stunner. Mortos is right back with a backbreaker into the spinning piledriver for the pin at 5:31.

Rating: C+. Oliver continues to be someone who could turn into a thing if he’s given the chance around here, though it depends on if he’s sticking around after the residency ends. On the other hand you have Mortos, who did his thing of running through everyone in front of him. That’s a style that works well for him, even if he’s not around very often.

The Outrunners say they’re down but not out.

LSG/Beef vs. Don Callis Family

Archer kicks Beef down to start and fires off the crossfaces in the ropes. Beef’s jabs are cut off with a crossbody and it’s off to Hechicero, with the fans approving. LSG comes in to jab away and is taken down just as fast. Hechicero’s running knee in the corner sets up a flapjack, with Beef making a failed save attempt. Hechicero powerbombs LSG for the pin at 3:27.

Rating: C. You know what I saw on Dynamite this week? A Lance Archer match. Last night on Ring Of Honor? Lance Archer having a match. Tonight? That would be Lance Archer in action. Archer isn’t someone who is going to mix it up very much in the first place and yet here we are, seeing him three times in three days. This is a prime example of how it feels like this show is just stretching to make the shows longer for the sake of more time.

We get a long video on Athena’s 1000 day reign as Women’s Champion. She deserves the praise, along with a full time spot in AEW but why do that when you can just keep doing the same stuff?

Josh Woods vs. Matt Mako

Pure Rules (again). They go to the grappling to start until Woods ties up the legs, sending Mako to the ropes. Ring announcer: “He has used his first rope break.” They go back to the mat but Mako uses a closed fist to take over. Woods slams the knee into the mat a few times and grabs the ankle lock, setting up a German suplex. Back up and Mako misses a spinwheel kick in the corner before they trade boots to the face for a double down. Woods is back up with the spinning suplex into the corner for the pin at 7:05.

Rating: C+. Mako has had one match here since 2021 and this was Woods’ first match here since November. These are the people who are in the third Pure Rules match of the night. This show isn’t even trying to hide that it’s content for the sake of content against this week’s Smackdown. I get why Tony Khan would want to do that, but MAYBE PUT SOME EFFORT INTO IT FOR ONCE???

Hologram vs. Aaron Solo

They trade armdrags to start until Hologram stacks up a rollup for two. A running headscissors sends Solo outside but he’s ready before the dive. Instead they trade places and Solo hits his own dive, followed by a snap suplex back inside. An elbow to the face gives Solo two more and he’s getting rather cocky. Naturally it’s time to go for the mask, which doesn’t work, and Hologram sends him outside for the big flip dive. Back in and a hammerlock faceplant gets two but Solo drops him right back. Hologram knocks him out of the air though and the torture rack bomb finishes Solo at 7:25.

Rating: C+. Well, I’m not sure what to think of the match. It might have been as good as the match Hologram had at Death Before Dishonor but not as good as the one the next night on Collision. I’m thinking it was better than the one he had last night on Ring Of Honor, but maybe I’m getting the four matches he’s had in eight days confused. Eh either way it’s not that it matters as he wins all the time and never moves up the ladder, while people like Shane Taylor Promotions never actually win and get a title shot. Such is Ring Of Honor.

Here’s what’s coming on various shows.

Lee Johnson vs. Bandido

Non-title Proving Ground match, meaning if Johnson (with Blake Christian) wins or lasts the ten minute time limit, he gets a future World Title shot. Johnson backs him into the corner to start and they head outside, with Bandido being dropped onto the apron. Back in and Johnson chops him down for a sliding forearm and two. Johnson gets two more off a belly to back suplex but Bandido is back up with a spinning high crossbody.

The X Knee is countered so Bandido runs him over. Christian blocks the 21 Plex though and Johnson gets in a kick to the face. The brainbuster gives Johnson two and they trade kicks to the face. Johnson hits the ropes but Bandido presses strong grapple and flicks the joystick to hit a pop up cutter. The X Knee finishes for Bandido at 5:28.

Rating: C+. You kind of had an idea of how this was going when the bell rang with only a few minutes left in the show. It’s nice to see Bandido get in the ring, but again it makes me wonder why Johnson is getting pinned, even by Bandido, when Swirl is supposed to be climbing the ranks. It’s not quite the same thing, but maybe protect your team a bit better?

Post match Christian runs in and hits a Lethal Injection to drop Bandido to end the show.

Overall Rating: C-. It wasn’t as dull as last night’s show, but the problem here is how bleh the whole thing was. While I liked some of the action, we had three Pure Rules matches, plus people like Archer and Hologram making their third and fourth appearances in about a week. Throw in the Premiere Athletes and the Spanish Announce Project etc. and it’s just so repetitive every single time. Oh and we’ve had two shows since Death Before Dishonor in the same venue. Any sign of the new Six Man or Tag Team Champions? Of course not.

Results
AR Fox/Kingdom b. Frat House – 450 to Karter
Premiere Athletes b. Spanish Announce Project – Chokeslam to Serpentico
Deonna Purrazzo b. Rachael Ellering – Venus de Milo
Trish Adora b. Ashley Vox – Double hammerlock
Johnny TV b. Alex Zayne – Rollup
The Beast Mortos b. Jordan Oliver – Spinning piledriver
Don Callis Family b. Beef/LSG – Sitout powerbomb to LSG
Josh Woods b. Matt Mako – Spinning suplex into the corner
Hologram b. Aaron Solo – Torture rack bomb
Bandido b. Lee Johnson – X Knee

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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Death Before Dishonor 2025
Date: August 29, 2025
Location: 2300 Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

We’re back on pay per view around here and since this is Ring Of Honor, nine matches have been added to the card in the last day and a half. This includes the Tag Team and Six Man Tag Team Titles being decided as both were recently vacated. That’s in addition to the double main event of Hechicero challenging Bandido for the World Title and Athena defending the Women’s Title against Mina Shirakawa. Let’s get to it.

Zero Hour: Jordan Oliver vs. Jay Lethal

Feeling out process to start, with Lethal rolling away and getting in a strut. Oliver takes him into the corner for some chops, followed by something like a crossbody to counter a leapfrog (that was cool). They trade some escapes in a nice sequence until Lethal gets in a suplex. Oliver sends him into the corner for a flip out to the apron, and there’s the strut. Back in and Lethal hits a superkick but the Lethal Injection is cut off. Lethal blocks a superplex but Hail To The King is countered into a crucifix for two. Back up and the Figure Four goes on in a hurry and Oliver taps at 6:57.

Rating: C+. Perfectly fine warm up match for the fans, who will recognize Oliver from his time in smaller promotions while Lethal is the established veteran trying to prove he still has it. Oliver scouting a bunch of Lethal’s moves made sense but ultimately Lethal was just too much for him. Nice stuff here, with the match lasting just about the exact amount of time.

Respect is shown post match.

Zero Hour: MxM Collection vs. Dark Order vs. Frat House

Everyone has at least one second with them. Reynolds takes over on Garrison’s arm to start and it’s quickly off to Silver, with the Order getting to pose. That doesn’t work for the House, who break it up as everything breaks down into a fight on the floor. We settle down to Silver staring up at Madden but everyone jumps Silver to start the beating. Garrison comes in for two off a snap suplex as the Frat House and Collection get into it over the House’s paddle on the floor (multiple spankings ensue).

Reynolds comes in to clean house, including a running boot to put Madden on the floor. Back in and Madden grabs a kind of spinning AA for two on Reynolds. Silver is back in with a double standing Sliced Bread on the House, followed by the Spin Doctor to Madden. The Order hits their pinfall sequence on Mansoor but Johnny TV sprays his cologne into Silver’s eyes, allowing Mansoor to get the pin at 7:42.

Rating: C+. They had a lot going on here, including a bunch of comedy on the floor, but the Collection winning makes the most sense. The Order is going to be popular no matter what they do and the House are the resident morons. That leaves the Connection to be the only slightly serious group so thankfully they split the difference here and won.

Zero Hour: Ashley Vox vs. Billie Starkz

Pure Rules. Starkz wants a test of strength to start but gets pulled into a headlock for her efforts. A leglock is broken up as Vox kicks her away but Starkz is right back to sit on Vox’s back. Something like an Octopus sends Starkz over to the ropes for her first break, leaving her able to hit a nasty running Alabama Slam into the corner. Starkz hammers away in the corner but the Swanton misses, allowing Vox to grab an anklescissors. An armbar makes Starkz use another break and she hits Vox in the face for the official warning. Back up and Starkz grabs the brainbuster onto the knee for the pin at 6:24.

Rating: C. As tends to be the case, the Pure Rules aspect meant very little here, as the match could have been done pretty much exactly the same without them. I still have no idea why this thing needs a title of its own, but this wasn’t even a tournament match as we apparently needed a preview before the real thing. On top of that, Vox isn’t even a star around here so this was somehow the best they could do, which says a lot.

Zero Hour: Dralistico vs. Adam Priest vs. AR Fox vs. Angelico

For $50,000. Priest and Dralistico bail out to the floor to start, earning themselves dropkicks through the ropes. Back in and Angelico works on Angelico works on Fox’s arm before tying up Priest’s leg in a Figure Four. That’s broken up so Priest and Dralistico get in a fight of their own, only for Fox to break it up. Fox cutters both of them for a bonus and it’s time for the rather popular dives to the floor.

That’s not enough as Fox gets a running start on the barricade and jumps for a legdrop to Angelico on the apron. Back in and Priest sunset bombs Dralistico for two but Dralistico is right back with a Swanton. Priest and Dralistico chop it out until Dralistico hits a springboard Destroyer for two on Fox. Dralistico goes up and hits a super Codebreaker to Angelico for the pin at 8:27.

Rating: B-. This is the kind of thing that will almost always work as you have a bunch of talented people out there going nuts and flying around for a nice stretch. That’s all you need in a situation like this and Dralistico is certainly a surprise winner. Good match here and main event of this kind of a show, even one as packed as this one.

And now, the show proper.

The opening video talks about war and focuses on Hechicero vs. Bandido, with Mina Shirakawa vs. Athena getting a bit of time as well.

Hologram/Tomohiro Ishii vs. Premiere Athletes

Before the match, the Hologram load screen doesn’t work for some reason. Mark Sterling handles the Athletes’ entrance and wants to pay tribute to the Extreme originals, with Nese as the Human Six Pack Machine, Daivari as the Innovator Of Finance and Sterling as the King Of Law School. Eh funnier than anything else he usually says. Ishii and Daivari start things off and neither goes anywhere off an exchange of shoulders.

For some reason Daivari pokes his finger in Ishii’s face and gets it twisted, with Nese telling Daivari that he has this. A single forearm puts Daivari down and it’s off to Hologram for the standing moonsault. Nese is back up to flip away, setting up a running headscissors. Hologram dives over him and hits a Spanish Fly for two but Sterling offers a distraction. That’s enough for Hologram to get put in the wrong corner for some double teaming, with Sterling getting in a bit of choking.

Nese ties him in the ropes for a step up legdrop but Hologram flips out and hands it back to Ishii. A Saito suplex gets two on Nese and everything breaks down, with stereo German suplexes dropping the Athletes. Hologram goes up for a high crossbody to go with Ishii’s brainbuster but Nese is right back with a pumphandle piledriver. Sterling gets up but Daivari collides into him, leaving Nese to get caught with a brainbuster/spinwheel kick combination for the pin at 12:33.

Rating: C+. As usual, good enough stuff from Hologram and Ishii, but it’s just another match that could have been on any given ROH show with a bit more time than usual. That doesn’t make it interesting as there’s no story to the match and it’s just added to the show to make it longer. Either find something for Hologram to do already or stop acting like he’s some kind of phenom, because we’ve kind of covered the idea already.

We recap the Six Man Tag Team Title match, with the focus on Dustin Rhodes’ injury resulting in the titles being vacated. The Sons Of Texas are getting their shot, with Shane Taylor Promotions getting the other spot because wins and losses don’t mean much around here. Sidenote: the video makes it sound like Rhodes died saving a basket of puppies on its way to an orphanage on Christmas morning. In other words, very Ring Of Honor of them.

Six Man Tag Team Titles: Shane Taylor Promotions vs. Sammy Guevara/Von Erichs

For the vacant titles. Guevara charges into the wrong corner to start and the beating is on but he pops up with a leg lariat. A snap suplex gives Guevara one and Ross comes in for a running boot in the corner. The Von Erichs hit some double dropkicks and Marshall powerslams Bravo for two. Dean pulls Ross to the floor though and some triple teaming has him down, meaning the Promotions get to pose together.

Dean comes in for a Bronco Buster (which Caprice dubs the BBC) before Taylor hits a hard knee to the face. The fans start with a “F*** THE COWBOYS” chant as Bravo hits a middle rope knee. Ross finally kicks Bravo away and brings Marshall in to clean house. A moonsault gives Marshall two and everything breaks down, with Guevara (wearing a cowboy hat to lean into the heat) coming back in for the brawl.

Marshall and Dean trade shots to the face but Guevara hits a high crossbody to the Infantry. A springboard clothesline hits Bravo, though the fans tell Guevara that “YOU STILL SUCK”. Guevara gets caught with a big right hand from Taylor and a double stomp from the Infantry is good for the pin and the titles at 13:04.

Rating: C+. Ok. The Promotions have never actually won a match together as a three man team coming into this and lost as recently as the special episode from two weeks ago (all three members of the team that beat them are on the show tonight), but now they’re champions. Ok, sure. They’re holding titles that would go months without being defended and Dustin Rhodes (praise be his name) couldn’t possibly have stood on the apron while his teammates lost the titles because he’s just too important for that but they are in fact champions. Ok, sure then.

Women’s Pure Wrestling Title Tournament First Round: Taya Valkyrie vs. Queen Aminata

Because this is a thing after months of nothing being said about it. Valkyrie uses a rope break about 40 seconds in to get out of an early hammerlock and then does it again a few seconds later. Aminata pulls her into the hips to the face but Valkyrie kicks her in the head. The sliding German suplex pulls her out of the ropes and Aminata’s leg is wrapped around the post.

A Blue Thunder Bomb gives Valkyrie one and she sends Aminata face first into the steps for two. The STF sends Aminata to the ropes for the first break and she’s back with some double chops. Aminata grabs a full nelson with her legs, which has Valkyrie using her last rope break. A hammerlock has Valkyrie trying the ropes to escape but instead she sends Aminata throat first into them for a more violent way out. Aminata shrugs that off, hits the headbutt and advances at 8:15.

Rating: C. So, again, the idea is that someone burns through their rope breaks because they don’t know the rules very well (yet she’s in a tournament for the title built around these rules) and then they do their regular match. I still have no idea why this needs to be a title yet here we are with a tournament four months after it was announced. And again: this is the third active women’s title in Ring Of Honor, because that’s something this place can support.

Post match Deonna Purrazzo comes out for the staredown with Aminata.

We don’t know who Sammy Guevara’s partner is going to be.

Kingdom vs. Swirl

Swirl is Blake Christian/Lee Johnson and they’re described as being “red hot”. Naturally, this is code for “they’ve lost two of their last three matches”. Swirl jumps them to start and are clotheslined out to the floor, with Taven hitting a big dive to take them out. Bennett comes in and fires off a bunch of chops in the corner but gets sent outside. Johnson drops him onto the barricade for a splash from Christian as Jay Lethal is watching backstage.

Back in and a step up enziguri connects in the corner but Bennett gets over for the tag to Taven. The Lionsault connects for two and we get a double Proton Pack to leave everyone down. Christian hits a 450 for two and Taven’s rollup with tights gets the same. The Vanilla Choke Zero has Taven in trouble until Bennett AA’s Johnson onto them for the save.

Just The Tip connects to send Christian outside but the Doomsday Device is broken up, with Bennett being dropped on the floor. Taven fights up and hits some kicks to the face, only for Christian to hit him low. The Death Valley Driver/top rope double stomp finishes Taven at 11:25.

Rating: B-. Another good match with no backstory, though the stuff about Swirl being “red hot” made me roll my eyes given their recent losses. One might wonder why a team that was “red hot” wasn’t in the match for the vacant Tag Team Titles, but I’m probably thinking about it too hard. They’re certainly pushing the Swirl as something, but I’ll believe they’re getting somewhere when I actually see it.

We recap Xelhua challenging Lee Moriarty for the TV Title. Xelhua survived the ten minute time limit in a Proving Ground match to get the shot. That’s it.

Pure Wrestling Title: Lee Moriarty vs. Xelhua

Xelhua is challenging. They lock up and go into the ropes but the referee calls it unintentional (fair) so that’s not a break. Instead Moriarty gets caught in a leglock, meaning it’s time for the first break. Moriarty’s open hand chops are blocked and Xelhua grabs an anklescissors to spin Moriarty around. Back up and they fight over a top wristlock with Moriarty getting in trouble and not knowing what to do here.

Xelhua hits him in the face for the official warning, leaving Moriarty to leapfrog the referee to hit a dropkick and take over. Moriarty starts in on the hands and Xelhua has to use his first rope break. They go outside and trade chops until Moriarty goes back to the arm. Said arm is slammed into the mat over and over until a small package gives Xelhua two. Back up and Xelhua is sent outside for a series of suicide dives, only for the third to be countered into a cross armbreaker.

That’s broken up and Moriarty snaps the arm across the top rope, followed by the Border City Stretch. Riccaboni: “This has won Moriarty dozens of matches as the Pure Champion!” No, it hasn’t. Anyway, Xelhua comes back with a suplex and a high crossbody for two, setting up a rather nasty looking headscissor armbar.

Moriarty has to use his second break but goes right back to the arm. A flapjack gives Moriarty two, with Xelhua using his final rope break. The Border City Stretch is broken up again and a hammerlock drop gives Xelhua two more. Moriarty goes to the arm again with an Octopus, followed by a Border City Stretch in the ropes (legal) to retain at 16:16.

Rating: B. This was getting into a heck of a technical exchange and that’s what can make these matches fun. When you have two people who can do this stuff, it turns into something of an art form and they were making it work here. Moriarty has been champion for over a year now and while the title could easily be dropped without losing much, he’s gotten pretty snazzy at this style.

Post match respect is shown.

We recap Paul Walter Hauser (an actor who wrestles) vs. QT Marshall. They’ve been arguing over Marshall throwing alcohol in Hauser’s (a recovering alcoholic) face and telling Hauser to stick to acting. Hauser has shown up to go after Marshall and it’s time to have a Fight Without Honor.

Paul Walter Hauser vs. QT Marshall

Fight Without Honor (basically anything goes). They stare at each other to start until Marshall grabs a front facelock. That’s reversed into a hammerlock slam as Hauser gets to show some wrestling abilities, followed by an atomic drop into a Russian legsweep. Hauser sends him outside for a flip dive, meaning it’s time to set up a table. Marshall tries to slide a chair at Hauser, who manages to duck, and suplex Marshall on the floor.

Naturally it’s time for a ladder, which is knocked back into Hauser’s face. Back in and Hauser hits a quick Flip Flop and Fly, only to get sent hard into the ladder. A catapult sends Hauser into the ladder (albeit not very hard), busting him open in the process. Marshall whips out a box full of barbed wire toys, including a baseball bat, which he rakes over Hauser’s head. The chair takes too long though and Hauser fights back, only for Aaron Solo to run in with a cheap shot for the save. The barbed wire chair to the back keeps Hauser down but he manages to backdrop Marshall to the floor.

Solo whips out some handcuffs but cue Hook to send Solo through a table. Hook chokes/drags Solo out and Hauser Regal Rolls Marshall off the apron through a ringside table. Back in and Hauser gives him a sitdown piledriver onto an open chair (that’s a new one) for two and it’s a Golden Globe to the face to drop Marshall again. The box of broken glass (because that’s a thing) is pulled out and Marshall’s Diamond Cutter attempt is countered with a toss into said glass.

An AA sends Marshall into the glass again for two and Hauser can’t believe it. Some tacks are brought in and Marshall hits a superkick, followed by a powerbomb to send him into the tacks for two more. Marshall uses a dustpan to pour glass onto another table and then grabs….a mic. Naturally the insults take too long, allowing Hauser to hit him low. Hauser goes up but gets hit low, allowing Marshall to super Diamond Cutter him through the glass covered table for the pin at 20:34.

Rating: C+. Hauser is one of the better celebrity wrestlers and he was certainly trying here, but this was more of the same stuff that has been done far too often. There’s nothing about it that stands out as the tacks, glass and barbed wire have all been done. Marshall winning is certainly odd as well, as he might be a wrestler…but he’s QT Marshall, so why would he need a win?

Post match Hauser gets the hero’s sendoff.

Tag Team Titles: Sammy Guevara/??? vs. Outrunners

For the vacant titles and Guevara’s partner is….Rush. Huh. Ok then, so I guess Guevara is a heel again. Magnum takes Guevara into the corner to start and snaps off a hiptoss so it’s off to Rush to change things up. Floyd comes in as well and we get a rather aggressive lockup, followed by an exchange of shoulders. It’s back to Magnum for a running knee lift into a belly to back suplex for two on Rush, which doesn’t sit well with him.

Guevara comes in for some double teaming of his own, allowing him to crank on Magnum’s neck in the ropes. Magnum is sent outside for a ram into the steps before Rush adds a chop so hard that makes Guevara cringe. Rush and Guevara do the Tranquilo pose and it’s Guevara coming in….as we get a WE WANT RUSH chant. Instead Guevara grabs a chinlock but Magnum suplexes his way to freedom.

Floyd gets to come in for a bunch of slams but Guevara breaks up the Mega Powers elbow. Everything breaks down and the Outrunners send them into each other, setting up the Mega Powers elbow to Rush. Total Recall hits Guevara and everyone is down again. The fans are all over Guevara again and he shoves Magnum off the top. That leaves Floyd to get caught with the Bull’s Horns into the Swanton to give Guevara the pin and the titles at 12:58.

Rating: B-. The match was ok, but it was still hard to buy the idea that the Outrunners were going to win in the first place. Even with Rush and Guevara being thrown together, they still felt like the favorites and then won the belts. At the same time, thank goodness Guevara is just a villain again, as he’s not someone who has done much in the way of good guy stuff before. Just let him be a natural jerk and go from there, which is what we’re seeing here. Oh and ACTUALLY DEFEND THE TITLES rather than just having them sit on the sidelines for such ridiculous stretches.

Post match Dralistico comes in to celebrate but the Von Erichs come in to wonder what is going on. Uh, not everyone is obsessed with Texas? The Von Erichs are quickly destroyed.

The Outrunners are depressed about their loss but Shane Taylor Promotions come in to laugh at them.

We recap Hechicero challenging Bandido for the World Title. Hechicero got the shot and has tried to unmask Bandido. And something about them fighting outside of a saloon in the old west.

Ring Of Honor World Title: Hechicero vs. Bandido

Bandido is defending and here is Don Callis for his terrible Spanish introduction (which is fairly funny). Bandido’s entrance gear is something like a half suit of armor, which is probably going far over my head. They start slowly with Bandido scoring off a quick kick to the knee. Hechicero takes him into the corner and starts in on the arm, followed by a headscissors to pull Bandido down.

Bandido is back with his own headscissors and they grapple on the mat as this is rather clean thus far. An exchange of rollups gets two each, followed by Hechicero pulling him down into a rollup. Bandido gets his own rollup for two and Hechicero bails out to the floor. Back in and Bandido flips away, only to snap off a hurricanrana. Hechicero flips out of that as well but gets sent outside, with Bandido hitting a running flipping hurricanrana.

Callis is rather nervous so Bandido flips him off, only to charge into a knee back inside. Hechicero starts going after the mask (as is required) and Bandido goes after the rather chatty Callis. That’s enough for Hechicero to get in a shot from behind and Callis is back on commentary (because we’re so lucky). Hechicero starts in on the legs and grabs a surfboard, only for Bandido to reverse into one of his own. That doesn’t last long and Bandido is knocked outside, where Hechicero sends him into the barricade.

Back in and we hit the cross armbreaker for a bit, followed by Hechicero going with straight shots to the head. Bandido pops back up with some shots of his own, followed by the spinning high crossbody. The gorilla press drops Hechicero and he goes outside for the big running dive (as the fans are VERY into this). Back in and a frog splash gives Bandido two and now it’s time to go after Hechicero’s mask.

Bandido sends him outside again but this time Hechicero is back with a ram into the apron. Naturally they climb onto the barricade with Bandido hitting a suplex and they’re both down again. They head to the apron, where Hechicero charges into a monkey flip, allowing Bandido to hit a heck of a dive from the top. Back in and Hechicero hits a top rope clothesline for two of his own so Bandido goes after the arm.

A sunset bomb to the floor is blocked so Hechicero gives him an insane spinning faceplant back to the floor (GEEZ). Back in again and Hechicero rolls him up for two but the spinning backbreaker is countered. An exchange of hard strikes to the face sets up Bandido’s poisonrana to leave both of them down.

They get up and strike it out until Bandido nails the X Knee. The 21 Plex is countered into an inverted Gory stretch, which is reversed rather quickly but Hechicero pulls him into a rocking horse. That’s broken up as well and they both fall down for a breather. The super fall away slam plants Hechicero again and the 21 Plex retains the title at 37:12.

Rating: A-. Well they certainly got some time to make this work. It was two guys beating the heck out of each other and it became a question of who was going to be able to catch the other. They weren’t so much trading near falls, but rather trying to see who was going to last longest. It’s an awesome match and they beat the fire out of each other, which made the rather long match time fly by.

We recap the main event, of Athena defending the Women’s Title. Athena is approaching 1000 days as champion and broke Shirakawa’s hand in a recent match, meaning it’s about the title and revenge.

Women’s Title: Athena vs. Mina Shirakawa

Athena, with Billie Starkz, is defending and backs Mina into the corner to start. They run the ropes until Mina drops down and dances before sending Athena out to the apron. A Russian legsweep drops Athena again and a dancing top rope knee gives Mina the same. They go outside, with Mina winning a chop off but hitting the post by mistake. Athena gets smart by crushing the hand on the steps before going after the hand back inside.

The hand is put in the corner for some rapid fire kicks. They head outside again and Athena misses a charge into the barricade, allowing Mina to come back with a backbreaker inside. Starkz offers a distraction to break up the Figure Four around the post though, only for Athena’s dive to hit Starkz by mistake. Athena is fine enough to swing Mina into the barricade but she’s fine enough to slap on a quick Figure Four back inside.

The rope gets Athena out of trouble so she snaps off a German suplex. They trade running shots for a double down before Mina wins a strike off. A big kick is reversed into a Tombstone to give Athena two, with the kickout leaving her stunned. Mina is back with a spinning DDT for two and the super Sling Blade gets the same. Athena goes to the hand to block the Glamorous Driver and grabs an Old School Expulsion of all things. The Koji Clutch is broken up and Mina grabs a spinning electric chair faceplant.

The Figure Four goes on until Athena flips it over, with Mina flipping her right back. Athena makes the rope so Mina goes up, where Athena catches her with a superplex. The leg gives out again though and Mina hits a discus forearm to the back of the head. Now the Glamorous Driver can connect for two but another attempt is countered into a cross armbreaker, allowing Athena to bite the hand. A powerbomb drops Mina again and it’s the O Face to retain the title at 26:01.

Rating: B. It’s another good match and they beat each other up with the hand vs. the leg stuff, making it a worthwhile main event. It wasn’t going to be able to hang with Bandido vs. Hechicero, but it was a very different kind of match. At the same time, I have no idea who is going to take the title from Athena, but at this point it’s hard to imagine it actually happening. That’s a good way to go, though I’m not sure it needed to go on this long. Either way, another solid match here.

Athena and Starkz are rather pleased to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. In a word, this show was frustrating. The last two matches are an outstanding one two punch and worth seeing, but the rest of the show is every Ring Of Honor problem rolled into one. You had title shots being thrown around to random people, matches being added with no stories whatsoever and a lot of stuff that could have been put on any given Ring Of Honor show.

In other words, it continues to feel like this show was booked on the back of a napkin in about five minutes with whomever happened to be available that weekend. In a week where AEW already had a six hour pay per view, having this thrown out there, with several matches having literally no build, was really tiring and I stopped caring for a good chunk of the show. Either act like Ring Of Honor matters or drop it, because this thrown together styles where wins and losses on the weekly show mean absolutely nothing is beyond annoying. As usual, the good wrestling bails them out, but that’s the extent of the positives.

Results
Jay Lethal b. Jordan Oliver – Figure Four
MxM Collection b. Dark Order and Frat House – Sunset flip to Silver
Billie Starkz b. Ashley Vox – Brainbuster onto the knee
Dralistico b. AR Fox, Angelico and Adam Priest – Top rope Codebreaker to Angelico
Hologram/Tomohiro Ishii b. Premiere Athletes – Brainbuster/spinwheel kick combination to Nese
Shane Taylor Promotions b. Sons Of Texas – Double stomp to Guevara
Queen Aminata b. Taya Valkyrie – Headbutt
Swirl b. The Kingdom – Death Valley Driver/top rope double stomp combination to Taven
Lee Moriarty b. Xelhua – Border City Stretch in the ropes
QT Marshall b. Paul Walter Hauser – Super Diamond Cutter through a glass covered table
Sammy Guevara/Rush b. Outrunners – Swanton to Floyd
Bandido b. Hechicero – 21 Plex
Athena b. Mina Shirakawa – O Face

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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Ring Of Honor
Date: August 21, 2025
Location: Berglund Center, Roanoke, Virginia
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

We are eight days away from Death Before Dishonor and that means it should be time for more of the card to come together. In this case, we currently have three matches set up for the card so there are several other matches that need to be added. There is at least one match that is all but announced so maybe now we get to see it officially confirmed. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Opening sequence.

We run down the card.

CMLL Trios Titles: Volador Jr./Magnus/Rugido vs. Mistico/Mascara Dorada/Neon

Mistico and company are defending and the challengers aren’t up for handshakes. Neon and Rugido start things off and they exchange some armdrags. Dorada and Magnus come in with Dorada snapping off a spinning headscissors to send Magnus outside. It’s off to Volador vs. Mistico with Mistico hitting a springboard crossbody but the challengers take over, with some triple teaming in the corner.

Neon comes in and seems to be favoring his shoulder but the good guys are back in with some springboard hurricanranas. Triple dives connect as well, followed by a superkick to Magnus back inside. Mistico and Dorada use something like Private Party’s Silly String to drop Magnus again and it’s off to Rugido, who is taken down with a springboard hurricanrana. Neon hits a dropkick and a great looking springboard hurricanrana but Magnus decks him from behind.

Mistico gives Magnus a super Spanish Fly but walks into a Canadian Destroyer from Volador. We hit the parade of knockdowns until no one is left standing for a bit. Back up and we get a double rowboat spot with the four feet touching (basically making a circle), leaving Neon to roll Magnus up for two in the middle. Dorada’s shooting star press hits Volador and La Mistica retains the titles at 10:08.

Rating: B+. It was a fast paced and exciting match with the champions looking incredibly smooth (that springboard hurricanrana from Neon was one of the best I’ve ever seen). There’s a reason these guys are some of the best in the world at this style and the match went well. I could go for the Ring Of Honor versions of these titles being defended, but this was a great showcase.

Blake Christian vs. Beef

Fallout from last week when they were in a tag match and Lee Johnson is here with Christian. Beef easily wins a battle of shoulders but Christian knocks him into the corner, where Johnson gets in some choking. The strutting Old School is broken up, though Christian hits a nifty springboard dropkick to the back of the head. Beef strikes away in the corner but gets sent to the apron for a spear to the floor. Back in and a 450 stomp sets up the Vanilla Choke Zero for the win at 5:10.

Rating: C. I’ve said it before, but I’m really not sure if I’m comfortable with enjoying Blake Christian this much. There’s something about him just embracing being so….average. I get that’s what he’s going for with the vanilla deal, but dang it’s working for reasons I can’t explain. Give him the TV Title rather than Nick Wayne. My goodness I just said I want Christian to be TV Champion (the Christian Cage connection is even included in his name).

Post match Christian and Johnson lay Beef out again.

We look at Paul Walter Hauser saving QT Marshall last week.

Marshall is not happy with Hauser coming into his industry and they are set to fight at Death Before Dishonor. There’s your match that was all but set.

Video on the Outrunners.

The Beast Mortos vs. AR Fox

Dralistico is here with Mortos. Fox wastes no time in sending Mortos to the floor for a pair of big no hands dives. Back in and Mortos takes him into the corner and snaps off a powerslam for two. Fox is right back up to knock him to the apron for the flipping double stomp, followed by a big Swanton for a near fall of his own. Fox charges into a boot in the corner but kicks him in the head, setting up a Death Valley Driver. Mortos shrugs that off and hits a headbutt, followed by the spinning piledriver for the pin at 5:38.

Rating: B-. Yeah this was always going to be fine, as you have a basic formula of power vs. speed and wrestlers who know how to do that rather well. Fox hasn’t become a huge star, but it feels like he is giving it his all out there. That’s something I absolutely appreciate and it’s taken him from just someone on the card to someone reliable for me and that’s a big upgrade.

Post match Rush comes in for the big group beatdown.

Here are the Workhorsemen and Adam Priest to say that the Von Erichs’ partner is injured so just forfeit since we can’t have a six man match. Cue the Von Erichs to say not so fast my friend, because they have a replacement.

Workhorsemen/Adam Priest vs. Von Erichs/Sammy Guevara

Neither the Von Erichs nor Guevara have their belts with them. Henry headlocks Guevara to start and goes nowhere with it so Ross comes in to take over. Ross’ Stinger Splash misses Priest though and the villains take over in the corner. Drake hits a big chop but Ross fights his way out of trouble rather quickly. It’s back to Guevara to clean house but Henry kicks him down. A Shining Wizard sets up Priest’s top rope splash for two and Guevara is taken onto the ramp. That’s broken up rather quickly and it’s Marshall coming in to take over on Priest. A spinning claw slam into the claw finishes for Marshall at 7:26.

Rating: C+. This would be the logical way to go for the Six Man Tag Team Titles, though I’m not sure about the Tag Team Titles. Or they’ll just leave the titles in limbo until Dustin Rhodes gets back. Or they still don’t know because there is almost no planning in Ring Of Honor. Then again, the fact that the Workhorsemen and Priest went from not being together two weeks ago to working with the champions here, there isn’t much of a need for Six Man Tag Team Titles in the first place.

Trish Adora vs. Janai Kai

Kai shoulders her down to start and gets two off a quick kick. Adora’s comeback is cut off by more kicks and a spinning faceplant gives Kai two. Back up and Adora grabs a backbreaker for two of her own, followed by the German suplex from her knees. The Lariat Tubman finishes for Adora at 4:35.

Rating: C. This was much more about Kai, who was being given a lot of time and offense here and that’s great to see. Her striking and movement were both good, but there was pretty much no way she was going to win here. Adora did her big moves well, but it’s pretty clear that she’s not going anywhere and that isn’t changing.

The Von Erichs and Sammy Guevara seem to be ready to team together at Death Before Dishonor. I’m not wild on it, but swapping Guevara in as the other Six Man Champion is as good as anything else.

Death Before Dishonor rundown.

We get the Hechicero vs. Bandido old west video from last week.

Jay Lethal vs. Hechicero

Don Callis is here with Hechicero and butchers his Spanish entrance. Hechicero goes after the arm to start but gets punched to the floor for a suicide dive. They get back in and Hechicero kicks him in the head in the corner but Lethal grabs some rollups for two each. Callis gets caught interfering and is promptly ejected, allowing Lethal to come back with some snap jabs.

Hail To The King is blocked but Lethal blocks the block and tries the leg. Hechicero cuts that off but the Lethal Injection is countered into the headscissor driver. Lethal gets tied up in a…well he’s on top of Hechiero, who ties up Lethal’s legs and bends his neck forward for the submission at 6:31.

Rating: B-. And this is what Lethal should be used to do. He’s still a big enough name around here and certainly has the resume in Ring Of Honor to matter. Use him to put over people like Hechicero, who is involved in the upcoming World Title match and needs the rub. As usual, Hechicero does things that should not seem possible but he made it look easy.

Hechicero says he’s ready for Bandido to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. The opener and main event alone made this work, and that’s about all you can ask for around here. Death Before Dishonor is likely going to get its usual card thrown together at the last minute and that’s about all it’s going to be. Just go with the bigger matches and hope for the best, as that’s pretty much as good as you’re going to get around here.

Results
Mistico/Mascara Dorada/Neon b. Volador Jr./Magnus/Rugido – La Mistica to Magnus
Blake Christian b. Beef – Vanilla Choke Zero
The Beast Mortos b. AR Fox – Spinning piledriver
Von Erichs/Sammy Guevara b. Workhorsemen/Adam Priest – Claw to Priest
Trish Adora b. Janai Kai – Lariat Tubman
Hechicero b. Jay Lethal – Full body neck crank

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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Ring Of Honor
Date: August 15, 2025
Location: Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom, Chicago, Illinois
Commentators: Caprice Coleman, Ian Riccaboni

This is a special edition of the show, which very well may mean that they taped too much and have to do something with all of the footage. We’re two weeks away from Death Before Dishonor and odds are that won’t have anything to do with this show. The fact that this will be overlapping with TNA Emergence is just a detail I’m sure. Let’s get to it.

Here are yesterday’s results if you need a recap.

Opening sequence.

We run down the card.

TV Title: Willie Mack vs. Nick Wayne

Mack is challenging and Kip Sabian/Mother Wayne are here with Nick. A running shoulder puts Wayne on the floor to start and Mack gets annoyed at the idea of being chopped. They both go outside with Wayne sending him into various things and posing on the barricade. Back in and Mack knocks him silly for a needed breather, followed by some shots to the face. The swinging slam sets up the standing moonsault to give Mack two but Sabian’s distraction means he misses the frog splash. The Killswitch retains the title at

Rating: C+. Mack is an entertaining guy to watch in the ring but he’s also not going anywhere important anytime soon. Wayne is on his way to getting slaughtered by Adam Copeland and Christian Cage at Forbidden Door, making his time as TV Champion feel a bit less than important. I’m not sure who takes the title from him, as there aren’t many people who have been built up, but it might be time for him to drop the thing already if this is how he’s being used.

Shane Taylor Promotions vs. AR Fox/Outrunners

The Promotions jump them from behind to start but Magnum fights back with some dropkicks. A running knee lift sets up Floyd’s backdrop for two and it’s off to Taylor. Some dropkicks put Taylor on the floor but he’s right back with the legdrop on the apron to put Magnum in trouble.

Back in and Bravo works on a chinlock but Dean has to come in to cut off a tag attempt. Taylor pulls Floyd off the apron so Magnum settles for a diving tag off to Fox. House is cleaned in a hurry and it’s Floyd coming back in for the slam on Taylor. The Outrunners drop the Infantry but Taylor breaks up the Mega Powers Elbow. Taylor is sent to the floor though and it’s the Mega Powers Elbow into Total Recall for the pin on Bravo at 10:45.

Rating: C. Somehow the Outrunners feel like they’ve lost all of their steam, as the idea is still funny enough but they’re just people out there doing things most of the time. It’s not as if they feel like they’re going anywhere, but this is about all we get from them. At the same time you have the Promotions and…ok if you really think they’re ever going to do anything important, you haven’t been paying enough attention.

Blake Christian and Lee Johnson talk nicknames but Johnson suggests they win some matches first.

Alex Zayne vs. Jay Lethal

Lethal starts fast by sending him outside for the suicide dives but Zayne slides back in. A springboard moonsault drops Lethal but he’s right back with a shot to the face. The Lethal Injection is blocked and Zayne hits his flipping Fameasser to put them both down. Zayne catches Lethal on top with a hurricanrana but the flipping side slam is blocked. Instead Lethal hits a cutter into the Lethal Injection for the fast pin at 5:40.

Rating: C+. Bringing Lethal back up the ladder a bit isn’t a bad idea, as it’s nice to see the old and the new tying together for a change. Lethal is still good enough for a completely passable match in the ring and someone can get a nice rub from beating him. That’s assuming he doesn’t just randomly lose his next match, which is always a realistic possibility.

Paul Walter Hauser is at the premiere of the Naked Gun with some AEW wrestlers.

QT Marshall vs. OXP

Aaron Solo is here with Marshall, who mocks OXP, who acted in Cobra Kai. After establishing that OXP knows Hauser, Marshall tells him to go back to Hollywood. OXP starts fast by slugging away but gets slammed down. A spinning kick to the face drops Marshall but he knocks OXP out of the air. The cutter gives Marshall the pin at 2:46.

Post match Marshall tells OXP to send Hauser this message….and Hauser is here. Well thanks for being there to help your fellow actor. Hauser lays out the heels and stands tall. At least Hauser vs. Marshall feels like a story that has been built up for a few weeks.

We get the same Mina Shirakawa promo from last night, as she challenges Athena for Death Before Dishonor.

Allysin Kay vs. Billie Starkz

Athena is here with Starkz, who tries to start fast but gets pulled out of the air. Starkz snaps Kay’s ribs over the middle rope but Kay kicks her down. A German suplex looks to set up a powerbomb but they trade running forearms instead. Starkz kicks her in the face and hits a German suplex of her own, followed by a crossface chickenwing for the tap at 4:25.

Rating: C-. It was quick and to the point, though I’m not sure why I’m supposed to be interested in Starkz. Other than her association with Athena, there isn’t much that makes her stand out. She’s only so good in the ring and her claim to fame is a single reign with the midcard title. I’m going to need a bit more than that from her and I don’t see it happening anytime soon.

The Dark Order says losing makes them who they are because it makes them want to win more. I’m not sure how much I’d brag about that.

Tom La Ruffa/Beef vs. Lee Johnson/Blake Christian

Christian suplexes Beef down to start and Johnson adds a standing moonsault. Beef gets grounded in the corner for some choking and Johnson grabs a chinlock. That’s broken up and Beef brings La Ruffa in as everything breaks down. Beef is sent outside and it’s a Death Valley Driver/top rope double stomp combination to finish La Ruffa at 4:10.

Rating: C. I guess Johnson and Christian are the next team in line to allegedly challenge for the Tag Team Titles, assuming they’re active at some point in the next few months. Granted it would have helped had they not lost last week, but there was no choice but to book them in a match against Mistico. I kind of like the team though, as it isn’t like there are all kinds of better options.

Marina Shafir vs. Marti Belle

Jon Moxley is actually in Shafir’s corner as Shafir shoves Belle down to start. Shafir takes her to the mat for the mounting but Belle escapes a cross armbreaker attempt. That’s fine with Shafir, who takes her down again and strikes away in the corner. The full nelson doesn’t last long as Belle gets more serious and tries hitting Shafir in the face. Shafir tells her to do it better and sticks her chin out, with Shafir just standing there as she gets hit. Mother’s Milk finishes Belle at 4:12.

Rating: C. Having Moxley there did make the match feel a bit more important, though Shafir is another name who is just kind of floating through the women’s division without much to do. She would be a different kind of challenger for Athena, assuming she gets by Shirakawa. The match was just a squash though, with Shafir literally standing there while Belle hit her in the face. That doesn’t exactly scream tough competition, which made Shafir look better.

Adam Priest wants some backup so here are the Workhorsemen to offer their services. JD Drake has a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles shirt on so Priest better accept.

Adam Priest/Workhorsemen vs. Ryan Zukko/Joe Keys/Josh Fuller

I guess Priest accepted. Henry takes Keys into the corner to start and it’s off to Priest, who is powered into the wrong corner just as fast. Zukko comes in and gets jawbreakered, setting up a slingshot hilo from Drake. Fuller comes in and is taken down in a hurry, setting up Priest’s piledriver into a Downward Spiral/running kick combination to give Henry the pin at 4:02.

Rating: C+. You know all those times I’ve complained about potential challengers not getting to face champions? Well that is NOT the case with Priest and the Workhorsemen as they were announced as facing the six man champions. That’s right, the CMLL Trios Champions! They were fine as a team, though I’ll need to see more than a four minute squash to have a better idea about them.

Post match the beatdown continues but the Dark Order runs in for the save.

We run down the Death Before Dishonor card with….nothing new added!

Hechicero vs. Jordan Oliver

Somehow this is Oliver’s first time in ROH. Hechicero takes him down to start but Oliver is up for some chops. Oliver counters a leapfrog but Hechicero takes his leg down and ties it up in the ropes. Hechicero takes his straps down but puts them back up before cranking on the leg again. A sunset flip gives Oliver two but Hechicero ties up his arms for the submission at 5:28.

Rating: C+. Hechicero is very fun to watch and they’ve made him feel like a killer out there. That’s the kind of thing that can make into a threat to Bandido and that’s a good way to set up Death Before Dishonor. I don’t buy Hechicero winning the title, but it’s a match that has me intrigued and I’ll always go for that feeling.

Neon/Mascara Dorada vs. Premiere Athletes

Mark Sterling is here with the Athletes. Nese and Neon start things off with Nese going for the mask, earning himself a hurricanrana. Dorada comes in with a double superkick to Daivari but Nese pulls Dorada outside so the villains can take over. Back in and Neon gets caught in the wrong corner, allowing Nese to shout his team’s name.

Nese hammers on Neon’s mask but Neon fights up, allowing the tag off to Dorada to pick up the pace. A rolling cutter hits Nese but Sterling offers a distraction, allowing the Athletes to give Dorada a double chokeslam. Neon makes the save and superkicks Sterling down, setting up stereo flipping splashes off the top for the double pin on the Athletes at 6:55.

Rating: B-. This has been back to back weeks when CMLL stars (including Dorada both times) have beaten teams talking about coming after the Tag Team Titles. That’s not the most promising sign for the titles’ future, but the CMLL wrestlers are presented as bigger stars than most of the Ring Of Honor regulars anyway. At least Dorada and Neon are fun to watch.

We get an old west vignette showing Bandido beating up a bunch of villains in a saloon. Hechicero shows up and they have a finger gun standoff.

Overall Rating: D+. After an hour and thirty five minutes of this show, a grand total of nothing important has happened. There was nothing announced for Death Before Dishonor, no stories moved forward, and the biggest change seems to be that Adam Priest and the Workhorsemen (who got together during this show) are now going to have to deal with the Dark Order.

At least when other promotions try to counter program, they do something interesting or important. That was absolutely not the case here with a bunch of middle of the road matches that just made me more tired of watching ROH than wanting to see their pay per view. Throw in STILL no announcement on either of Dustin Rhodes’ titles and this was one of the worst uses of broadcast time I’ve seen in a very good while.

Results
Nick Wayne b. Willie Mack – Killswitch
Outrunners/AR Fox b. Shane Taylor Promotions – Total Recall to Bravo
Jay Lethal b. Alex Zayne – Lethal Injection
QT Marshall b. OXP – Cutter
Billie Starkz b. Allysin Kay – Crossface chickenwing
Lee Johnson/Blake Christian b. Tom La Ruffa/Beef – Top rope double stomp/Death Valley Driver combination to La Ruffa
Marina Shafir b. Marti Belle – Mother’s Milk
Adam Priest/Workhorsemen b. Joe Keys/Ryan Zukko/Josh Fuller – Downward Spiral/running kick combination to Fuller
Hechicero b. Jordan Oliver – Double arm crank
Neon/Mascara Dorada b. Premiere Athletes – Double pin

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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Ring Of Honor
Date: August 14, 2025
Location: Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom, Chicago, Illinois
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

With Death Before Dishonor two weeks from tomorrow, things need to pick up a bit, as usual. The World Title match is officially set, but with three shows to go, that’s all we have. In theory we’ll get something else this week, though you never can tell with how things go on this show. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Opening sequence.

We run down the card.

Volador Jr./Difunto/The Beast Mortos/Hechicero vs. Spanish Announce Project/Alex Zayne/AR Fox

Lance Archer is here with Volador and company. Angelico and Hechicero start things off with Hechicero dancing out of a lockup. They trade legsweeps and covers for two each and it’s off to Fox vs. Difurto. Some takedowns don’t go very far so Fox grabs a swinging suplex, allowing the double tag to Mortos and Zayne. Mortos gets taken down for a running backsplash and it’s time for Serpentico vs. Volador. Serpentico sends him outside but Archer gets in a trip from the floor, allowing the villains to beat Serpentico down.

With Serpentico knocked outside, Angelico comes in and gets knocked outside as well. Zayn comes in and gets sent outside as well, meaning Fox is able to try his luck. This one works a bit better, including some cutters to drop Mortos and Difurto. Zayne is back in with a top rope splash for two on Hechicero as everything breaks down. Hechicero faceplants Zayne though and ties up his arms for a very rolling cradle and the pin at 9:29.

Rating: B-. This is a good example of putting too much in one match. Hechicero is coming up on a World Title match in just over two weeks and while he got the fall here, he was in the middle of a wild eight man tag. Wouldn’t it make more sense to have him go out there and pin someone, like say Zayne for instance, in a singles match to make him feel like more of a threat? As usual, the CMLL stars are entertaining, but it’s one random match after another with little ever feeling like it’s building anywhere.

Post match the villains keep up the beatdown but Bandido, Brody King, Tomohiro Ishii and Hologram make the save.

The Premiere Athletes are ready to face a team from CMLL, though Ariya Daivari’s idea of wearing a mask doesn’t work.

Willie Mack vs. Gringo Loco

They fight over a wristlock to start and then exchange cartwheels to escape takedown attempts. Back up and Loco jumps over him for a hip swivel, only for Mack to hit a running shoulder for one of his own. Did you get that they’re mirroring each other? I wasn’t sure if that and commentary explaining it every three seconds was making it clear enough. Loco knocks him down again but has to stick the landing on the switchfoot moonsault. Mack Stunners him into a running kick to the face, followed by the frog splash for the pin at 6:55.

Rating: C+. It was two bigger guys hitting each other with some flashy offense, which works well for a bit but doesn’t have the most staying power. At the same time, it doesn’t help that neither of them feel like they’re likely to go anywhere. Loco has been getting some more ring time in the Chicago residency, but that doesn’t make him much more interesting.

Lance Archer vs. Ren Jones

Archer jumps him in the aisle and beats him up around ringside. They go inside for the Black Out and the pin on Jones at 41 seconds. I’ve long since lost count of how many times Archer has done this but it’s losing its charm.

Video on Xelhua vs. Lee Moriarty.

We look at Toni Storm and Athena’s brawl from this week’s Dynamite.

Mina Shirakawa, who has been out of action since All In, wants to face Athena for the Women’s Title at Death Before Dishonor. Athena has sixty eight wins but she can’t sixty ni….never mind. Remember that Shirakawa is the Interim Women’s TV Champion so it might be time for another double champion!

Taya Valkyrie vs. Leila Grey

Johnny TV and Christopher Daniels are here too. Valkyrie poses to start and is quickly sunset flipped for an early near fall. TV gets in a quick trip as we’re again promised that the Women’s Pure Title tournament is coming (four months or so now). Valkyrie takes her outside for a bit before working on the arm back inside. Grey fights up with a faceplant and a Stunner gets two. TV offers a quick distraction so Daniels cuts him off, leaving Grey to hit another Stunner. This one sets up a dragon sleeper for the tap from Valkyrie at 5:29.

Rating: C-. Another match from more people who are jockeying for position for some title which has been coming for months now. That’s in addition to the Women’s Title (champion going after another title), the Women’s TV Title (champion injured) and Interim Women’s TV Title (champion going after another title). Maybe either slow down a bit or find a better way to present your women.

Willie Mack wants the TV Title and as luck would have it, Nick Wayne is RIGHT NEXT TO HIM, being surprised that Mack would say that. Wayne doesn’t seem scared.

Main Man Oro vs. Tomohiro Ishii

Oro is better known as Oro Mensah from his NXT days. Oro strikes away to start but gets knocked out of the air. That earns Ishii a kick to the chest and another to the back and we’re already into the chinlock. Back up and they strike it out until Ishii hits a hard clothesline. Oro grabs a tornado DDT across the top rope but Ishii blasts him with another clothesline. The brainbuster finishes Oro at 4:40.

Rating: C+. Oro got in a bunch of offense here and that was nice to see, though Ishii shrugging it off and hitting his finisher for the pin was a bit odd. Ishii getting a win is fine, though Oro didn’t do much to stand out here. He was athletic and high flying, but that would be the case for all kinds of people on this show. Maybe find something that makes you stand out more. Or stop signing so many people with similar styles.

We get a SPECIAL EPISODE tomorrow. Just in case this wasn’t enough you see.

Xelhua vs. Lee Moriarty

Non-title Proving Ground match, meaning that if Xelhua wins or survives the ten minute time limit, he gets a future title shot. Xelhua works on the arm but gets reversed into a quickly broken abdominal stretch. Back up and Xelhua works on the arm again but Moriarty takes him down by the leg. That’s broken up so Moriarty goes for the arm, sending Xelhua over to the arm.

Xelhua ties up Moriarty’s legs and arms, meaning Moriarty uses his first rope break. Moriarty is fine enough to hit a springboard clothesline for two before tying up the arms again. Xelhua’s second rope break gets him out, meaning it’s a leglock to make Moriarty use his second break as well. The Fang into the Border City Stretch has Xelhua in more trouble, only for him to escape on his own this time. The Stretch is broken up again and Xelhua ties up the arms as time expires at 10:00.

Rating: B-. The fans being rather quiet for this sums up the problem: there is little reason to care about this match. Xelhua has had one match in ROH before this, which was two weeks ago against someone else who isn’t around here. It doesn’t help that this wasn’t the title match, but more or less a glorified dress rehearsal. Odds are this sets up a rematch for Death Before Dishonor,

The rematch is made for Death Before Dishonor to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. On one hand I do appreciate something being announced for Death Before Dishonor, but the pay per view is still feeling incredibly slapped together. Mina Shirakawa being back for revenge on Athena is fine, but the Pure Rules Title hasn’t felt important in years and this isn’t changing that issue. Other than that, we had a lot of guest stars and people who don’t make regular appearances around here, which makes this show feel like it could have been one (short) email rather than an hour long broadcast. The action is fine, but the show feels like the afterthought of afterthoughts and that’s been old.

Results
Volador Jr./Difunto/The Beast Mortos/Hechicero b. Spanish Announce Project/Alex Zayne/AR Fox – Spinning cradle to Zayne
Willie Mack b. Gringo Loco – Frog splash
Lance Archer b. Ren Jones – Black Out
Leila Grey b. Taya Valkyrie – Dragon sleeper
Tomohiro Ishii b. Main Man Oro – Brainbuster
Lee Moriarty vs. Xelhua went to a time limit draw

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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Collision
Date: July 31, 2025
Location: Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom, Chicago, Illinois
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Tony Schiavone

We’re wrapping up the run in the Ballroom and the shows have been good enough while they’ve lasted. This week is going to include quite the title match, as Dustin Rhodes is defending the TNT Title against Kyle Fletcher in a street fight. That is a big enough match and we should be in for a nice show so let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

We start fast, with the Death Riders jumping a security guard. Jon Moxley talks about how the team attacked Darby Allin a few months ago and wants him out here right now. Cue Allin the crowd and the team goes after him. More on this later it seems.

We look back at Hangman Page retaining the AEW World Title over Jon Moxley last night on Dynamite.

#1 Contenders Tag Team Tournament First Round: Bandido/Brody King vs. Gates Of Agony

Kaun shoulders Bandido down to start, earning himself a nip up right back. Bandido kicks Kaun into the corner and it’s off to Liona vs. King for the power showdown. They trade running shoulders until King hits a running clothesline to the floor. King drops Kaun as well and then slams Bandido onto him for two. Back up and the Gates clear the ring as we take a quick break.

We come back with Bandido still in trouble but he manages to kick Liona down and tag King. House is quickly cleaned before it’s right back to Bandido for stereo dives to the floor. Back in and a frog splash gives Bandido two on Liona with Kaun making a save. Kaun’s superbomb gets two more on Bandido but King hits a Death Valley Driver to plant Liona on the apron. King isn’t done as he superplexes Kaun and flips Bandido into a 450 for the pin at 12:43.

Rating: B-. This got going and I can go with a makeshift team getting to make a nice run in this kind of tournament. I don’t believe that Bandido and King are going to move on after this, but they looked good against a team like the Gates. They were all working and moving out there, which made for a rather nice opener.

Don Callis, with Lance Archer, is ready for Kyle Fletcher to win the TNT Title tonight. That gives them the power and the titles but Shane Taylor comes in to protest (calling Callis “Vigo The Carpathian looking”). Archer and Taylor are about to brawl but Callis seems to have an idea.

We look back at last night’s MJF/Mark Briscoe argument.

The Paragon is upset by the loss of Adam Cole but give the Conglomeration a pep talk.

The Death Riders are looking for Darby Allin, who jumps Jon Moxley and puts a towel over Moxley’s face.

Kris Statlander vs. Lena Kross

Kross is rather tall but Statlander shoulders her down anyway. Back up and Kross grabs a German suplex but gets electric chaired into a faceplant. Statlander pulls her into an armbar with a headscissors for the tap at 1:26. Well Kross was impressive while she lasted. She just didn’t last very long.

Post match Statlander poses and Willow Nightingale comes out for her match, though they pass without issue.

Willow Nightingale vs. Thekla

The rest of the Triangle Of Madness is here with Thekla. Nightingale grabs a waistlock to start and sends her flying into the corner without much trouble. Thekla spiders away from a clothesline and we have a rather odd faceoff. Nightingale cuts off a spin with a backbreaker and nails a big Pounce to send Thekla out to the floor.

We take a break and come back with Thekla grabbing an Upside Down choke, with the rest of the Triangle approving. Nightingale gets back up and hits a middle rope dropkick, followed by a clothesline on the apron. Back in and Thekla catches her on top, setting up a heck of a spider superplex. Thekla hits a nice dive to the floor but Nightingale is right back up. Julia Hart offers a distraction though and Thekla drops Nightingale with a spear. The running stomp finishes for Thekla 11:15.

Rating: C+. This match was designed to keep the feud going for at least another match, with Nightingale getting distracted by the numbers game. That’s going to result in her needing some friends to help fight the Madness and we should be in for something decent as a result. If nothing else, at least Thekla won something, which she has been needing to do more often.

Post match the Triangle beats Nightingale down, with Penelope Ford joining in on the fun. Megan Bayne loads up a powerbomb but Queen Aminata (with a chair) leads Tay Melo and Anna Jay out for the save.

Billy Gunn isn’t sure what happened with Anthony Bowens last week when Bowens interrupts. Bowens says Gunn hasn’t contacted him since last week and yells a lot, with Gunn saying he doesn’t know who Bowens is anymore.

Swerve Strickland is happy with taking everything away from the Young Bucks. The Bucks are still trying to abuse the power they have though and Strickland isn’t going to let that happen. He’s going to be there to stop Kazuchika Okada too.

Don Callis and Okada don’t think much of Strickland, or Prince Nana for that matter. Okada is willing to face Strickland at Forbidden Door and the match is set.

#1 Contenders Tag Team Tournament Semifinals: FTR vs. Bang Bang Gang

Schiavone is impressive, as he has moved from calling this the first of four semifinals earlier in the night to the final semifinal here. Wilder and Robinson start things off before quickly going over for the double tag. Harwood grabs a headlock on Gunn and then shoulders him down for a bonus. Robinson comes back in to send Harwood into the corner but Harwood is fine enough to hit an elbow to Gunn’s face. Everything breaks down and FTR is double clotheslined to the floor and we take a break.

We come back with Wheeler missing a Bronco Buster but Harwood grabs an abdominal stretch on Gunn. That’s broken up and Gunn gets over for the tag, which the referee doesn’t see so the beating continues. A Hart Attack gets two on Gunn and he’s sent outside, where Wheeler misses a dive into the barricade. Back in and it’s off to Robinson to clean house.

Stokely Hathaway tries to help on a rollup but the referee breaks it up, allowing Robinson to get two off a sunset flip. A PowerPlex gets the same on Harwood, with Wheeler making the save. Robinson’s spinning Downward Spiral gets a very close two on Harwood and he knocks Wheeler into the Fameasser. Hathaway distracts Robinson though and Wheeler sends him into the steps. Back in and Wheeler gets a cheap shot, allowing Harwood to roll Gunn up for the pin at 15:23.

Rating: B. It shouldn’t be a surprise that FTR and the Gang had a good match, as they had a great one a year or two ago. They work well together and that was the case again here, even with the roles reversed. FTR has felt destined to make the finals and now they have, which shouldn’t be stunning, but I’m not sure how it’s going to go in the finals. Either way, pretty awesome stuff here, which is no shock at all.

We get a Technique By Taz video on Athena’s O Face. Good stuff, as usual.

Athena brags about pinning Toni Storm last night and now she is ready to sign the contract for Forbidden Door. Works for me.

Here is Max Caster for his latest open challenge, plus an insult at Anthony Bowens (who is apparently a boring, bland b****).

Max Caster vs. Rush

Caster gets smart and runs to the floor, with the chase burning off the first minute. Some laps around the ring take off even more time but Rush goes outside to drop Caster. Rush sends him into the barricade and pounds Caster down, only for Caster to come back with a slingshot dive. Back in and Rush gives him the cocky running boot in the corner as we have less than a minute to go. Another toss sends Caster into the corner and Rush chokes away but spends too long posing as time expires at 5:00.

Rating: C. This was more of an angle than a match and I’m actually digging the idea of Caster turning after all of those losses. He’s almost goofily sympathetic and that could make for a nice run. If nothing else, the pre-match promo should mean we’re on the way to something else with Bowens, and that could be fun.

Post match Rush gives him the Bull’s Horns so the rest of LFI runs in for the beatdown. Jet Speed and AR Fox make the save. Caster is laid out but raises a fist from the mat.

Mercedes Mone has won a women’s title in Poland. She’ll be back next week.

Shane Taylor Promotions vs. Skyflight

Sky knees away at Taylor to start but gets powered into the corner for his efforts. It’s quickly off to Bravo, who gets elbowed down by Top Flight. Dean trips Darius down though and Taylor drops a leg on the apron as we take a break. We come back with Dante cleaning house, including a high crossbody for two. Dante has to roll away from some double teaming and it’s back to Sky. Things pick up again and a quick TKO finishes Bravo at 6:54.

Rating: C+. I’ve always liked Sky and Top Flight so this is a pleasant surprise. It’s not like there are teams beating the door down to come after the Opps, or possibly even the Sons Of Texas in Ring Of Honor. At the same time, Taylor and company losing again is almost funny, as it’s become a running joke at this point.

Darby Allin tries to dump Jon Moxley out of a fire escape but security does their job to break it up.

TNT Title: Dustin Rhodes vs. Kyle Fletcher

Fletcher is challenging in a street fight. They go outside rather quickly and Rhodes knocks a kendo stick away, only to get DDTed onto the steps. It’s time for a table as Rhodes is already busted open. Fletcher misses a dive and crashes through the table, allowing Rhodes to grab another table. Before we get there though, it’s the cowbell to the head for two but Fletcher sends him through the table at ringside.

We take a break and come back with Fletcher busted open as well and using the cowbell to hammer on Rhodes’ knee. Rhodes fights up and hits Cross Rhodes before unloading with a chair to the back. Fletcher superkicks said chair into Rhodes’ face, setting up a jumping Tombstone onto an open chair for two. A third table is set up but Rhodes catches him on top with a super Canadian Destroyer. It’s time for a glove loaded up with thumbtacks, meaning the Claw can go on.

Fletcher breaks that up and brings in the bag of thumbtacks (of course), only to get powerslammed onto them for two. Rhodes pours the tacks into Fletcher’s trunks for Shattered Dreams but Don Callis slips Fletcher the screwdriver. Fletcher stabs the screwdriver into Rhodes’ knee (it sticks) but the doctor gets it out. A brainbuster is countered into a small package to give Rhodes two, followed by the brainbuster onto the tacks to give Fletcher the title at 16:42.

Rating: B. They beat each other up and it’s rather nice to see Rhodes lose the title so soon. Fletcher winning the title is what should have happened and hopefully this lets them give Rhodes his big moment and start to wrap up his time as a focal point. It made for a big time feel to the main event, and at least Rhodes didn’t hold the title very long.

Post match Fletcher smashes a chair over Rhodes’ knee against the post, leaving Rhodes to be taken out on a stretcher. If this is how they get both ROH titles off of him….honestly I wouldn’t be a bit surprised.

Overall Rating: B. The two rather good matches carried this one and they did at least set up some matches for Forbidden Door. I’m more interested in the pay per view than I was coming in and that’s a sign of a good show. This needs to be the first of more than a few focused on Forbidden Door though, as the show is needing a lot more work.

Results
Bandido/Brody King b. Gates Of Agony – Assisted 450 to Kaun
Kris Statlander b. Lena Kross – Headscissors armbar
Thekla b. Willow Nightingale – Spear
FTR b. Bang Bang Gang – Rollup to Gunn
Skyflight b. Shane Taylor Promotions – TKO to Bravo
Kyle Fletcher b. Dustin Rhodes – Brainbuster onto thumbtacks

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6