Ring Of Honor
Date: May 28, 2026
Location: WJCT Studios, Jacksonville, Florida
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

We’re done with Supercard Of Honor and now we’re probably past the fallout as well. That means we could be in for more of the norm around here, which means a bit of a slower pace. I’m not sure how well that’s going to go week to week, but the wrestling being as good as it usually is should help. Let’s get to it.

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

Athena is rather proud of her win at Double Or Nothing and warned everyone this was going to happen.

Opening sequence.

AEW National Title: Mark Davis vs. Adam Priest

Davis is defending and Priest shoulders away to start, which really doesn’t work so well. A hard whip sends Priest crashing out to the floor and Davis beats him up against the barricade. Back in and Davis fires off some corner clotheslines before knocking him outside for a crash into the barricade. Priest gets smart by pulling Davis’ hand into the post, allowing him to go after said hand back inside.

The double arm crank goes on but Davis fights out and takes him up top. A diving tornado DDT plants Davis and Priest gets the cross armbreaker. That’s reversed with a sitout powerbomb and they’re both down again. Priest goes to the hand to escape a sleeper attempt and takes out the leg, setting up a quick STF. Davis makes the rope and hits a big clothesline from the apron. Back in and another clothesline sets up the piledriver to retain the title at 11:40.

Rating: B. It was a random match with a challenger who had no chance of winning the title, but they had a heck of a match here. Priest was fighting against the monster every chance he could and knocked him down a few times, making this a lot more entertaining than I was expecting. Davis has been on a roll in recent months and it is rather fun to see.

Anthony Ogogo vs. Darian Bengston

The rest of Shane Taylor Promotions are here with Ogogo. Bengston grabs an armbar to start and gets thrown down rather quickly. A knee lift staggers Ogogo and Bengston bails out to the floor, where he seems to annoy the Promotions. Back in and Bengston decides to try swinging, which isn’t a good idea against a former Olympic boxer. A powerslam gives Ogogo two but Bengston gets in a quick shot, setting up a Whisper In The Wind for two of his own. Something like a Rings Of Saturn is reversed into a spinning slam to give Ogogo two so he knocks Bengston out for the win at 6:09.

Rating: C-. I would assume this was Bengston getting a tryout, as it was much more about him than anything Ogogo was doing. Bengston did well enough in his chance, though he needs someone better than Ogogo across the ring from him. Ogogo’s matches are pretty much “do basic stuff, get frustrated, punch opponent for win”. That isn’t interesting and a big reason Ogogo has never taken off in any way.

Mance Warner wants the Pure Rules Title. Sure. He’s getting a shot at Lee Moriarty next week, though it is at least just a Proving Ground match.

Viva Van vs. Rachael Ellering

Pure Rules. Blanchard takes her down by the arm to start but Van reverses into an armbar of her own. Van’s Fujiwara armbar is broken up and Ellering has another armbar. Back up and Van flips forward into a pose but gets sent to the apron. Ellering knocks her down again, setting up a backsplash for two.

The double arm crank has Van using her first rope break and something like a Tequila Sunrise has Ellering getting to the rope as well. Ellering escapes an electric chair out of the corner and gets two off a running elbow. The Boss Woman Slam is countered into a spinning backfist and Van’s bridging electric chair suplex gets the pin at 7:16.

Rating: C. This was a good example of a match that didn’t need to have Pure Rules and they didn’t add much of anything. Van is at least getting somewhere around here and just having her win some matches is a way to shake off some of her bad reputation. She has a long way to go, but at least she’s not losing over and over.

Angelico vs. Oro

Oro charges at him with a running spinwheel kick in the corner to start. Angelico strikes away to come back but gets dropped again. Something like a Downward Spiral out of the ropes gives Oro two but Angelico’s lifting Downward Spiral gets two more. Oro hits a kind of Pele off his shoulder, only for Oro to pull him into a leglock for the tap at 5:07.

Rating: C+. I get that Angelico has talent and he can make others look good, but it’s really hard to get interested in his matches. He’s been established as someone who is not going to do anything beyond put other stars over and that doesn’t help on shows that are just match after match most of the time. Angelico certainly has talent, but he’s been doing the same thing for what feels like forever in Ring Of Honor.

Athena sits down with Caprice Coleman, who praises her quite a bit to start. She talks about how she started her reign as this innocent girl but then she realized how great she was and became what she is now. Now she has become the person people think of when they think of Ring Of Honor and she doesn’t want to be disappointed with her career. You should watch her and when someone better comes along, they’ll get the title, but that isn’t happen.

Maya World vs. Trish Adora

World flips over her to start and snaps off a running hurricanrana. World goes up and gets chopped down to the floor, followed by the double arm crank back inside. That’s broken up and World kicks her in the head, only to get butterfly suplexed for two. A Sling Blade and springboard moonsault give World two of her own and Adora goes outside.

That works rather well as World charges into a pump kick, meaning Adora can hit a brainbuster for two back inside. World’s springboard back elbow gets two but she walks into a spinning backbreaker for a double down. The German suplex drops World, who is right back with a small package for the pin at 8:32.

Rating: C+. Adora wrestles a rather unique style and you can see some wrestlers having to adjust. That was the case here and it wound up being a good enough match. World is still someone who could be put back into the title picture sooner than later, even if it doesn’t have to be another shot at Athena.

Stori Denali vs. Brooke Havok

Mark Sterling is here with Denali, who mocks Havok’s lack of size. Havok gets sent hard into the corner and booted down, setting up Snake Eyes. Another knockdown has Havok in more trouble and Denali boot chokes her in the corner. Havok connects with a few kicks to the leg but gets sent flying. The chokeslam finishes for Denali at 4:03.

Rating: C. At some point, Denali has to get in the ring on her own like this and learn how to have matches. That’s why you put her in something short like this and she was….well she was a giant squashing someone. The match was just what you would expect, and while Denali is a long term project, at least she’s getting started.

Queen Aminata is back next week.

Frat House vs. Dalton Castle/Outrunners

Non-title Proving Ground match. Karter knocks Magnum into the corner to start and the House starts taking turns firing off the chops. Floyd (wearing the belt) comes in off a blind tag to clean house but the House takes him into the corner. Karter steps onto Magnum for a low blow in the Tree Of Woe but Magnum kicks Garrison down. The tag brings in Castle to clean house (again) but the Bang A Rang is broken up. The Mega Powers Elbow is broken up as well, only for the second attempt to connect for the pin on Garrison at 5:38.

Rating: C. It certainly does help to have a regular team coming after the champions as it gives you the change that they could pull off the upset. At the same time, it was nice to see Castle and the Outrunners getting a win shortly into their title reign. They still need some opponents, but we can get to that soon enough.

Post match the Lethal Twist runs in to beat the champions down. The Twist brags about their uniqueness and abilities and seem to want the titles. For now though, they’re just getting a match.

Lethal Twist vs. Il Cartello Grillo

Christian kicks Seal to the floor at the bell and it’s off to Johnson for a basement running forearm. Seal manages a suplex though and it’s off to Grillo, who gets caught with a Helluva Kick. The Twist takes turns striking away at Grillo in the corner, with Christian adding a moonsault to the floor to take out Impala. Lethal’s Figure Four, plus Christian’s springboard 450, make Grillo tap at 3:25.

Rating: C+. If you’re going to have the Twist, who are already an established team, jump the champs, you don’t need to have them win a short match as well. We got the point after seeing them jump the champs and then it was just another match. Let the angle stand instead of doing something else to make the fans forget about it.

From last week in Mexico City.

Ring Of Honor World Title: Volador Jr. vs. Bandido

Bandido is defending. Stereo flips give us an early standoff so Bandido sends him outside for an early suicide dive. Volador fights up back inside and knocks Bandido outside for a dive of his own. Back in and Bandido runs the ropes to get in his finger gun pose. Volador knocks him back down and yells a bit, meaning it’s time to stomp Bandido down in the corner.

More posing ensues but Bandido gets up a boot to cut off the charge. A spinning high crossbody sends Volador outside for the big running flip dive as Bandido gets to take over again. Volador snaps off a running hurricanrana from the apron and the referee is rather concerned. Bandido is fine enough to block a hurricanrana and swing him into the barricade.

Back in and Volador powerbombs him out of the air for two more but Bandido counters a charge into a flipping faceplant. Bandido powerbombs him down for two more but gets backdropped out to the floor. The slingshot hurricanrana connects for Volador but Bandido sends him over the barricade for a running flip dive. Another hurricanrana brings Bandido crashing off of the barricade and they go back inside, where Volador’s frog splash gets two.

A Code Red gives Volador another near fall but he walks into a pop up cutter to leave them both down. Back up and Bandido’s German suplex out of the corner sets up a shooting star press for two more. The X Knee into the 21 Plex gives Bandido two, as does Volador’s running Canadian Destroyer. Volador takes too long to go up and it’s a reverse super fall away slam (with Volador landing on his face). The 21 Plex retains the title at 21:17.

Rating: B+. This was definitely a different style from Ring Of Honor and they had a rather entertaining match, which was quite the treat to see. Bandido can adjust to any style and he certainly knows what to do here. Volador is a big enough star to come after the title and worked well here, with Bandido actually defending the title more than once for a change.

TV Title: Dezmond Xavier vs. AR Fox

Fox is defending and Xavier seems honored to be in there with him. They fight over wrist control to start with Fox taking over. Xavier works on the arm and a rollup sends Fox bailing out to the floor. We pause for Fox to look at the title and then go back inside, where Xavier sends him right back outside. The suicide dive sends Fox crashing into the barricade, followed by a slingshot hilo for two back inside.

Xavier ties up the leg for a bit until he knocks Fox into the corner for an enziguri. Fox hits his own enziguri and clotheslines away in the corner. A basement cutter gives Fox two so Xavier hits him in the face. The Cardiac Kick gets two more but Fox is back with a DDT into the springboard tornado DDT into a spinning suplex for two of his own. Xavier kicks him back down but slips on the top and crotches himself. Lo Mein Pain and the 450 retain the title at 12:29.

Rating: B-. This was another good match from Fox, even with Xavier dominating for a big chunk. You can bring in challengers like Xavier for the TV Title as it’s kind of the random match championship. Xavier, a member of a trio, wasn’t likely to win the title here but letting him fly around with Fox for a bit was a fun way to go.

Respect is shown to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. The last two matches were good but, say it with me, this was far too long. There were so many things that could have been cut off to get this down to a more manageable length. As usual, there are so many matches that a lot of them are forgotten so quickly. Hopefully they get the time issues under control, because dang this show could be so much better if it got things down to an hour a week or so. Just focus a bit more and trim some time off and it’s that much better.

Results
Mark Davis b. Adam Priest – Piledriver
Anthony Ogogo b. Darian Bengston via knockout
Viva Van b. Rachael Ellering – Bridging electric chair suplex
Angelico b. Oro – Leglock
Maya World b. Trish Adora – Small package
Stori Denali b. Brooke Havok – Chokeslam
Dalton Castle/Outrunners b. Frat House – Mega Powers Elbow/ax handle combination to Garrison
Lethal Twist b. Il Cartello Grillo – Figure Four to Grillo
Bandido b. Volador Jr. – 21 Plex
AR Fox b. Dezmond Xavier – 450

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: May 21, 2026
Location: Wicomico Youth And Civic Center, Salisbury, Maryland
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

We’re done with Supercard Of Honor and that likely means a return to normal around here. Bandido and Athena retained their titles while the Tag Team Titles continued their tradition of not being defended. Other than that, we’re likely back in the deep freeze until the next big show is announced. Let’s get to it.

Here is Supercard Of Honor if you need a recap.

We open with a quick preview of the show. That’s a new way to go.

Opening sequence.

Action Andretti vs. QT Marshall

Before the match, Andretti mocks the fans and says it started with Marshall. Andretti cuts off Marshall’s introduction and asks for some applause. The thing is, Andretti used to be a dreamer like him but then the fans booed him. The reality is that Lio Rush turned on him and now Marshall does all kinds of things just to get attention. Now Andretti is going to embarrass Marshall like he embarrassed Rush. I really hope this doesn’t mean that Rush, who is basically a monster, is supposed to be the good guy in all of this.

Anyway, Andretti headlocks him down to start but gets reversed into a headscissors. Back up and Andretti snaps off a running headscissors, followed by a springboard clothesline. A springboard corkscrew splash gives Andretti two and a handspring elbow cuts off Marshall’s comeback. The second attempt works a bit better as Marshall scores with a handspring kick to the head.

A rolling Stunner gives Andretti two but Marshall knocks him back down, setting up a Lionsault for two. Andretti dropkicks him into the corner for a split legged moonsault and he blocks a running cutter. Another springboard is countered into a cutter but Marshall misses a nice moonsault. A tornado DDT and the torture rack neckbreaker finish for Andretti at 8:51.

Rating: B-. They got into a nice groove here and it was good to see Andretti win a match for a change. Since we’re apparently getting into a Rush vs. Andretti feud, he needed to win something to give him at least the tiniest of value after so many losses. Marshall as a good guy is kind of weird but he’s actually making it work well enough thus far.

Hyan/Maya World vs. Allie Katch/Kaia McKenna

Hyan and McKenna start things off with Hyan taking over, allowing World to come in for a double clothesline. Katch comes in for a rollup but World takes her down for a double stomp. World actually gets taken into the corner for some stomping so it’s a double neckbreaker to get her out of trouble. Hyan comes back in to clean house and spears McKenna, setting up Around The World (wheelbarrow slam/running Downward Spiral combination) for the pin on McKenna at 4:35.

Rating: C. This wasn’t quite a squash as Katch and McKenna got in a bit of offense but it was never in doubt. Hyan and World are fine as a team and could wind up going after the Women’s Tag Team Titles at some point. Katch and McKenna were ok here as well and I could go for having them around more often.

Shane Taylor praises AR Fox but it’s the wrong place and wrong time for him to win his first title. Tonight, Taylor is getting his title back.

Rush vs. Ryan O’Neil

Bull’s Horns in 1:00. The post match catchphrase makes this exactly the same thing he did on Collision.

We look at the Kingdom returning at Supercard Of Honor to confront Bustah And The Brain. Not wrestle them mind you, but they did in fact confront them.

Premiere Athletes vs. Bustah And The Brain

The rest of the Athletes are here too. Oliver and Nese start things off with Nese pausing for some posing. They start running the ropes until Oliver stops and just walks over him in a funny bit. Daivari comes in for a double suplex but Price easily escapes and goes after the arm. Oliver and Price are sent outside where a distraction allows the rest of the Athletes to get in some stomping.

Back in and Oliver jumps over Daivari but Nese pulls Price off the apron in a smart move. Nese grabs the Randy Savage neck snap on Oliver, who is back up with a crossbody to Daivari. Price comes back in and cleans house, including running up the ropes for a spinning Blockbuster (that looked good).

Mark Sterling trips Price from the floor though and everything breaks down. Price gives Daivari the Tyler Bate head bounce off the ropes rebound lariat but Nese is back in to kick him in the head. Back in and Oliver kicks Nese down and then hits a dive on the floor. The Price Is Right (top rope double stomp Doomsday Device, also known as OUCH) finishes Nese at 9:51.

Rating: B-. What matters the most here is that Bustah And The Brain are getting a steady rise up the ranks. That’s a lot more than most teams around here get and if Ring Of Honor can figure out the whole Tag Team Title situation (which would be a change after the last year and a half or so), they should already be near the title situation. On the other side you have the Athletes, who were built up and then put someone else over, as they should.

Eddie Kingston and Ortiz sit down with Caprice Coleman. Kingston is back to get better and he wants to see people prove they want it. Everyone wanted to come to Ring Of Honor when he was breaking in and he wants that back. As for Ortiz, they’re friends and business partners. Kingston: “I get to pay off my home and I get to have YouTube with no commercials.” Coleman asks Ortiz what Kingston isn’t telling them, which is apparently that they want to change the wrestling business. Kingston thinks this place is better than the AEW locker room and they want to make things better.

Dalton Castle and the Outrunners are happy about winning the Six Man Tag Team Titles and now they’re ready to face everyone.

Dalton Castle/Outrunners vs. Danny Grandview/Chulo Montana/Ykies

Non-title Proving Ground match. Montana chops Magnum in the corner to start and gets chopped down for his efforts. It’s off to Floyd, who is wearing the title as he knocks everyone down and poses. Castle fires off the suplexes and the Bang A Rang sets up the Mega Powers Elbow/ax handle drop for the pin on Ykies at 2:40.

AR Fox is ready to face Shane Taylor, who only had to ask for a title shot. Isn’t that what Taylor did?

We look at Fox winning the TV Title last week.

Lio Rush vs. Aaron Solo

Solo is scared to shake Rush’s hand and gets sent into the ropes for his efforts. Rush chases him around the ropes and then crawls around a lot. Solo is knocked outside as the black goo is coming out of Rush’s mouth. The chase goes up the aisle until Solo hits a superkick and they go back inside. Some chops just wake Rush up again and he hits a spinning kick to the head. They run the ropes until Rush grabs a powerbomb and sends Solo outside. The suicide dive connects and Black Thunder gives Rush the pin at 5:39.

Rating: C+. This was your latest reminder that “Rush is weird but really athletic”. That’s about all there is to this as the details of why he’s suddenly a monster haven’t been explained. Odds are that’s better as this is hardly something that I want to see explained after how it has gone so far.

Post match Rush sounds like he says something about someone being strong and promising to reign supreme.

Deonna Purrazzo is proud of beating Diamante and is ready for her next challenger.

Deonna Purrazzo vs. Janai Kai

Non-title Proving Ground Pure Rules match. They wrestle around to start with neither getting very far. Purrazzo goes after the arm but gets caught in an Eye Of The Hurricane. Kai kicks her in the chest and back for two but Purrazzo breaks out of a sleeper. Another big kick puts Purrazzo down for two more and the sleeper goes on again. Purrazzo breaks it up again and grabs the Fujiwara armbar, which is actually reversed into a rollup for two. That’s enough for Purrazzo, who knocks her down and grabs the Fujiwara armbar for the win at 7:00.

Rating: C+. This was fairly long and just reminded us that the most successful women’s Pure Rules wrestler ever is still the best women’s Pure Rules wrestler ever. There is no one on the horizon coming for the title, but that could change rather quickly as it’s not like there is much of a process to set up challengers. Kai got in her usual strikes and kicks and that’s about all, as tends to be the case in her matches.

Video on Swerve Strickland vs. Bandido.

Billie Starkz/Diamante vs. Queen Aminata/Mina Shirakawa

Diamante and Shirakawa start things off with Shirakawa knocking her down and hitting her slingshot corkscrew splash. Aminata comes in for her hips to the face while Shirakawa kicks Diamante in the back. Diamante jawbreaks her way out of trouble and brings Starkz in to take over. A double suplex puts Shirakawa down and it’s back to Diamante for a chinlock. Shirakawa fights up and hits a basement dropkick, allowing the tag off to Aminata.

A Helluva Kick and running shot in the corner get two on Starkz, setting up Shirakawa’s missile dropkick. The top rope Sling Blade gets two with Diamante making the save but stereo Figure Fours are reversed into small packages. Shirakawa is right back with the Figure Four on Starkz until Diamante…well actually doesn’t make the save as Aminata knocks her away. That leaves Starkz to tap at 8:44.

Rating: C+. Athena’s goons losing again isn’t much of a surprise, though Shirakawa getting a win out of the thing is nice to see. She’s someone who could easily be put into a higher level on the card but it’s hard to figure out how that goes around here. You also have Starkz’s downfall continuing, which is likely going to result in her getting yet another big title shot.

Post match (and I mean maybe a tenth of a second after it’s over) Athena shows up to choke Shirakawa (who Athena is facing in the Women’s Owen Hart Tournament) with a towel. Aminata cuts that off but the villains beat Aminata and Shirakawa down.

TV Title: Shane Taylor vs. AR Fox

Taylor, with his Promotions, is challenging and spits on Fox’s hand to start fast. Fox gets knocked into the corner and his high crossbody is caught. That’s escaped and Fox sends him outside for the big dive, only for Taylor to punch him right in the face. There’s the apron legdrop for a rather delayed one and we hit the chinlock.

Fox is sent into the corner but avoids a legdrop for a breather. Taylor gets kicked to the floor and there’s the big running flip dive. Back in and a Swanton gives Fox two but Taylor is back with a chokeslam and splash for the same. The Marcus Garvey Driver is countered into a cutter and Fox dives at Taylor while kicking Anthony Ogogo at the same time. Back in and a 450 retains the title at 9:05.

Rating: B-. This was a perfectly acceptable title defense for Fox, as he got to beat a monster with a reputation. As usual, Fox’s dives looked good and it felt like he was working his way through getting around Taylor throughout. It made for a good main event and it’s great to see Fox getting this kind of a chance.

Overall Rating: C+. Well that was long. This was just a step above the regular weekly show, with a bunch of content that didn’t feel like it was doing anything more than getting people on the show. That’s fine once in awhile, but it seems to be the case more often than not. I do like that some of these things feel like they’re building to something, though we need them to actually pay off before without having to wait months on end.

Results
Action Andretti b. QT Marshall – Torture rack neckbreaker
Hyan/Maya World b. Allie Katch/Kaia McKenna – Around The World to McKenna
Rush b. Ryan O’Neil – Bull’s Horns
Bustah And The Brain b. Premiere Athletes – The Price Is Right to Nese
Dalton Castle/Outrunners b. Danny Grandview/Chulo Montana/Ykies – Mega Powers Elbow/ax handle drop combination to Ykies
Lio Rush b. Aaron Solo – Black Thunder
Deonna Purrazzo b. Janai Kai – Fujiwara armbar
Queen Aminata/Mina Shirakawa b. Billie Starkz/Diamante – Figure Four to Starkz
AR Fox b. Shane Taylor – 450

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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Supercard Of Honor 2026
Date: May 15, 2026
Location: Wicomico Youth And Civic Center, Salisbury, Maryland
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

It’s time for another big show and there are some important matches this time around. In this case, we have the World Title being defended for the first time since December, along with a six way elimination match for the Women’s Title. Basically we have a bunch of title matches up and down the card with a few other things included. Let’s get to it.

The opening video, with the audio not working (though you can hear the production team talking about the issues) looks at the bigger matches on the card. Nothing wrong with that.

Thankfully the audio is fine for the show itself.

Kickoff Show: Sammy Guevara vs. Action Andretti

So I guess the Tag Team Titles aren’t being defended. Thanks for wasting months talking about how teams are moving up the ranks and all that jazz. The answer is Beast Mortos “can’t be here tonight”. And that’s fine enough for the titles not being defended since March I guess.

Anyway, Guevara flips Andretti off instead of shaking his hand before the bell and gets his wrist cranked instead. Some rollups give Andretti some near falls and Guevara isn’t sure what to do early on. Another offer of a handshake lets Guevara slick back his hair, which Andretti then messes up. A clothesline sends Guevara outside for a suicide dive, only for Guevara to hit a fast dropkick back inside.

The big running twisting dive connects but Andretti is back with a running dive of his own. Back in and Guevara’s knee knocks Andretti out of the air for two and it’s time for Guevara to get cocky again. The Samoan drop, with squats, drops Andretti and Guevara says he should be getting the World Title shot. Andretti is back up with a backflip into a Stunner and they’re both down. They trade shots to the face until Andretti comes back with a handspring elbow.

Guevara rolls outside before Andretti can come off the top…so Andretti bounces to the apron and hits an Asai moonsault in a pretty awesome sequence. Back in and the running shooting star press gives Andretti two but the torture rack neckbreaker is broken up. A flipping powerslam gives Andretti two more but Guevara flips him into a DDT. The GTH finishes for Guevara at 11:30.

Rating: B-. Nice opener here, though finding out that the Tag Team Titles won’t be defended is quite the disappointment. The titles have basically disappeared for a long time now and this isn’t going to help things. At least both of them got to fly around and pop the crowd a good bit, which is why you have a match like this as the opener.

Post match Guevara introduces Rush, who beats up Andretti before starting his match.

Kickoff Show: Rush vs. LSG

Bull’s Horns finish LSG in 42 seconds.

Kickoff Show: Lacey Lane/Janai Kai vs. Mina Shirakawa/Queen Aminata

Kai rolls Shirakawa up for two to start but Shirakawa gets to slide into the dancing. Shirakawa takes over before it’s off to Aminata to suplex Lane. The sliding knee gives Aminata two and Shirakawa grabs the Figure Four. The other two get in a fight, which breaks things up and everything breaks down.

Aminata headbutts the heck out of Lane and they all need a breather. Back up and Aminata and Shirakawa win a forearm off but Aminata gets double teamed to the apron. That’s broken up as Shirakawa comes in with a dropkick, setting up the Figure Four to make Kai tap at 7:43.

Rating: C+. This was another added on match which did little more than let Shirakawa and Aminata be out there. Lane and Kai were fine enough but they were more or less glorified crash test dummies. It was completely acceptable, but it was only there to fill in a spot on the card.

Kickoff Show: Rascalz vs. Premiere Athletes

Xavier blasts Nese with a dropkick to start and busts out some jumping jacks. It’s off to Reed, who gets sent into the corner and hammered down to put the Athletes in control. That doesn’t last long as Xavier fights back and hits a running shooting star press. Mark Sterling offers a quick distraction though and a DDT puts Xavier down.

A bunch of choking on the floor gives Daivari two on Xavier as the massive cheating is on. Xavier fights up and hits a heck of a right hand, allowing the tag off to Reed. Everything breaks down and Xavier gets elevated DDTed. An other the shoulder Tombstone gives Nese two on Reed but Daivari knocks Nese down by mistake.

The Athletes are sent outside for Reed’s big running cutter off the apron. Wentz cutters Mark Sterling on the floor and Reed kicks Daivari down. Back up and the hammerlock DDT into the Magic Carpet Ride gives Daivari two, with Wentz flipping in for the save. Nese gets put in a fireman’s carry, with a top rope double stomp setting up a reverse Samoan driver to give Reed the pin at 11:26.

Rating: B-. It’s another fast paced and entertaining match, though it’s also a match that didn’t add much. I’m not sure what the point was in having the Athletes lose here after they were on a winning streak, but at least it was to a talented team like the Rascalz. As usual, the key is to do something with them and you never know if or when that might happen.

And now, the show proper.

Nigel McGuinness vs. Josh Woods

Pure Rules. McGuinness can’t get a wristlock to start and his front facelock earns him a trip into the corner. McGuinness grabs the ears of all things and Woods goes to the ropes for his first break. A short armscissors makes McGuinness use his own first break but he’s right back to work on Woods’ arm. That’s reversed into a sleeper and McGuinness has to go to the rope again. McGuinness rolls outside and grabs a headset, saying this isn’t going how he was expecting.

Woods gets on a headset and says this is going EXACTLY as he was expecting. Referee: “Gentlemen, I don’t know how you expected this to go. If you don’t get in the ring by the time I get to 20, you can expect to be counted out.” Hahahahahaha! They do in fact get back inside where McGuinness gives him a quick forearm (legal), which has Woods driving the two of them into the corner. McGuinness grabs a guillotine choke and Woods has to use his second rope break, causing McGuinness to do pose in celebration.

Woods charges at him and accidentally burns his third rope break as McGuinness outsmarts him again. They go outside and Woods rams him into the barricade to take over, followed by a backbreaker for two back inside. The ankle lock makes McGuinness use his last rope break but he hits something like a Tower Of London (more like a reverse Sling Blade than a stunner) on the floor.

They forearm it out on the floor and then keep it going inside until stereo boots to the face leave both of them down. Woods backbreakers him into a hard lariat for two and the ankle lock goes on again. McGuinness sends him into the corner for the break but can’t get the London Dungeon. The rebound lariat gives McGuinness the pin at 14:53.

Rating: B. Uh, ok then. This felt like it was going to be Woods beating the legend to finally get another Pure Rules Title shot and end Moriarty’s crazy long reign. Instead, McGuinness outsmarts him and scores something of an upset. I like the idea of McGuinness outsmarting him, but Woods losing here is quite the surprise.

Post match respect is shown.

We recap Viva Van challenging Red Velvet for the Women’s TV Title. Velvet is on a roll and has been rather awesome since her return. Van won one match and got the title shot. Literally her first win in ROH after seventeen losses. Commentary explains that a lot of it is due to her success outside of ROH, which basically says that promotions outside of ROH are more important.

Women’s TV Title: Viva Van vs. Red Velvet

Velvet is defending and dances a bit to avoid a test of strength. Van pulls her into a cross armbreaker but Velvet reverses and sends her out to the apron. Back in and Van grabs a dragon screw legwhip, followed by a Brock Lock to stay on the leg. The bow and arrow is broken up and they trade forearms from their knees, with Van doing a cool sit up to get back in Velvet’s face.

Velvet sends her into the corner and hammers away but gets caught in an electric chair. That’s reversed into a hurricanrana and they trade spinning shots to the face for a double near fall. Velvet’s basement superkick connects but Straight Outta Your Mama’s Kitchen is blocked. They go into the corner where Velvet has to escape an electric chair and grabs an Iconoclasm for two. Van’s implant DDT gets two and they trade rollups for two each, only for Velvet to hit the spinning kick to the head and retain at 11:18.

Rating: B-. It was a pretty nice match but there was zero reason to believe that Van was going to win here. I get the idea of “she’s done well everywhere else” but that means very little in ROH. There are all kinds of other people who could have gotten the title shot here and while Van is talented, she needed a MUCH better build up to get the title shot.

We look at AR Fox winning the TV Title last night and immediately being challenged by that wacky Lio Rush.

TV Title: Lio Rush vs. AR Fox

Fox is defending and gets suckered into the corner by the rather out there Rush. A cheap shot doesn’t get Rush very far as Fox sends him into the corner for some creepy speaking into the camera. Back up and Rush hits a running clothesline to send Fox out to the apron. Rush charges into a boot though and the running flipping double stomp on the apron connects for Fox.

Some elbows in the corner have Rush in more trouble so he bites Fox’s ear. Fox is sent outside for a big dive and a hard whip into the barricade. Back in and Rush hammers away, with an elbow to the face getting two. The chinlock goes on until Fox fights out and grabs a swinging DDT. A suplex neckbreaker drops Rush for two and here is Action Andretti at ringside.

Fox’s rolling cutter gets two more but he has to bail out of the 450. Rush spears him for two of his own and a springboard Stunner sends Fox outside. Of course that means a suicide dive, followed by a running Spanish Fly back inside. The Final Hour gives Rush two and it’s time to grab the belt. The referee doesn’t approve and takes it away, allowing Andretti to shove Rush off the top. Fox drops the 450 to retain at 15:41.

Rating: B. I was digging this a lot more until Andretti got involved. Fox wasn’t beaten, but I’m not wild on having someone help him in his first title defense. At the same time, at least Fox keeps the title and Rush seems to be spun off into something of his own. Andretti vs. Rush isn’t the most thrilling feud, but I’ll take something with a personal story over a bunch more random matches any day.

Sammy Guevara is upset about not defending the Tag Team Titles so he wants the World Title. The AEW World Title that is, as why would he want the Ring Of Honor version?

We recap Diamante challenging Deonna Purrazzo for the Women’s Pure Rules Title. Purrazzo is the inaugural champion while Athena wants her minions to hold all of the titles. Therefore, Diamante is trying to steal the Fujiwara armbar to get the title.

Women’s Pure Rules Title: Diamante vs. Deonna Purrazzo

Purrazzo is defending under Pure Rules and takes her into the corner to start. The short armscissors sends Diamante to the ropes for her first break and she pulls Purrazzo outside to strike away. Back in and Diamante fires off some chops in the corner, with Purrazzo having to use her first break to escape an ankle lock (interesting as she was already holding the rope when it went on, which feels like it could be a loophole).

A right hand earns Diamante a warning but she ties Purrazzo’s leg over the top rope. That means a running dropkick to the back can send Purrazzo crashing out to the floor for a crash. Back in and Purrazzo hits a desperation boot to the face and they’re both down. Diamante’s German suplex gets two and she gets the Fujiwara armbar.

Purrazzo is right back up with her own right hand, followed by a DDT for two. Purrazzo’s Fujiwara armbar has Diamante burning through her second break and she escapes again, earning herself a piledriver for two more. Diamante flips her off so it’s a powerbomb into the Venus de Milo to retain the title at 13:01.

Rating: B-. This worked well enough and a lot of that is because they had built up a story between the two of them. There was a reason to want to see Purrazzo beat Diamante and get some revenge, particularly by hurting the arm. I’m not sure who is supposed to beat Purrazzo, but I can go with the idea of building someone up instead of just a random title match.

Action Andretti says he turned on Lio Rush because Rush wasn’t there for him earlier tonight. He felt forgotten and that isn’t working for him. Cru is done.

We recap the Pure Rules Title match, which is the opposite end of the spectrum. Lee Moriarty is the seemingly unbeatable champion and he’s just giving Ace Austin a shot (yes they have a history elsewhere, but not around here so it’s basically cold).

Pure Rules Title: Ace Austin vs. Lee Moriarty

Moriarty is defending under Pure Rules. Moriarty takes him to the mat but his headscissors is reversed into a leglock. That’s countered into an armbar but Austin nips up and gets in a knockdown of his own. Moriarty’s armbar has Austin using his first break but he pulls Moriarty into a Muta Lock. A snap of the fingers gets Moriarty out so Austin drives him into the corner.

Moriarty twists the neck and works on the arm, with a suplex connecting for two. They fight over a cross arm choke until Moriarty goes back to the fingers. That’s reversed as well and Austin pulls him into a Koji Clutch, with Moriarty using his first break. A Death Valley Driver rocks Moriarty again but he cuts off a charge and snaps Austin’s arm over the top. Back in and the Border City Stretch goes on, with Austin reversing into a rollup for two more.

A leg trap cradle gets two as Moriarty has to use his second break. Back up and one more armbar makes Austin use his last rope break so Moriarty goes for the arm again. This time Austin sends him crashing out to the floor for the break and a breather. Back in and the Koji Clutch makes Moriarty use his last break, allowing him to grab a chickenwing. With Austin escaping, Moriarty switches into a European Clutch while grabbing the rope to retain at 16:07.

Rating: B. Heck of a match here as Austin is on an absolute roll. At the same time, I have no idea what is next for the title. Josh Woods lost and we’ve done Nigel McGuinness vs. Moriarty. That’s the problem with basically a three person “division” and a bunch of thrown out there challengers. Either way, rather good match here, with Austin needing to get a big win sooner or later. He has stood out when he gets a chance, but he needs to turn that into something.

Red Velvet is annoyed that she’s not in the Women’s Owen Hart Tournament. Willow Nightingale is, so Velvet is coming for the TBS Title on Collision.

Bustah And The Brain want the Tag Team Titles. For now though, they’ll settle for facing anyone who wants a piece of them. This brings out the Kingdom of all people for quite the surprise. They’re in for the challenge.

Six Man Tag Team Titles: Shane Taylor Promotions vs. ???

The Promotions are defending in an open challenge (which came after Bustah And The Brain’s open challenge and Red Velvet accepting an open challenge) with….Dalton Castle and the Outrunners accepting. Thank goodness, as they’re the absolute most logical challengers. Bravo knocks Floyd into the corner to start and gets elbowed in the face for his efforts. It’s off to Castle vs. Dean, who has to grab the ropes to escape Castle’s suplex attempt.

The Bang A Rang is blocked as well so it’s Magnum coming in and welcoming Bravo’s chops. A slingshot cutter works a bit better for Bravo and the champs crush Magnum on the apron. Back in and a clothesline gives Bravo two and Dean grabs a front facelock. The backdrop gets Magnum out of trouble but it’s too early for the tag, as Bravo pulls Floyd off the apron. A flip over the back allows the tag off to Floyd though and house is quickly cleaned.

Taylor breaks up the Mega Powers elbow (that monster) and one heck of a right hand knocks Floyd silly. Dean hits a Bronco Buster and some elbows get a quick two. Taylor even crotches Floyd against the post to keep him in trouble. The delayed suplex drops Floyd again and Taylor comes in for an even more delayed suplex. Floyd atomic drops his way out of trouble but Magnum is knocked off the apron again.

Taylor plants Floyd for two and we hit the chinlock. Back up and Taylor misses a charge into the corner, allowing Floyd to hit a slam. Castle gets back up for the tag and manages a German suplex on Taylor. The Bang A Rang is blocked again and Christyan XO’s distraction sets up a Marcus Garvey Driver for two. The Outrunners cut the Infantry off though and it’s a Bang A Rang to Taylor. That sets up the Mega Powers Elbow for the pin and the titles at 17:46.

Rating: C+. This was rather long but absolutely the right result, as the Promotions are hardly the most thrilling team in the world and it was time for them to lose the titles. Castle and the Outrunners have been built up as a successful three man team and then they beat the champions. They missed the peak of the Outrunners’ overness and didn’t give them anything then, but at least they finally got something. This isn’t rocket science and they made it work just fine here. Just maybe trim the match down a bit, as seventeen minutes was a good while too long.

Post match the rest of the Promotions come in for the beatdown but Orange Cassidy and Mark Briscoe make the save. Cassidy and Floyd do the big handshake.

We recap Mark Davis defending the AEW National Title against CMLL’s Xelhua. The match was announced earlier this week. End of recap.

AEW National Title: Mark Davis vs. Xelhua

Davis is defending. Feeling out process to start until Davis kicks him into a headlock. A hammerlock sends Davis over to the rope so Davis knocks him down for a backsplash. Back up and Xelhua ties up the arms and poses, with Davis having to bail out to the floor. That means Davis can hit a running shoulder and fire off the rather loud chops. Back in and a hard kick to the chest gives Davis two, followed by the hard shots in the corner.

Xelhua is sent crashing out to the floor, with Davis throwing him back inside and going for the mask. That fires Xelhua up for a high crossbody and a northern lights suplex for two. A hammerlock drop gives Xelhua two more but Davis enziguris him into the ropes. The lariat is reversed into an ankle lock, sending Davis over to the ropes for the break. Xelhua slams him down but misses a top rope backsplash. Davis hits the piledriver and running clothesline for the pin at 14:15.

Rating: B-. It was a fine power vs. power match but it was ice cold coming in and that’s not the best way to go. I get the idea of the National Title being the traveling title, but that doesn’t mean much when you have so many other people jumping back and forth between ROH and AEW. It doesn’t feel special and that needs to change if this title is supposed to mean something around here.

Shane Taylor Promotions want the AEW Trios Titles and the challenge is on for Collision.

Here’s what’s coming on Collision.

The Conglomeration is ready to fight on Collision so the Promotions’ challenge is accepted. Mark Briscoe’s word of the day is “home town a** whupping”. That’s…never mind.

We recap Bandido defending the World Title against Blake Christian. Bandido won Survival Of The Fittest to retain the title over five challengers, including Christian. Now Christian wants his one on one title shot. Ignore that we are five and a half months removed from Survival Of The Fittest.

Ring Of Honor World Title: Bandido vs. Blake Christian

Bandido is defending and Lee Johnson/Jay Lethal are here with Christian. Naturally Christian bails to the floor to start before coming back in so Bandido can flip around him. Bandido knocks him into the corner for the chops, which seem to hurt his own hand. A headscissors sends Christian outside for the suicide dive but he’s right back up with one of his own.

Back in and Christian starts in on the leg, including a double knee stomp. Bandido fights up and heads to the top, where Lethal grabs his leg. That means a double ejection but Christian uses the distraction to hit a Death Valley Driver for two. Christian grabs a short armscissors but Bandido rolls away as Christian goes up top. Bandido gets tied in the Tree Of Woe for the double stomp and a triangle choke has him in more trouble.

That’s reversed into the sitout powerbomb and Bandido jumps up top for the corkscrew crossbody. A running knee gives Bandido two but the 21 Plex is blocked. Christian goes after the leg but Bandido muscles him up for a suplex. Some rolling northern lights suplexes give Bandido two but an exchange of kicks goes to Christian. Bandido is knocked outside for a suicide tornado DDT, followed by the Lethal Injection for two back inside. Christian knocks him back to the floor and let’s load up the announcers’ table.

That earns him a suplex onto the table and they go back inside, where the 21 Plex gives Bandido two. They go up top, where Christian hits a super poisonrana into a springboard 450 for two more. Christian’s 21 Plex is blocked and Bandido knocks him down again. The shooting star press his raised knees though and they’re both down.

Bandido avoids another Lethal Injection but gets superkicked into a Spanish Fly for two. With nothing else working, Christian grabs the belt and uses the distraction to hit Bandido low. A double stomp to the head gives Christian two but Bandido is back with a Styles Clash. The 21 Plex, with Christian on the mat instead of on the ropes, retains the title at 26:03.

Rating: B+. It felt like a big match and Bandido continues to deliver while he’s around. The problem is simply that he isn’t around very often and that makes for a weird World Title situation. This match should have happened a few months ago to really hit the peak of the story, but it was SO refreshing to have a story built up rather than just throwing it out there. Heck of a match here, which shouldn’t be a surprise at all given who was out there.

Post match Swerve Strickland runs out to beat down Bandido before their match at Double Or Nothing.

We recap Survival Of The Fittest. Athena has been Women’s Champion for about 28 years now and is defending against five women at once. It’s not like most women feel like a threat to her so this is the best they can do.

Women’s Title: Athena vs. Zayda Steel vs. Maya World vs. Trish Adora vs. Yuka Sakazaki vs. Billie Starkz

Athena is defending under elimination rules. Steel is rapped to the ring and Athena gets a highlight video. Athena yells at Starkz to start and they go outside, which is broken up rather quickly. Back in and we get a four way crisscross until Adora spears Steel and World. That doesn’t do much as World is up for an Asai moonsault onto everyone else.

Back in and Steel’s top rope double stomp gets two on Adora, leaving Athena to toss World and Sakazaki at the same time. Steel throws a chair at Athena’s face and then uses it to clean house (remember No DQ). The chair is wedged into the corner but Steel is sent head first into it to give Athena the elimination at 5:03.

Athena kicks the chair out but World is there to kendo stick her down. Adora gets the stick and cleans house as Athena throws in a trashcan. Adora’s suplex drops World and everyone heads outside, with Starkz loading up a table (of course). Sakazaki is sent into the barricade and Adora is sent into Athena for a spear to put Athena down. Starkz’s slingshot piledriver gets two on World and Adora chokeslams Athena through a pile of open chairs at ringside, leaving Athena looking rather dead.

Starkz clears off the announcers’ table but Adora plants her with a Death Valley Driver. Sakazaki hits the Magical Girl Splash to put Athena through a table but walks into a backbreaker back inside. The Lariat Tubman hits Athena…and Sakazaki cuts off the cover, with commentary calling that out as a dumb move. Sakazaki gives Adora a spinning faceplant for the pin at 15:39.

A Magical Girl Splash with the trashcan hits Athena but Starkz makes the save (which makes a bit more sense). Starkz gives Sakazaki a super Pancake for the pin at 17:25 and we’re down to Starkz, World and Athena. A Canadian Destroyer gives Starkz two on World so Athena grabs some kendo sticks. Athena and Starkz use the sticks to unload on World and then bury her in chairs. Naturally it’s ladder time but World dropkicks it into Athena. Starkz goes up and gets punched by Athena by mistake, allowing World to hit a sunset bomb onto the chairs for the pin at 21:47.

The two of them head outside, where Athena misses a belt shot and gets planted onto the apron for two. An over the back faceplant gives World two and she grabs an ankle lock. Athena blocks Starkz from throwing in the towel and plants World onto the chair. An O Face off the ladder drops World and retains the title at 26:12.

Rating: B-. I could have gone for a lot fewer weapons here, with the ladder for the O Face being the only real highlight. The problem is we’ve seen so many weapons based matches around AEW in recent months that this really doesn’t mean as much. Athena winning is something of a surprise, as I have no idea how she is supposed to lose. As long as it isn’t to Starkz, it should be ok, but good grief that would be a lame ending to the title reign. For now though, good enough match, but not quite as awesome as I was expecting.

Post match Diamante comes out to celebrate but Starkz and Athena argue. Starkz leaves to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. There’s a lot of really good stuff on here, but as usual at the end of a Tony Khan produced pay per view, I do not want to see these people again for a long time. This show was really, really long and came after two other Ring Of Honor shows this week. The action was rather good throughout, but they could have easily dropped the National Title match and trimmed some others. As usual, too much going on, but that might be outweighed by the matches actually feeling important for a change. Just fix the Tag Team Title situation and it’s a lot better. Good show, and with some tweaks it could have been great.

Results
Sammy Guevara b. Action Andretti – GTH
Rush b. LSG – Bull’s Horns
Mina Shirakawa/Queen Aminata b. Lacey Lane/Janai Kai – Figure Four to Kai
Rascalz b. Premiere Athletes – Top rope double stomp/reverse Samoan driver combination to Nese
Nigel McGuinness b. Josh Woods – Rebound lariat
Red Velvet b. Viva Van – Spinning kick to the head
AR Fox b. Lio Rush – 450
Deonna Purrazzo b. Diamante – Venus de Milo
Lee Moriarty b. Ace Austin – European Clutch while holding the ropes
Mark Davis b. Xelhua – Running clothesline
Bandido b. Blake Christian – 21 Plex
Athena won Survival Of The Fittest last eliminating World

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: May 14, 2026
Location: SoFi Center, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

It’s the night before Supercard Of Honor and this is the second Ring Of Honor show of the week. The bonus show from Tuesday was a big preview for Supercard and it worked out pretty well. There is a good chance that this will be a slightly longer version of that, though the TV Title is on the line here. Let’s get to it.

Here is Tuesday’s show if you need a recap.

Opening sequence.

Maya World/Lacey Lane/Yuka Sakazaki vs. Marina Shafir/Athena/Billie Starkz

Athena flips out of Sakazaki’s hiptoss to start and they’re already in a standoff for a handshake. Shafir comes in and easily takes Sakazaki down so it’s off to Lane, who has to escape a choke. We get the fight over a six woman suplex with Athena’s team getting the better of things. Everything breaks down and Athena holds up World and Lane at the same time until a superkick knocks them all down.

Sakazaki gets caught in the wrong corner and Athena hammers away but also runs over to the corner to knock the other two off. Starkz comes in for two but Sakazaki fires off some elbows to Athena. That’s not enough for the tag though as Sakazaki gets pulled back into the middle.

A discus forearm drops Athena so Shafir comes in, leaving World and Athena to brawl on the floor. Sakazaki gets over for the tag to Lane, who cleans house and Death Valley Drivers Lane for two. Shafir and World brawl on the floor until Sakazaki takes them both out with a dive. Lane and Starkz trade kicks to the head with Starkz getting the better of things. The Swanton connects but Athena tags herself in and steals the pin at 11:28.

Rating: B-. Take a bunch of people in a title match and put them into a six woman tag with a few others thrown in to fill out the card. It’s a good preview for the match and Athena gets to look strong on her way into what is probably her toughest title defense to date. Athena almost has to lose tomorrow night I’ve been saying that for….years now?

Tommy Billington/Adam Priest vs. Death Riders

Of course it’s Wheeler Yuta/Daniel Garcia and Jon Moxley/Pac are with them. Garcia takes Billington down and gives him a quick kick, which has Billington annoyed. Priest comes in and Garcia hands it off to Yuta, likely out of fear. A double suplex drops Billington ribs first onto the top rope and a knee drop gives Garcia two. Yuta ties up the leg and Priest gets knocked off the apron to prevent a tag that wasn’t even being attempted.

Billington pops up and runs over for the tag (that was sudden), allowing Priest to clean house. The half crab goes on and Yuta’s kicks just annoy Priest, who grabs the same hold on him instead. Priest lets go to slug it out with Garcia and Yuta’s running knee misses. Billington gets piledriven and an STO/running knee combination finishes Priest at 10:37.

Rating: B-. This is a good example of a technically acceptable match which wasn’t overly interesting because neither team is doing anything. Billington and Priest had that feud with the Lethal Twist to boost them up a bit and now they’re stuck in the same place as so many other teams. On the other hand you have Garcia and Yuta, who are on every hand because the Death Riders have to be involved in everything.

Added to Supercard Of Honor: Mark Davis defending the AEW National Title against Xelhua.

Satnam Singh vs. CD Bennett/James Tapia

Singh throws them around and hits the double crossbody before shrugging them off again. The double chokeslam finishes for Singh at 1:32. This is something that is mainly for the live audience so they can see the giant but since EVERYTHING MUST BE FILMED AND AIRED around here, this is what we get.

Angelico vs. Josh Woods

Pure Rules. They fight over arm control to start with Woods spinning around and grabbing a snapmare. Angelico grabs the arm and that makes Woods accidentally back into the ropes for the first break. Woods is mad enough to drive Angelico into the corner and then plant him down, where Angelico gets in a kick to the head. That’s shrugged off and Rolling Chaos Theory finishes Angelico at 3:44.

Rating: C+. Yeah cool. Now that Woods has been built up as the most amazing technical wrestler anywhere, how many months do we wait before he gets his title shot? I’m going to go with fewer than whomever gets the random title match at the pay per view, because Ring Of Honor likes to play the REALLY long game with title shots. Or they do the opposite and hand them out at random. Either way, there is pretty much no need for one Pure Rules Title, let alone two.

Post match Woods goes after the arm and beats up Serpentico as well. Nigel McGuinness runs in for the save, but Woods bails from the threat of a fight.

Red Velvet talks about going way back with Viva Van and knows how hard Van has worked to get here. Velvet has carried this division on her back (What division?) and it’s time for Van to step in the ring with the backbone of this division (WHAT DIVISION?). Yeah that’s all well and good. Forgive me for not thinking that someone who is 1-17 in Ring Of Honor is a threat to the title.

Six Man Tag Team Titles: Eddie Kingston/Ortiz/Mance Warner vs. Shane Taylor Promotions

The Promotions are defending and it’s a big brawl before the bell. Ortiz and Bravo start things off and it’s off to Warner for some Snake Eyes. Kingston comes in to shoulder Taylor to no avail so Kingston goes with a shot to the face instead. A suplex doesn’t work though and Taylor takes him into the corner for some clubberin.

Dean adds a Bronco Buster into a chinlock, with Kingston getting back up. Kingston chops away at Taylor and manages to plant him off a charge. Warner comes in to clean house, including the big poke to Bravo’s eyes. Everything breaks down and Warner’s running knee gets two on Bravo. Christian XO offers a distraction though and it’s a belly to back suplex neckbreaker combination to finish Warner and retain the titles at 8:52.

Rating: C+. This was every “champions vs. thrown together team” title match that you would see. It’s the same idea of most of the Pure Rules Title matches: the champions are more experienced and know how to do this kind of match so they retain the titles. If only there were a few challengers who had done this same kind of match over and over as well, they might actually have some more interesting challengers.

Video on Blake Christian vs. Bandido.

Blake Christian vs. Evil Uno

This is Christian’s first singles match in Ring Of Honor this year and he has the rest of the Lethal Twist with him. Christian jumps him to start fast and gets knocked into the corner for some rapid fire clotheslines. Uno’s piledriver is countered with a backdrop though and Christian gives him a basement dropkick out to the floor.

Back in and a springboard elbow puts Uno down and Christian gets to talk trash. Uno comes back with a running boot into a DDT for two, only for Christian to send him into the ropes. Christian puts on the Bandido mask but the 21 Plex is blocked. Instead it’s a Lethal Injection into a Shining Wizard into the Vanilla Choke Zero to give Christian the win at 4:15.

Rating: C. Well, it’s better than not having him wrestle before the title match. I have no idea why I’m supposed to care about Christian’s singles success when he hasn’t done it for about five months but that’s the likely co-main event for the show. Uno was just cannon fodder here and that’s what he should be in bigger matches.

Post match Christian promises to win the World Title.

Lee Moriarty gives Ace Austin a Pure Rules Title shot.

Austin is undefeated in Ring Of Honor and even though he’s lost in AEW, he’s getting better! It’s inevitable that he’ll be a champion and it will happen tomorrow.

Deonna Purrazzo vs. Kaci Lennox

Non-title Pure Rules Proving Ground match. The bigger Lennox tries to go with the power to start but has to get out of a piledriver attempt. Back up and Lennox knocks her into the corner for some trash talk, followed by a clothesline for two. Purrazzo has had it with this though and pulls Lennox into the Fujiwara armbar for the win at 3:36.

Rating: C-. This was in fact Purrazzo doing the Pure Rules thing that she has proven she’s great at for…like a year plus now? I’m really not sure why we needed to see her do it again and the match didn’t have time to get anywhere. At least Purrazzo has an actual feud coming up at Supercard, which puts her further than most of her other title defenses.

Post match Diamante runs in and hits Purrazzo with the belt before giving her a Fujiwara armbar.

Outrunners/Dalton Castle vs. Baby Keef/Charlie Malachite/Xander Maddox

Magnum and Malachite fight over a headlock to start until Magnum chops him into the corner. For some reason Keef comes in to try some shots to the back, meaning the Outrunners get to beat up all three of them at once. Castle comes in to fire off the suplexes and it’s a triple slam to Malachite. There’s the Mega Powers Elbow to give Castle the pin at 3:14.

Rating: C. Cool now the Outrunners and Castle, who have been winning six man matches for months on end, get their title match right? I mean of course they probably won’t because that’s not how Ring Of Honor works, but it’s certainly the logical way to go. Otherwise, it’s just the same win that they get ever time, albeit against an opponent named Baby Keef this time.

Athena is ready to win but Billie Starkz comes in to ask what that was about. Athena doesn’t want to hear about this because she has kept Starkz around for three years now and it’s time for everyone to acknowledge what she has done. Starkz is annoyed but thanks her, with Athena telling her to follow the plan tomorrow night.

Survival Of The Fittest Qualifying Match: Hyan vs. Zayda Steel

Maya World and Christopher Daniels are here too. They trade small packages to start and pop up for a standoff. Hyan nails a basement dropkick but gets sent face first into the buckle. Steel knocks her outside, where Hyan blocks a suicide dive and hits a suplex on the floor. Back in and Steel pulls her into an STF so Hyan crawls to the rope, which she grabs with her teeth. That lets them trade rollups for some near falls until Hyan blocks an Unprettier attempt. Instead Steel grabs a swinging Unprettier for the pin at 5:04.

Rating: C+. This was a case where something had to be covered and they did it in a rather simple way. That’s not a bad thing either, as Steel or Hyan going forward is fine. If nothing else, it was nice to have a match that felt like it had some stakes, as it’s hard to imagine that Athena leaves with the title. Why not Steel? I mean other than she’s still relatively new and feels like a longer term project, but at least she’s in there.

Post match respect is shown.

TV Title: AR Fox vs. Nick Wayne

Fox is challenging and Wayne’s associates are here with him. They start fast with an exchange of rollups for two each until Fox slingshots in for an anarchist suplex. Wayne bails to the floor where he catches Fox with a shot to the ribs. That just earns him a step up moonsault from the middle rope, allowing Fox to clothesline away back inside. Kip Sabian crotches Fox on top though and Sliced Bread off the steps drops Fox on the floor. Mother Wayne adds some choking and Nick’s legdrop gets two.

The seated abdominal stretch keeps Fox in trouble but he’s right back up with a running hanging DDT. Fox pulls him into a cutter and hits a package powerbomb for two more. Nick is right back with a standing Sliced Bread for two of his own and a shot to the back keeps Fox in trouble. Code Red gives Nick two more but Fox seems to get ticked off. Fox knocks him outside for the big running flip dive but the Swanton hits raised knees back inside. Back up and Fox grabs a small package out of nowhere for the pin and the title at 12:58.

Rating: B. Cool. I was wrong about Ring Of Honor never doing anything with Fox and it’s nice to see him get some gold. That’s a nice surprise and rather long overdue, but it also gives you a reason to believe that someone could get a title win out of nowhere. It’s not like Nick was doing anything with the title so this is a nice change of pace.

Post match Lio Rush (he’s crazy again) pops up issue the challenge for the title for Supercard and the match is immediately made. Please don’t put it on Rush. Please?

Premiere Athletes vs. Ernest R. Alexander/Jacey Love/Ricky Martinez

Because this show can’t just end already. Nese backs Alexander into the corner to start and gets in some quick jumping jacks. Alexander tries to do the same and gets clotheslined down, allowing Daivari to come in to hammer away. Denali drops Love onto the turnbuckle but Love gets over to Martinez. That earns him a beatdown of his own and Denali chokeslams Love for the pin at 3:29.

Rating: C-. The Athletes are the perfect example of “they’re just kind of here” in Ring Of Honor. They don’t have feuds and they don’t have anything to go after at the moment, but they’re around almost every week. I have no idea why anyone would want to see them that often, but that has been the case since Ring Of Honor came back.

Bandido vs. Action Andretti

Non-title Proving Ground match and this is Bandido’s first singles match in Ring Of Honor since September. Bandido flips around to start but Andretti sticks the landing on a hurricanrana attempt. Back up and Bandido sends him into the corner, earning a handshake from Bandido. Andretti sends him into the corner and does a quick dance before knocking Bandido outside.

That means the big flip dive can connect and Andretti grabs a belly to back suplex for two. Bandido muscles him up and over with a suplex though and adds a corkscrew high crossbody. The frog splash misses for Bandido so Andretti gives him a hurricanrana for two more. Back up and Bandido grabs the one armed gorilla press for two and Andretti flips into the X Knee for the pin at 7:45.

Rating: B-. Oh yeah Bandido works here. Given that he hadn’t wrestled in Ring Of Honor for nearly four months, it was kind of hard to remember. The match was fast paced enough, but dang it’s hard to get interested in this after two hours tonight alone. Bandido vs. Christian doesn’t feel important, but at least Bandido was here to promote the match.

Post match Blake Christian comes out to throw Bandido the mask, because he only cares about the title.

Overall Rating: C. This was a Ring Of Honor show and while it felt important for the sake of the big push towards Supercard, this and Tuesday’s show combined for about three hours. That doesn’t make me want to watch the pay per view, but rather take a break from Ring Of Honor. It was like they had to cram the build for Supercard into the last two shows and that doesn’t make for a fun way to go. This show felt WAY more important than usual, but trim off a good forty five minutes (it wouldn’t be hard) and maybe do some of this stuff over the last two weeks instead of two days. You know, what Ring Of Honor won’t do.

Results
Marina Shafir/Athena/Billie Starkz b. Maya World/Lacey Lane/Yuka Sakazaki – Swanton to Lane
Death Riders b. Tommy Billington/Adam Priest – Running knee/STO combination to Priest
Satnam Singh b. CD Bennett/James Tapia – Double chokeslam
Josh Woods b. Angelico – Rolling Chaos Theory
Shane Taylor Promotions b. Mance Warner/Ortiz/Eddie Kingston – Belly to back suplex neckbreaker combination to Warner
Blake Christian b. Evil Uno – Vanilla Choke Zero
Deonna Purrazzo b. Kaci Lennox – Fujiwara armbar
Outrunners/Dalton Castle b. Baby Keef/Charlie Malachite/Xander Maddox – Mega Powers Elbow to Malachite
Zayda Steel b. Hyan – Swinging Unprettier
AR Fox b. Nick Wayne – Small package
Premiere Athletes b. Ernest R. Alexander/Jacey Love/Ricky Martinez – Chokeslam to Love
Bandido b. Action Andretti – X Knee

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: April 10, 2026
Location: WJCT Studios, Jacksonville, Florida
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

It’s an AEW PPV week so that means we get a bonus Ring Of Honor. I’m guessing the theory is to get the wrestling happy people on the Ring Of Honor bandwagon but the show was barely mentioned on this week’s Ring Of Honor show, with no mention on AEW TV. In other words, expect the equivalent of the deleted scenes from a TV taping. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

MxM Collection vs. Top Flight

Mansoor and Darius start things off with Mansoor stopping to pose but Darius bends the finger back. Dante comes in with a top rope ax handle to the arm so Mansoor bails into the ropes. That lets Madden come in from behind with a leg lariat and a side slam/legdrop combination gets two on Dante.

Madden crushes Mansoor in the corner though and it’s off to Dante to start the comeback. Everything breaks down and Darius gets caught in a sitout powerbomb/leg lariat combination for a rather near fall. Mansoor gets crotched on top though and it’s a hurricanrana into a sitout powerbomb to give Darius two. Darius suicide dives onto Madden and Mansoor is slingshotted into a cutter for the pin at 6:01.

Rating: C+. While it might not have been the exact same match, this feels like the kind of match that we have seen several times now. They’re both entertaining teams, but neither of them are going anywhere. The Tag Team Titles aren’t defended very often and it’s not like the champions even appear very often. In other words, nice match, not going to mean anything.

Rush vs. Dante Leon

Rush knocks him to the floor and then takes him back inside for the forearms in the corner. The Bull’s Horns finishes Leon at 1:12.

The IInspiration are ready to face anyone around here.

Hyan/Maya World vs. IInspiration

World has to duck out of a right hand out of the corner to start but Lee drives her right back into another corner. Hyan comes in for a hurricanrana out of the corner and a bridging suplex puts Lee down for two. Lee makes a blind tag though and hits a knee to the face to put Hyan in trouble for a change.

The IInspiration gets in some posing before talking some trash, followed by an armbar to keep Hyan down. The chinlock doesn’t last long and Hyan comes out of the corner with a running clothesline. World splashes both of them in the corner and a moonsault gets two on McKay. A posting puts McKay down on the floor and a double chickenwing faceplant/Downward Spiral combination finishes Lee at 6:55.

Rating: C. Well, they were undefeated for about a day. I’m not sure what the point was in having the team win a match on one episode of Ring Of Honor and then lose the next night. It isn’t like there are many teams who matter much in Ring Of Honor and the IInspiration lose that soon? Hyan and World are established enough and don’t gain much here so…why?

Gates Of Agony vs. Daisuke Sasaki/Paul Virk

Sasaki is a big deal in DDT. Kaun leapfrogs Sasaki to start and chops him into the corner before handing it off to Liona. Sasaki gets pulled out of the air and driven into the corner, only to get over for the tag to (the rather tall) Virk. That means a mini hoss fight with Liona, who eventually drops Virk with a spinebuster. Open The Gates finishes Virk at 3:10.

Rating: C. Sasaki might not be the biggest star in the world but he felt way out of place as a jobber in a tag match. Other than that, this was a reminder that the big power team are till a big power team. That’s pretty much what you’ve seen from the Gates for years now and that doesn’t seem likely to change.

Sisters Of Sin vs. Nixi XS/Aminah Belmont

XS and Hart knock the other two off the apron to start and it’s off to those other two rather quickly. XS is knocked off the apron this time and Belmont gets caught in the Tarantula, allowing Blue to hit a running dropkick. A snapmare into a PK gets two on Belmont but she fights out of the corner. There’s no XS to tag though and a Black Widow makes Belmont tap at 3:42.

Rating: C. The string of fairly run of the mill tag matches continues, albeit with a team who aren’t regulars around here. The Sisters are fine enough in their role, but there isn’t exactly anything for them to do around here. The match was little more than a squash, though at least Belmont got in a bit of offense to keep it from getting dull.

Dalton Castle/Outrunners vs. Deonn Rusman/Devo Knight/Alex Findley

Castle is rather excited for the new ROH figures and wants them in your guest bathroom. Magnum headlocks Knight to start and it’s off to Floyd to work on the arm. A spinning belly to back suplex drops Knight and his partners both get chopped. Castle comes in for the suplexes and the Mega Powers Elbow finish Findley at 3:42.

Rating: C. Cool, now give them a title shot. I’m not sure what else is next for the Outrunners/Castle, but the only logical step is a title shot. They’ve won all kinds of regular matches in a row, they’re popular and they’re…not likely to face the champions, because the titles have been defended once since December so we just get to keep waiting, as always.

Dralistico vs. Komander

Dralistico is wrestling in a shirt, which is apparently rather disrespectful in lucha libre. They trade some early rollups for two each but Dralistico tells him to stop running. Komander does for some reason, allowing Dralistico to remove his shirt. Dralistico takes him down and hits a running knee to the face, followed by a running shot in the corner. Komander fights up and chops away, followed by a DDT for two.

Dralistico avoids a 450 but gets rolled up for two more instead. A gutbuster hits Dralistico but he pops back up to kick Komander down. That doesn’t last long as Komander knocks him off the top and hits a super crucifix bomb for two. A poisonrana into Cielito Lindo finishes Dralistico at 9:29.

Rating: B-. This was the kind of match you would have expected from the two of them and, while it doesn’t have the best competition, it did feel like the biggest match of the show. They had their high flying stuff and it worked pretty well, which shouldn’t be a surprise. Granted it’s the second Komander vs. a high flier match I’ve seen in two days but at least it was good.

Overall Rating: C. Yep this was exactly what I was expecting the second I saw this show being announced. Ring Of Honor turns these shows into big ads for the weekly show and that’s exactly what what it felt like: a bunch of mostly mediocre matches which don’t feel like they have any impact on the ongoing stories. If you like Ring Of Honor, you’ll like this, but after three plus hours of the same style in two days, I could go for a break from this stuff.

Results
Top Flight b. MxM Collection – Slingshot cutter to Mansoor
Rush b. Dante Leon – Bull’s Horns
Hyan/Maya World b. IInspiration – Double chickenwing faceplant/Downward Spiral combination to Lee
Gates Of Agony b. Daisuke Sasaki/Paul Virk – Open The Gates to Virk
Sisters Of Sin b. Nixi XS/Aminah Belmont – Black Widow to Belmont
Dalton Castle/Outrunners b. Deonn Rusman/Devo Knight/Alex Findley – Mega Powers Elbow to Findley
Komander b. Dralistico – Cielito Lindo

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: February 19, 2026
Location: Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney, Australia
Commentators: Caprice Coleman, Ian Riccaboni

We’re down in Australia for at least some of this show, which means the crowd should be hotter than usual for a change. In theory that could be having a title match tonight, as that isn’t the case with this show most of the time. If nothing else, it does seem like we’re on the way towards Bandido defending the World Title against Blake Christian. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Zayda Steel vs. Johnnie Robbie

Christopher Daniels is here with Steel. Robbie kicks her hand away on the handshake and gets headscissored into the corner for her efforts. A kick to the ribs slows Steel down so she grabs a Stunner to put Robbie on the floor. Robbie trips her down and takes away in the corner, followed by the camel clutch. That’s broken up as well and Steel hits a rolling kick to the face for the pin at 2:40. The kick looked good, but Steel is starting at the bottom of a long climb after losing so many matches to start her run around here.

Video on Skyflight vs. TMDK.

Skyflight vs. TMDK

TMDK (Che Cabrera/Bad Dude Tito/Shane Haste) are from New Japan. Darius clears Haste out to start and it’s quickly off to Sky. That’s fine with TMDK, who send him outside for the double stomping. Haste’s cannonball gets two and he grabs a chinlock to keep Sky down. Sky is right back up to bring in Dante for the springboard high crossbody on Haste. Everything breaks down and Cabrera gets caught in the wrong corner, where a tornado DDT plants him for two. Top Flight hit stereo dives to the floor and Sky’s TKO finishes Cabrera at 5:13.

Rating: C+. It’s nice to see Skyflight actually winning something for a change, as they tend to lose almost everything they do. The team could easily be put into a title hunt, or even win some belts here and there, but for some reason they tend to be jobbers to the stars most of the time. This isn’t some game changing win, but it’s better than nothing.

Mark Davis vs. The Tuckman

Tuckman ducks some right hands to start and actually grabs a headlock. That’s broken up though and Davis starts firing off the chops. Tuckman’s attempt at a slam doesn’t work and Davis sends him into the corner for a running forearm. An armdrag sends Davis to the apron though and Tuckman dropkicks him outside for a dive. Back in and the slam sets up a cutter for two on Davis, who has had it with this. That means Thunderstruck finishes Tuckman at 5:07.

Rating: C+. Bad name aside, Tuckman got to showcase himself a bit here and that was nice to see. This was a case of Davis trying to catch Tuckman, who ran around and got in a bit of offense here and there before finally getting caught. It’s not exactly a novel idea but they did the formula well.

Sisters Of Sin vs. Frankie B./Aysha

Blue backs B up against the ropes to start but B takes her down for a basement clothesline. Aysha comes in and gives Hart a Shining Wizard for two and B comes back in. This time Blue trips her from the floor though and Hart hammers away. A DDT gives Hart two but B manages to knock Blue down, allowing the double tags to Aysha and Hart. Everything breaks down and Hart sends the two of them into each other, setting up a double superkick for two on B. Aysha makes a save and B drops Hart with a spear. A superkick puts Aysha down though and the assisted swinging Side Effect finishes for Blue at 7:19.

Rating: C+. Aysha made a good fired up comeback in there and B had some nice offense as well. The Sisters are at least an established team and can work well together so this was a nice way to let the unknown team show off a bit. Nice enough match here and better than I was expecting.

Dalton Castle/Outrunners vs. Will Kiedis/Sam Osborne/Jack Osborne

Castle says he encountered a whole tree full of cockatoos. Kiedis and Magnum start things off with Kiedis posing at him. That earns him an arm crank and it’s off to Floyd for a running knee. Sam comes in for a running shoulder in the corner as the villains start taking over on Floyd. Kiedis even trips him from the floor but Floyd avoids a charge in the corner.

The needed tag brings in Magnum to clean house and it’s a bulldog/running clothesline combination. The Mega Powers Elbow is broken up though and a toss cutter gets two on Floyd. A clothesline/backbreaker combination puts him down again but he’s right back up with a knockdown of his own. Castle comes in for the suplexes but gets triple teamed down. Castle and the Outrunners hit triple slams and NOW the Mega Powers Elbow connects for the pin on Jack at 7:22.

Rating: B-. Another fun tag match here, which shouldn’t be a surprise given that Castle and the Outrunners were involved. They’ve become a good team in recent weeks and, as usual, I could go for seeing them getting to do more. That could be as simple as “hey, these guys have won a bunch of six man matches and they should get a title shot”, but that seems more complicated than it should be for whatever reason.

Charli Evans vs. Mina Shirakawa

Evans works on the arm to start and sends Shirakawa into the corner for a running boot. Shirakawa is back up with some rapid fire kicks and sweeps the leg for a slingshot corkscrew dive. Evans blocks the Figure Four attempt and grabs a very bridging fisherman’s suplex for two. The Shining Wizard is blocked but Evans turns the Figure Four over. Shirakawa is right back with a missile dropkick into the top rope Sling Blade for two. Shirakawa strikes her down and the Glamorous Driver finishes Evans at 8:31.

Rating: B-. This was another case where Evans was giving it all she had in her big chance and that was cool to see. Shirakawa needed a win after her long stretch of losing and that is going to need to change on the main roster. I’m not sure what she could do, as it’s not like there are a bunch of titles she could be going after at the moment.

Robbie Eagles vs. Shawn Dean

Eagles double wristdrags him down to start and then sends Dean into the corner for some…horn mockery? Dean bails out to the floor and avoids the dive, only to come back in for a running shoulder. Eagles gets hammered down into the corner and a Bronco Buster (dubbed the BBC, which has Riccaboni confused) gives Dean two. A running elbow in the corner drops Eagles but another Bronco Buster misses. Eagles’ running kick to the chest gets two and he kicks away at the leg. A 619 to the leg puts Dean down again and a 450 onto the leg sets up the Ron Miller Special (reverse Figure Four) for the win at 7:32.

Rating: C+. Eagles is an established name from Australia and it makes sense to put him out there as the feature attraction. There is pretty much no reason to have him beat a champion, but at least it was a singles match instead of a six man. This was at least a fast paced match with Eagles taking apart the leg to win so it went well as a main event.

Overall Rating: B-. That was a Ring Of Honor show all right, with little in the way of stories advancing, but with some good action. Having the guest stars here helped a lot, but there is only so much you can do with one random match after another. That has been a problem for years around here, and now we’re going to be over eighty days since six titles have been defended (or over 200 in the TV Title’s case). What are they supposed to do if the titles they have floating around mean nothing? Anyway, good action here, as the Australian wrestlers were working hard in their chance.

Results
Zayda Steel b. Johnny Robbie – Spinning kick to the face
Skyflight b. TMDK – TKO to Cabrera
Mark Davis b. The Tuckman – Thunderstruck
Sisters Of Sin b. Frankie B/Aysha – Assisted swinging Side Effect to Aysha
Dalton Castle/Outrunners b. Sam Osborne/Jack Osborne/Will Kiedis – Mega Powers Elbow to Jack
Mina Shirakawa b. Charli Evans – Glamorous Driver
Robbie Eagles b. Shawn Dean – Ron Miller Special

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: February 12, 2026
Location: eSports Stadium Arlington, Arlington, Texas
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

We’re getting closer to absolutely nothing right now and there are a lot of titles that could use a defense after literal months of no defenses. Hopefully they find a way around that, as the Swirl/Jay Lethal story, which was the best thing going, has already cooled off. Maybe we can switch it up a bit this week so let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Tag Team Titles: La Faccion Ingobernable vs. Top Flight

La Faccion is defending for the first time since winning the titles on December 5, which was their first time teaming together. We get a cheer off to start and Dante speeds around Mortos. A running shoulder sends Dante flying and it’s off to Darius vs. Guevara. Well never mind as Guevara hands it right back to Mortos, which seems like a waste of time.

And it’s already back to Guevara, who is knocked into Mortos this time, but snaps off a headlock takeover. Guevara’s moonsault dropkick puts Darius on the floor so Dante comes in, only to miss a stomp. Dante gets taken into the corner for some clotheslines from Mortos, who is described as a good lawyer. As your bull monsters tend to be.

A shot to the hamstring lets Mortos start in on the leg but Dante manages a quick DDT. Darius and Guevara come in to pick up the pace but Mortos gets in a blind tag. A jumping Downward Spiral drops Guevara and a tornado DDT drops Mortos for two, as the blind tag didn’t make much of a difference. Mortos is right back with a pop up Samoan drop to pin Darius at 8:39.

Rating: C+. It was nice to see the titles actually defended, as if nothing else you might want to see the still mostly unproven team actually, like, team. It’s not like there are many teams in the title picture (whatever that entails) so it makes sense to give the champs some reps. At least more than one every two months at least.

Jay Lethal has Bandido’s mask and promises that Bandido will lose the World Title soon. Tommy Billington pops in to challenge Lethal. He doesn’t actually do anything physical, but he does make the challenge.

Michael Oku/Von Erichs vs. The OXP/Oday/Timur The Great

Kevin Von Erich is here too and gives Oku his cowboy hat on the way in. Oku grabs OXP’s arm to start and hands it off to the Von Erichs for some running clotheslines in the corner. Everything breaks down quickly and Oku hits the running shooting star to the floor. Back in and the double Claw and half crab give us the triple submission at 2:31. At least it was short.

We look back at last week’s main event.

Persephone vs. Julissa Mexa

Mexa takes her down to start fast and does a quick dance. The hips to the face have Persephone in more trouble and a spinning middle rope crossbody gives Mexa two. Persephone is right back up with a knockdown and basement dropkick to put Mexa in trouble. Some knees in the corner have Mexa down again and we hit the chinlock. That’s broken up and Mexa gets in a capture suplex, followed by a standing moonsault for two of her own. Mexa strikes away so Persephone gives her a bridging German suplex. A pumphandle dragon suplex puts Persephone down for two more but she’s right back with a crucifix bomb for the pin at 5:29.

Rating: B-. They made the most of their time here and it was a back and forth match. The good thing is that Persephone, who is apparently a big deal around here, got to look like a star. At the same time, Mexa had a solid debut and I could go for more of her, as the women’s division could certainly use some new names.

Dalton Castle/Outrunners vs. KM/Nathan Cruz/Rosario Grillo

Magnum scares Grillo into the corner to start so it’s quickly off to Cruz for an early change. Everything breaks down fast and the Outrunners clean house. Castle comes in for the suplexes and it’s a triple slam into the Mega Powers elbow to Cruz. The Bang A Rang gets the pin at 2:32. Total squash.

JD Drake doesn’t think much of Adam Priest going after Kazuchika Okada and wants to teach him a lesson. That’s quite the downgrade from Okada.

Lance Archer vs. Will Allday

Allday bounces off of Archer to start but manages to backflip out of a chokeslam attempt. A choke toss sends Allday flying but he avoids a charge in the corner. Archer has had enough and knocks him down, setting up the chokeslam and Blackout for the pin at 2:30. Anyone think maybe they should do something with Archer and his undefeated run? Anything at all?

Swirl/Premiere Athletes vs. Bandido/Mascara Dorada/Komander/Xelhua

Daivari and Xelhua start things off with Xelhua firing off some early dropkicks. Dorada comes in and gets his mask pulled, allowing the big beatdown in the corner. That doesn’t last long as Dorada is back with a spinning kick to Nese’s head. Komander comes in to face Johnson and flips over into a standoff. That works so well that Komander flips over into a standoff before bringing in Bandido to face Christian.

They forearm it out until Johnson and Komander come in as well. The luchadors clear the ring but some evil cheap shots leave Komander in trouble for a change. Nese drops a leg and the Athletes hit a quick double suplex. Bandido avoids a charge in the corner but gets speared down on the apron in a nice sequence. Back in and Johnson hammers away while Christian hits on Stori Denali.

Daivari and Komander crash on stereo crossbodies and Bandido comes back in to clean house. Komander’s very bouncy hurricanrana connects and the luchadors hit a nice quadruple dive. Christian flips out of the 21 Plex though and Denali sneaks in to chokeslam Bandido. Christian’s frog splash gets two with Dorada making a save. We hit the parade of knockdowns, including a pop up cutter to Daivari. More dives connect to the floor and Bandido 21 Plexes Daivari for the win at 14:07.

Rating: B-. This was a fun match with the luchadors getting to go out there and do some impressive things, as they are known to do. That’s always going to work, though at least this did something to keep up the build towards Christian vs. Bandido. I have no idea when that is actually going to happen, but at least they’re doing something to make it happen. Kind of.

Overall Rating: B-. While there was a lot of filler in the middle, it was nice to see a show actually feel important for a change. That’s not something that you often see around here and putting one of the ridiculous amount of titles on the line helped. Throw in some Bandido/Christian build in and I could go for more of this style. I doubt I’ll get it, but I’ll take it for a week.

Results
La Faccion Ingobernable b. Sky Flight – Pop up Samoan drop to Darius
Michael Oku/Von Erichs b. The OXP/Oday/Timur The Great – Triple submissions
Persephone b. Julissa Mexa – Crucifix bomb
Dalton Castle/Outrunners b. KM/Nathan Cruz/Rosario Grillo – Bang A Rang to Cruz
Lance Archer b. Will Allday – Blackout
Bandido/Xelhua/Mascara Dorada/Komander b. Swirl/Premiere Athletes – 21 Plex to Daivari

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: January 22, 2026
Location: eSports Stadium Arlington, Arlington, Texas
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

We’re in Arlington for a change and as usual it’s hard to guess what we’re going to be seeing here. The rise of the Swirl is the big story at the moment, though I’m not sure where that’s going to go. Other than that, we get to see how long multiple titles can go without being defended since last month’s Final Battle. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Premiere Athletes vs. Adam Priest/Tommy Billington

We get a quick insert promo from the Swirl and Jay Lethal, who aren’t happy with Priest and Billington. Priest and Daivari fight over arm control to start and it’s Billington being taken into the corner. Nese comes in and gets elbowed by Billington but comes back with a headlock takeover. Some running shoulders do a bit better for Billington but Nese cuts him off with a chop block.

The arm is rammed into the apron as well and Billington can’t manage a spinning Tombstone. Nese wraps the arm around the rope, followed by the running neck snap over a different rope. A double clothesline gets Billington out of trouble though and the tag brings in Priest to start the comeback. Priest gives Nese a tornado DDT for two before grabbing a half crab on Daivari.

Mark Sterling offers a distraction but the Athletes collide. Billington gets low bridged out to the floor, leaving an assisted DDT to plant Priest for two. Priest manages to send them into each other though and the half crab goes on but Stori Denali is in with a chokeslam. The cover is broken up by Billington’s Swan Dive (nice job on the save) and Denali is stunned. Billington hits a dive onto Daivari, leaving Nese to load up the pumphandle driver. That’s reversed into a rollup though and Priest gets the pin at 9:24.

Rating: B. Those guys just had probably the best match of their careers as they went out there and tore the house down when they were given the chance. It’s the best match that I’ve seen on the weekly series in a long time and I have a great time with the whole thing. Heck of a match here with really good action and more than one hot sequence. Nice job.

Post match Lethal and the Swirl run in for the big beatdown, with the Athletes joining in.

Satnam Singh vs. Josiah Jean/Dante Leon

Singh takes turns throwing them into the corner for some loud chops but they escape a double chokeslam. A double chop block just annoys Singh and it’s a double chokeslam into a double pin at 2:25. This was every Singh match but with two opponents. I do appreciate that they’re just throwing him out there as a monster, though it’s not like he’s doing anything important and I can’t imagine that changing.

Video on Cru.

Alec Price/Jordan Oliver vs. Cru

The video hypes up Lacey Lane joining Cru so of course she isn’t here. Andretti and Oliver go to the mat to start before it’s off to Price to work on the arm. A dropkick puts Price down and we hit the armbar as commentary says that due to upcoming weather issues, the announced Global Wars with Athena’s promotion is postponed. Nothing wrong with that as it’s not something they can control.

Anyway Andretti gets elbowed down for a splash/legdrop combination but he fights his way out of the corner. Rush comes in for the alternating strikes to Price as everything breaks down. Cru is sent outside for a double suicide dive but Price is up to dive onto the two of them. Back in and an assisted top rope faceplant gets two on Rush but Price knocks Oliver off the apron by mistake. Andretti hits a running clothesline and the double Falcon Arrow finishes for Rush at 6:08.

Rating: C+. There was some nice action here, though my goodness can Price and Oliver actually win a match? It’s like the company is going out of their way to have them lose as often as possible. At the same time, I’m not sure what Price and Oliver are supposed to do around here. There are so many teams who can do the exact same style (including Cru, and the Rascalz, who haven’t even started wrestling yet) so….what are they going to be? Another high flying team of losers?

Post match, respect is shown, as I’m kind of surprised that Cru are good guys.

Dalton Castle/Outrunners vs. Auzzy/Hitt/Gino Medina

Auzzy and Magnum start things off with Auzzy not being the most respectful. That doesn’t last long as it’s off to Media, who is chopped into a tag to Floyd. The rather large Hitt comes in to hammer on Floyd in the corner, which doesn’t last long as it’s Castle coming in. Suplexes and slams abound, setting up and Mega Powers elbow. The Bang A Rang finishes Medina at 3:25.

Rating: C. It’s another win for the good guys, though it would be nice if they could get a title shot already. I mean, it’s not like there are Six Man Tag Team Titles out there which haven’t been defended since early December or anything. Castle and the Outrunners are pretty clearly the best challengers (read as the only realistic ones at the moment), which is why it will likely be SkyFlight.

Deonna Purrazzo says she has to defend her legacy even after Madison Rayne left. The open challenge is on. You mean she’s going DEFEND THE TITLE? What a concept!

Matt Menard vs. Lee Moriarty

Non-title Proving Ground match, meaning if Menard wins or lasts the ten minute time limit, he gets a future title shot. Moriarty wrestles him down without much effort to start so the rather loud Menard is back with a headlock. That’s reversed into a short armscissors so Menard uses his first rope break. This seems to confuse him, as no one but Moriarty seems to get how the rules work.

An abdominal stretch has Menard using his second rope break and a right hand earns him an official warning. Moriarty knocks him outside and Menard burns off some time in getting back inside. Menard gets in a knockdown but Moriarty forearms him down a few times. Some chops have Moriarty in the corner for some elbows to the head and the Boston crab goes on. Moriarty has to use his own rope but he reverses a piledriver attempt into the Border City Stretch for the tap at 8:18.

Rating: C+. In a shocking development, Moriarty wins another Pure Rules match. It’s been going on for a rather long time now and since he keeps beating every opponent, I have no idea why it’s supposed to be interesting anymore. The matches are fine, but they’re just there time after time. Give him a story, or at least a challenger/division already.

Post match Moriarty stays on him until SkyFlight makes the save. The rest of Shane Taylor Promotions run in for the save. I WAS KIDDING ABOUT SKYFLIGHT GETTING A SHOT!

London Dior/Rachael Ellering vs. Diamante/Billie Starkz

Athena is here with Diamante/Starkz. Ellering and Diamante start things off with Ellering running her over. Diamante fights back and fires off the forearms to the face but Ellering is back up with some chops. A double clothesline allows the tag off to Dior but Starkz cuts her off in a hurry with a kick out of the corner. Diamante hits a spinebuster into Starkz’s Swanton, setting up an ankle twist to make Dior tap at 4:47.

Rating: C. This was like a match from Superstars with Koko B. Ware and Barry Horowitz against a regular team. It might work for a bit when Ware was in there but then it went south the second after the tag. There was nothing else to this one, as Ellering is still the same as she has been for years now.

Post match we get a quick plug for the previously postponed Global Wars show, with what sounds like “next week” edited out. I’ve heard worse ways of getting around something like that.

Big Bill/Bryan Keith vs. KM/Will Allday

Keith throws his gear at Allday and jumps him to start (fine with the referee), with the stomps having Allday in early trouble. Back up and Allday sends him outside for a quick dive, meaning the much bigger KM can come in. Bill is right there for the staredown, with Bill missing a charge into the corner. He’s right back with a splash though and it’s a running knee into a big boot. Bill’s swinging Boss Man Slam finishes Allday at 2:57.

Ace Austin vs. Johnny TV

Taya Valkyrie is here with TV. Austin starts fast and knocks him outside, where Valkyrie offers a distraction so TV can get in a shot. Valkyrie even gets in a cheap shot of her own, allowing TV to grab a choke back inside. That’s broken up and Austin fires off some corner clothesline, followed by a doctor bomb. Valkyrie offers another distraction but TV can’t hit Starship Pain. They strike it out with Austin getting the better of things until Valkyrie offers another distraction. A running anklescissors brings TV off the top though and the Fold gives Austin the pin at 7:03.

Rating: C+. It’s nice to see Austin winning, especially when he gets a victory despite Valkyrie getting involved. Austin is someone who feels like he could become an important player around here and while it isn’t much, headlining this show is better than nothing. Just get him somewhere more important already.

Overall Rating: C+. The opener was rather good and it was nice to see some titles actually addressed. There were still a bunch of people who feel like they’re just coming and going without doing anything important, but I’ll take the little advancements where I can. This show was at least a bit more focused this week, though I’ll need to see it last before I get a bit more invested.

Results
Tommy Billington/Adam Priest b. Premiere Athletes – Rollup to Nese
Satnam Singh b. Josiah Jean/Dante Leon – Double pin
Cru b. Jordan Oliver/Alec Price – Double Falcon Arrow to Price
Dalton Castle/Outrunners b. Auzzy/Hitt/Gino Medina
Lee Moriarty b. Matt Menard – Border City Stretch
Diamante/Billie Starkz b. London Dior/Rachael Ellering – Ankle twist
Big Bill/Bryan Keith b. KM/Will Allday – Swinging Boss Man Slam to Allday

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: January 8, 2026
Location: eSports Stadium Arlington, Arlington, Texas
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

It’s time for a regular show this week after three in one week. That’s quite the lineup, but last week did feature a heck of a swerve in the featured tag match. Hopefully they can follow up on that, as it’s certainly an interesting story. As usual, there are pieces in ROH that can work, but they need the right presentation. Let’s get to it.

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

The opening recap looks at Jay Lethal’s turn last week.

Opening sequence.

Aaron Solo vs. Ace Austin

They go with the grappling to start with Austin taking him down into a headscissors. Solo reverses into a headlock but Austin breaks it up and kicks him in the back. That earns Austin a trip to the floor though and Solo hits a slingshot dive. Back in and we hit the front facelock, followed by a running dropkick for two.

They head out to the apron, where Solo is sent outside for a kick to the chest. The Fold is blocked so Solo is catapulted into the corner, where he bounces right back out with a double stomp for two. Solo’s charge in the corner misses though and Austin hits a nice springboard spinning kick to the face. The Fold finishes Solo at 7:35.

Rating: C+. I like Austin a good bit, but dang it shouldn’t be taking him seven and a half minutes to get rid of Solo. I’ll take that over a loss though, as at least he’s getting some ring time and starting to establish himself. Just maybe let him be a bit more dominant next time around?

Athena knows she is the best in the world but she keeps having to deal with problems. She has a massive target on her back and she kept failing to prove her greatness in 2025. Who is she if she can’t bring home any gold for her minions? How did she get in this position? The only person she can depend on is herself.

Cru vs. Will Allday/Jay Alexander

Lacey Lane is now with Cru and Andretti starts with Allday. Hold on though as Allday springboard kicks Rush off the apron and hands it off to Alexander. Everything breaks down and Cru hits stereo dives to the floor. Back in and Cru goes with the misdirection to take Alexander down. Allday’s missile dropkick hits Alexander by mistake and a double Falcon Arrow finishes Allday at 2:19. This has been your reminder that Cru is in fact still around.

Christopher Daniels talks about how Leila Grey is out of action for a long time with an injury. Now though, Zayda Steel is taking her place. I’m not sure how well that is going to fit but it’s something.

Darius Martin/Zayda Steel vs. Lee Moriarty/Trish Adora

Mixed tag and the rest of their teams are here. Moriarty works on a cravate to start before taking Martin down by the arm. With that going to a standoff, Adora comes in to take over on Steel, including a mocking arm crank. Steel is back with a sunset flip but the referee is distracted, meaning no count. They trade kicks to the face and it’s back to the men. Everything breaks down and Steel jumps onto Adora to hammer away, followed by a Canadian Destroyer to Moriarty. Shane Taylor offers a distraction though and Steel gets dropped with the Lariat Tubman for the pin at 6:15.

Rating: C+. So Steel joins the team and loses ten minutes later. Great to see that kind of a start, as they made sure she gets no momentum for the debuting team. But at least Adora, who is pretty much exactly where she was years ago, gets a pin. I’m sure that will put her in titl….oh you get the idea already.

We look back at Madison Rayne’s retirement match last week.

Billie Starkz/Diamante vs. Reiza Clarke/Shay Karmichael

Athena is here with Starkz and Diamante. Karmichael and Starkz lock up to start with the former yelling a lot. Starkz takes Karmichael into the corner and it’s a double toss to send her crashing down for two. Clarke comes in and gets caught with a quick Stunner, leaving Diamante to hit a rolling cutter to pin Karmichael at 3:48.

Rating: C. Pretty much a total squash here with Starkz and Diamante getting to dominate the jobbers to please Athena. That’s all this needed to be and now we get to see what is next for them. In theory it’s a run towards the Women’s Tag Team Titles and I’m not quite sure I see that actually happening.

Cru says they’re back with new member Lacey Lane.

Rachael Ellering/Demo Diamond/Delynn Cavens vs. Premiere Athletes

Daivari and Cavens start things off with Cavens being taken into the corner for the double beatdown. Nese’s bridging northern lights suplex gets two, with the rather tall Diamond making the save. Denali comes in to stare at him and it’s off to Ellering, with Denali not being impressed. Some running shoulders don’t do much to Denali, who drops her with a big boot. Everything breaks down and a chop block puts Diamond down, leaving Nese to pumphandle driver Cavens for the pin at 4:30.

Rating: C. And now I’m sure the Premiere Athletes will be launched into the stratosphere, just like I’m sure they will be after every single win they have. They’ve been around since the beginning of Ring Of Honor and do just about the same things they did at the start. Yet they’re still trotted out there, thankfully with Denali there to at least change the act just a tiny bit. Either drop them, change them up in a big way or do something with them already.

Frat House vs. Dalton Castle/Outrunners

Magnum and Garrison start things off with Magnum grabbing a hiptoss. It’s off to Floyd for a running knee and a double hiptoss. Garrison drives him into the corner and a grab of the leg from the floor lets Karter hit a clothesline. Floyd gets sent into the corner for the beating, including a collection of choking. Vance and Floyd collide, followed by the tag off to Castle for the house cleaning. A triple slam drops the villains and the Mega Powers Elbow into the Bang A Rang finishes Karter at 6:01.

Rating: C+. At least Castle and the Outrunners are fun and seem to be having a good time out there. It makes for some more entertaining matches, though the Frat House lost its charm a long time ago. It’s also not a great sign that a match this short was one of the best on the show, though maybe it moves them closer to a title shot.

Johnny TV and Taya Valkyrie aren’t happy with Red Velvet, as Valkyrie wants a title shot. Velvet just happens to be there to offer Valkyrie a Proving Ground match.

MxM Collection vs. Von Erichs

Oh joy the Von Erichs are back. I had forgotten how pathetic these losers were. Mansoor gets shouldered down to start and a double dropkick does it again. The Collection takes over on the floor, with Ross’ hand being crushed underneath the steps. Ross’ cowboy hat is stolen as the Collection keeps working on the hand, which is put in the turnbuckle for a kick from Mansoor.

A big boot gets Ross out of trouble and the tag brings in Marshall to clean house. Marshall’s running clothesline in the corner sets up a pop up powerslam but Madden is back in for the save. A leg lariat Hart Attack connects but the Centerfold is broken up. Ross’ hand is fine enough to claw slam Mansoor for the pin at 6:32.

Rating: C. This has been the latest example of the Von Erichs living off their family name because they aren’t good enough or interesting enough to do anything on their own. The idea of having the Von Erichs continue their legacy in Texas is fine, but the team couldn’t be less interesting if they tried. The “aw shucks, we’re just two good old boys from TEXAS” stuff is terrible and we’re probably going to be stuck with them while this whole residency goes on.

We look at LFI winning the Tag Team Titles at Final Battle. Probably not a good sign that we need a reminder about a month later.

Kiran Grey vs. Sammy Guevara

Guevara flips him off to start, marking the first and only time anyone has ever done that in wrestling. Grey sweeps the leg to start and they fight outside with Grey sending him hard into the barricade. Back in and a clothesline turns Guevara inside out but he knocks Grey out of the air. The GTH ends Grey at 2:38. This was the “get Guevara some momentum back, even though he really didn’t have any in the first place, after he lost to Bandido on Dynamite because there was no one but Guevara to take that loss” special.

Swirl vs. Tommy Billington/Adam Priest

Jay Lethal is here with the Swirl. Johnson and Billington start things off with Johnson cutting off a charge in the corner. Priest comes in to chop Christian hard in the corner, causing Christian to fake a knee injury. That lets Johnson get in a cheap shot from behind to take over, with Lethal adding a strut. The chinlock doesn’t last long as Priest gets up to hit a clothesline, allowing the tag off to Billington.

Everything breaks down and Johnson gets spiked for two. The half crab has Christian in trouble and Johnson gets crossfaced at the same time. Johnson powers up and Death Valley Drivers Billington onto the other two for the save. Christian hits a 450 for two on Billington, earning Billington a toss to the floor. A suicide headbutt drops Priest on the floor, leaving Billington to Tombstone Johnson. Christian is back in to drop Billington though and the Vanilla Choke Zero gets the tap at 10:12.

Rating: B-. Above all else, it was nice to have a story that actually felt important. This is by far the biggest story in Ring Of Honor and it was a fine way to go to move things forward. Christian winning the World Title doesn’t sound like the worst idea, though it might take some time before we finally get there.

Post match the big beatdown is on to end the show.

Overall Rating: C-. I cannot get my head around how they manage to make this show so uninteresting week to week. There are some watchable enough matches, such as the main event, but so much of the problem is Ring Of Honor/AEW has gone out of its way to show just how unimportant a lot of these people really are. That was on full display here, as it feels like you could have seen some of these matches at any point in the last year plus. That makes for a very tedious show and it took me more than a few sittings to watch this one. Please either shorten the thing or put in more effort on the stories, because this was drek.

Results
Ace Austin b. Aaron Solo – The Fold
Cru b. Will Allday/Jay Alexander – Double Falcon Arrow to Allday
Trish Adora/Lee Moriarty b. Darius Martin/Zayda Steel – Lariat Tubman to Steel
Diamante/Billie Starkz b. Shay Karmichael/Reiza Clarke – Rolling cutter to Karmichael
Premiere Athletes b. Rachael Ellering/Demo Diamond/Delynn Cavens – Pumphandle driver to Cavens
Dalton Castle/Outrunners b. Frat House – Bang A Rang to Karter
Von Erichs b. MxM Collection – Claw slam to Mansoor
Sammy Guevara b. Kiran Grey – GTH
Swirl b. Tommy Billington/Adam Priest – Vanilla Choke Zero to Billington

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: January 1, 2026
Location: Hammerstein Ballroom, New York City, New York
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

Hey I actually got the year right this time. Anyway, it’s the first show of the year and the third Ring Of Honor show in the last seven days. There is actually a feature match this week, as the Swirl is facing Bandido and Jay Lethal. If you ignore Lee Johnson getting squashed like a bug this week on Dynamite, it’s a bit more interesting. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Swirl vs. Bandido/Jay Lethal

Lethal starts with Christian, who wants Bandido, but tags out to Johnson when he gets his wish. Neither of them can get a suplex so they clothesline each other down (with Coleman getting in an interesting point of saying that if Johnson tried the same move as the champion, he was thinking like a champion). Johnson takes him down and it’s off to Christian, who works on Bandido’s bad arm. Bandido gets over for the tag…and Lethal walks away. Christian’s 450 gets two on Bandido and Lethal adds a Lethal Injection. The top rope stomp/Death Valley Driver combination hits Bandido and the triple team draws the DQ at 5:13.

Rating: C+. This was an angle rather than a match and that’s a VERY good thing to see. While this would have been better to set up Final Battle, I definitely like that we’re getting something involving the title and a story being told. That’s been lacking for such a long time and they did a good job with executing this one. Well done.

Post match Lethal takes off Bandido’s mask as Tom Billington and Adam Priest run in for the save.

Bryan Keith vs. Serpentico

We get some BOO/YAY chants to start before Serpentico tries to pick up the pace. That earns him a toss to the floor and they chop it out a bit on the floor. Back in and they fight over a suplex with Serpentico getting the better of things. A running Downward Spiral gives Serpentico two and Keith’s hard clothesline gets the same. Serpentico is right back with a superkick to the floor, followed by a suicide dive. Back in and Keith knees him in the face though and the tiger driver is enough for the pin at 6:32.

Rating: C+. Well the result was far from shocking, but it was nice to see Keith getting to do something for a change. He’s been stuck doing absolutely nothing for so long now that even toiling in Ring Of Honor is an improvement. At least the match wound up being decent, which is usually the case with Serpentico.

Billie Starkz/Diamante vs. Deonna Purrazzo/Madison Rayne

It’s a brawl to start and a double suplex puts Diamante down. Rayne works on Diamante’s wrist but Starkz breaks up Purrazzo’s Fujiwara armbar. Diamante can’t fight out of the corner though, instead being taken down by the leg. It’s back to Rayne, who gets taken into the wrong corner, with a pair of double backbreakers putting her down. Starkz grabs a chinlock, followed by a double wishbone. The villains get to stomp Rayne down in the corner even more but she kicks Starkz away.

Cue Diamante to sneak around the ring to pull Purrazzo off the apron and the beating continues. Rayne manages to send Starkz face first into the buckle a few times though and that’s enough for the needed tag off to Purrazzo. Everything breaks down and Rayne gives Starkz a Canadian Destroyer. A kick to the head drops Rayne though and a double kick leaves Purrazzo and Diamante down as well. Rayne and Starkz come back in, with an assisted Sliced Bread taking Rayne down. Starkz adds the Swanton for the pin at 10:33.

Rating: B-. They were working hard here and it made for a good match, as Rayne was putting in more effort than usual. She still has something to offer out there, which is something that the division could use. Diamante is useful as a tag partner as well and that was her main focus here. Then you have Starkz, who might be coming after Athena, and Purrazzo, who is closing in on a month as champion with nothing involving her new title. Sounds like a textbook Pure Champion already.

Lance Archer vs. Steve Gibki

Gibki is in good shape. Archer starts fast with a big boot and chokeslam but Gibki gets in a dropkick. That’s enough to send Archer outside, where he cuts off a dive and chokeslams him onto the apron. The Blackout finishes for Archer at 2:30.

We look at Lee Moriarty retaining the Pure Rules Title last week.

Shane Taylor Promotions vs. Top Flight/Komander

Non-title as it’s not the champion combination of the Promotions. Moriarty kicks Dean down to start and it’s off to Komander to work on the arm. Dean gets smart by going after the mask, with Bravo coming in to hammer away in the corner. The chinlock goes on for a bit, with the Infantry getting to stomp away. Komander fights up and manages a rather spinning crucifix for two on Moriarty, allowing the tag to Dante. The pace picks up but a hard clothesline takes Dante down, only for him to come back with a Blue Thunder Bomb for two. Everything breaks down and the double DDT pins Bravo at 6:23.

Rating: C+. Another fast paced match here, with Top Flight getting a win after not having the best run recently. If nothing else there is a chance that they can team with Komander for a future title match, even though they didn’t beat the champions. Either way, nice match here, with talented wrestlers getting to showcase themselves, albeit in a short match.

Deonna Purrazzo and Madison Rayne are in the back, with Rayne saying she’s retiring from the ring. She lost her father earlier this year and it lost a piece of her. This was a perfect way to end it and she thanks Purrazzo for being her partner. Tears ensue.

Hechicero vs. Aaron Solo

Hechicero dances a bit to start before they go to the mat, with Hechicero snapping the arm. Some rather spinny rollups give Hechicero two but Solo sends him outside. The big flip dive hits Hechicero outside, followed by a top rope double stomp for two back inside. Hechicero is back with a spinning faceplant for two and he catapults Solo into the corner, only for Solo to come back with a double stomp. Solo’s kicks to the chest just wake Hechicero up so he hammers away in the corner. A flapjack sets up a spinning arm trap rollup to pin Solo at 6:45.

Rating: B-. Solo got a chance to do something different here and it made for a fun match. You don’t see him get to hang in there with someone like Hechicero very often and it worked out well, with Hechicero being crafty enough to twist Solo around in the end. That’s always fun to see, as there is pretty much no one as smooth out there as Hechicero.

Outrunners/Dalton Castle vs. MxM TV

Fight Without Honor, meaning anything goes. TV comes out second and stomp on a Christmas tree on their way to the ring. The good guys charge the stage and the brawl is on, with the tree being repaired for all of three seconds. That’s enough for TV to beat them down to the steps and pull out some wrapping paper kendo sticks. Naturally Castle makes the save with a huge Christmas ornament before Mansoor tries punching a present.

Floyd finds a brick inside, leaving Mansoor’s hand in quite a bit of pain. Madden throws the tree inside and yes Floyd uses it for the Terry Funk ladder spin. Castle gets knocked down but Madden and Mansoor miss a double Grinch elbow. TV gets up and grabs a pie which hits Taya Valkyrie (in full Grinch attire) in the face, which he knows is a very bad result. That means a German suplex from Castle, who walks into a spinebuster.

It’s time for a stocking full of Legos, with Madden and the Outrunners fighting over suplex onto them. Instead Madden is sent (bare) feet first into them and then gets a present over his head. Some tables are brought in, with another being set up on the floor. The Outrunners are laid on the tables with Mansoor and TV going up, only for Castle to throw the ornament at them for a double crotching. TV is sent through a table at ringside and a double superplex sends Mansoor onto a table (and Legos) for the pin at 11:45.

Rating: B-. This was a fun, weapons based match with the Christmas theme working well. It’s something that a lot of promotions do but they still make it work every time. I had a good time here and that’s the point of this kind of a match. Now get Castle and the Outrunners into the Six Man Tag Team Titles picture already.

Overall Rating: B. Maybe it’s the low standard this show has given me over the years, but this felt like the best weekly show Ring Of Honor has done in the better part of ever. There was the big angle at the beginning, some good action throughout, the surprise of Madison Rayne’s retirement and the fun main event. I had a good time with this show and hopefully they do this more often going forward.

Results
Bandido/Jay Lethal b. The Swirl via DQ when Bandido was triple teamed
Bryan Keith b. Serpentico – Tiger driver
Billie Starkz/Diamante b. Deonna Purrazzo/Madison Rayne – Swanton to Rayne
Lance Archer b. Steve Gibki – Blackout
Top Flight/Komander b. Shane Taylor Promotions – Double DDT to Bravo
Hechicero b. Aaron Solo – Spinning arm trap rollup
Outrunners/Dalton Castle b. MxM TV – Superplex through a table to Mansoor

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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