Ring Of Honor
Date: October 22, 2026
Location: WJCT Studios, Jacksonville, Florida
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

The long and winding road to Final Battle seems to have begun, as we officially have a date and location for the show. That gives us about six weeks before the event, meaning we’ll likely go another two weeks before the real build begins. Bandido is going to need a challenger for the title and we might even start hearing about that soon. Let’s get to it.

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

Shane Taylor Promotions brag about their success, with Tehuti Miles officially joining the team. He’s here to win titles, as is the rest of the team.

Opening sequence.

Main Man Oro vs. Bishop Kaun

Kaun doesn’t shake hands to start and Oro isn’t pleased, which he displays by snapping off some armdrags. Kaun knocks him down on the top though and a running suplex drops Oro again. Oro knees his way out of another suplex but gets knocked outside anyway. Kaun runs him over again and hits a running dropkick, sending Oro crashing into the edge of the steps for a very painful looking crash.

Back in and Kaun grabs a waistlock but Oro comes back with a release German suplex. A neckbreaker gives Oro two but Kaun gives him a quick Wasteland for the same. Oro’s spinwheel kick in the corner gives him two more, only for Kaun to be right back with the fireman’s carry gutbuster. A Pedigree finishes Oro at 6:39.

Rating: C+. Kaun has been on something of a roll in recent weeks and he’s certainly not bad at this power stuff. That’s good to see as it worked well enough here, with that dropkick into the steps looking great. Oro is pretty much the definition of a good hand and that’s about all, which is a problem given the roster around here.

Post match Kaun beats on him some more but Bandido of all people makes the save. That has to be a TV title defense rather than Final Battle. There’s no…ok there’s always a way around here.

Rascalz vs. Cole Radrick/Matt Diesel

Xavier headlocks Radrick to start and dropkicks him down. Wentz comes in for a Bronco Buster in the corner but Radrick actually gets in a shot of his own. That means Wentz could be in trouble for all of 8 seconds before it’s back to Xavier to clean house. Everything breaks down and the Rascalz smash through both of them, with the Hot Fire Flame finishing Radrick at 3:28.

Rating: C. This was a total squash and if the Tag Team Titles were regularly defended around here, the Rascalz would be a good choice for the title shot at Final Battle. They’re more than capable enough to hang with Sky Team and it would be cool to see the four of them go at it. Just don’t have ladders involved, as there’s no need for them in any match for the most part.

Quick recap of the Dark Order’s issues between John Silver and Preston Vance.

Dark Order vs. Premiere Athletes/Beef

Silver is nowhere in sight here. Reynolds and Nese start things off with an exchange of arm cranks until Nese backs him into the corner. An elbow to the face drops Nese for a knee drop and it’s off to Uno, who drops Daivari with a running shoulder. The referee accidentally catches Daivari’s boot to the ribs and Uno gets in a neckbreaker.

That means Vance and Beef can come in for the power off, with Vance using the power of TEN to shoulder him down. Everything breaks down and the Order gets in a triple suplex to send the villains outside, with Reynolds hitting a big dive. Uno boots Beef down on the floor but gets caught by the Athletes, allowing Beef to rake the eyes. Back in and Uno can’t fight out of the corner, with Nese stomping him down instead.

Nese’s cheap shot superkick to Vance has Reynolds rather angry and Uno’s double clothesline lets Reynolds come in to blow off some steam. Vance comes in to fire off a string of shots in the corner and it’s a big spinebuster to Beef. The slingshot spear hits Beef but Nese makes the save. We get the parade of knockdowns, with Mark Sterling getting in a cheap shot to Vance. That earns him a full nelson before the same thing finishes Beef at 11:06.

Rating: B-. The best thing here is that the Order have been doing some things in recent weeks and there was an actual story to the match. I can go with that, especially with the Silver aspect hanging out there. The fact that the match went pretty well was a nice bonus too, making this a good addition.

Bandido wants a new challenger and Bishop Kaun comes in to say he wants a shot. Works for Bandido, with no date given.

We look at Skyflight’s recent successes.

Zayda Steel vs. Xanti Li

Li would rather dance than shake hands to start so Steel shakes Christopher Daniels’ hand instead. Steel backs her against the ropes and is quickly kicked into a headlock. That’s broken up so they fight over a wristlock instead. Steel’s armdrag works a bit better and she dropkicks Li outside.

Li grabs a DDT onto the apron (or close enough) before pulling Steel out of the corner for a hard crash. Steel avoids a charge though and rams Li’s head into the mat a few times. A Codebreaker out of the ropes looks to set up an Unprettier but Li bites her neck to escape. One heck of a superkick gives Li two but Steel is back with the spinning Unprettier for the pin at 6:47.

Rating: C+. As usual, Steel does the moves well and she has come a long way since she started around here. The problem is she isn’t getting anywhere and that is going to need to change. On the other hand you have Li, who got to showcase herself a bit and I wouldn’t mind another match from her.

Il Cartello Grillo are here to make noise, and apparently rip off the FBI.

Il Cartello Grillo vs. The Swirl

Swirl jumps them to start and fire off the rapid strikes. A triangle moonsault takes out Impala on the floor and a standing moonsault gives Johnson two back inside. Seal is sent outside and stomped against the barricade but a sunset flip gives him a breather. It’s back to Impala to clean house but a 619 connects in the corner. The top rope double stomp/Death Valley Driver combination finishes Impala at 5:39.

Rating: C+. This was pretty much what you would have expected, as the Swirl work very well together and have some rather impressive chemistry. On the other hand you have Il Cartello, who are in fact Italian. That’s the extent of what they have and that is hardly enough to make them interesting.

Video on Isla Dawn vs. Mina Shirakawa.

Isla Dawn vs. Mina Shirakawa

Dawn yells a lot and grabs a lockup but Shirakawa wins an exchange of kicks to the leg. The kick to the head out of the corner is cut off though and Dawn gets in a Dragon Sleeper on the rope. That’s broken up so Dawn takes her down again and gets in a kick to the back. Shirakawa sends her into the corner though and a hanging DDT drops her again.

More kicks to the leg have Dawn down but she’s fine enough for a belly to back suplex. They kick each other down and then slug it out from their knees. Dawn gets knocked to the floor for the big dive but is fine enough for a running knee to the head for two back inside. Shirakawa is right back up with some kicks and backfists of her own, followed by the Figure Four to make Dawn tap at 8:33

Rating: B-. I guess this counts as a grudge match around here as they had a few weeks of talking about each other before Shirakawa beat her clean. It’s hard to buy that this is going to be some big step up for Shirakawa, who is little more than the talented but fun star in the women’s division. Dawn is rather good too but neither of these two feel like they really matter around here and that isn’t being fixed in one match.

We look at Hyan accidentally helping Athena, who wants her to be a Minion.

Pure Rules Title: Mance Warner vs. Lee Moriarty

Moriarty is defending and grabs a headlock takeover to start. A cross armbreaker has Warner using his first rope break and Moriarty takes him down by the arm again. Warner slaps on a quick crossface so Moriarty uses a rope break of his own. A quick knockdown and cover sends Moriarty’s leg into the ropes (not on purpose) for the second rope break. Back up and Moriarty drops him face first onto the turnbuckle and Warner is sent outside. Warner is busted open and Moriarty bulldogs him down for two more.

The cross arm choke goes on so Warner reverses into one of his own. That’s reversed right back and Warner goes to the rope for the second break. Some clotheslines gives Warner two and a top rope superplex gets the same. Warner grabs a chair and sits down for a chinlock but Moriarty is up with a Samoan drop for two more.

Something like an octopus sends Warner into the ropes for his last break so he chops away and grabs another crossface. Moriarty’s last rope break resets things again, meaning Warner headbutts him to the floor. The tornado DDT off the chair drops Moriarty on the floor and a running knee gives Warner two back inside. Moriarty gets out of a crossface chickenwing and ties Warner’s arm around the rope for the tap to retain at 13:02.

Rating: C+. This was most of the Moriarty title defenses, as they find a way to run through the rope breaks and then go to the finish. That’s the formula for these things and Moriarty knows how to do them but they’ve been done for so long that I could really go for something new. Warner had apparently found ways to break the rules but then didn’t do much of anything out of the ordinary, which is hardly a surprise.

Overall Rating: B-. In theory, this was a good first step towards a bunch of title matches at Final Battle. The problem though is actually getting those matches made, which is a lot easier said than done. The wrestling and storytelling were good enough here and they didn’t waste a lot of time. ROH doesn’t get focused very often but it works when they do, which they did again here.

Results
Bishop Kaun b. Main Man Oro – Pedigree
Rascalz b. Cole Radrick/Matt Diesel – Hot Fire Flame to Radrick
Dark Order b. Premiere Athletes/Beef – Full nelson to Beef
Zayda Steel b. Xanti Li – Spinning Unprettier
The Swirl b. Il Cartello Grillo – Top rope double stomp/Death Valley Driver combination to Impala
Mina Shirakawa b. Isla Dawn – Figure Four
Lee Moriarty b. Mance Warner – Arm crank in the ropes

 

 

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

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Ring Of Honor
Date: October 1, 2026
Location: WJCT Studios, Jacksonville, Florida
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

We’re closing in on the end of the year and that means we have a few more months to start getting ready to get ready for Final Battle’s build…eventually. That’s more than enough time so this week is likely going to be more of the usual, even as we are only a few months away from Bandido breaking the record for the longest World Title reign in company history. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with the Pac tribute video from the end of Dynamite, which is still hard to take.

Soloroto/Griff Garrison vs. Dalton Castle/Outrunners

Garrison and Magnum start things off with the latter grabbing an armdrag and headscissors. Solo comes in and can’t get a fireman’s carry so it’s off to Comoroto, who skins the cat. That earns him a knock out to the floor and Garrison is pulled right back in. The Outrunners hit ax handles off the apron but Magnum is caught in a suplex/dropkick combination back inside. A running big boot gives Garrison two but Magnum flips over him and falls into the tag to Floyd. House is quickly cleaned and it’s off to Castle for the suplexes. The Mega Powers Elbow/ax handle finishes Solo at 6:43.

Rating: C. This was little more than a squash for Castle and the Outrunners and they continue to look good together. I’m not sure I can imagine them getting back to the titles, but it’s not like they need to do anything with them anyway. Soloroto and Garrison are the latest incarnation of the usual suspects in the jobber league and that’s about all they can be expected to do at the moment.

AR Fox vs. LJ Cleary

Feeling out process to start and Fox flips over him to start, followed by the running clothesline in the corner. Cleary slides between Fox’s legs to escape and…I guess we’ll call it dances a bit before hitting a dropkick. A neck twist gives Cleary two but Fox is back up with a DDT out of the corner, followed by a spinning suplex for two. Cleary is back up with a double stomp to the back but Fox superkicks him out of the air. They trade rollups for two each until Fox catches him with Lo Mein Pain. The 450 finishes Cleary at 7:20.

Rating: B-. Yeah believe it or not, Fox has an entertaining, fast paced match that looks different than most of the others on the show. That’s what turned him into a star around here and it’s nice to see him getting to do more of the it so regularly. Now just let him do something serious again for a change.

Post match Fox goes outside to acknowledge a TONIGHT IS FOR PAC sign in a nice moment.

Cassie Lee vs. Lady Leigh

Jesse McKay is here with Lee but since she’s pregnant and can’t get physical, she brings out Steph de Lander with her. They tease a pushup exchange to start but Lee grabs a headlock instead. An exchange of failed toss attempts gets them nowhere so Lee slides between her legs for a takedown into the pose. Back up and a spinning kick takes Leigh down again, with Lee stopping to yell at the referee. Lee chokes in the ropes and poses with her cohorts before asking what the fans want to see. Announcing a fisherman’s suplex allows Leigh to get a small package for two so Lee knees her in the face. A Pedigree finishes Leigh at 4:48.

Rating: C. This was at least fun and a bit of a different kind of squash. Lee needs something to do with McKay out of action for the foreseeable future and this is as good as anything else. The Pedigree is a good finisher for her if nothing else so maybe she’s got something of a direction for the time being.

Eddie Kingston and Ortiz are mad about RPG Vice cheating and Kingston calls out Trent Beretta for a fight right now.

Il Cartello Grillo vs. MxM Collection

Mansoor and Seal start things off with Mansoor walking over him and striking the pose. A takedown lets Mansoor grab a rollup for two and it’s off to Impala vs. Madden. That means Madden gets to clean house with a hip attack to Impala, followed by a side slam/legdrop combination to Seal.

Some double teaming takes over on Mansoor, with Rosario Grillo getting in a choke from the floor. The chinlock doesn’t last long and Mansoor rolls between the two of them allowing the tag back to Madden. House is quickly cleaned and the Collection goes outside to beat on Grillo with…breadsticks. Back in and a running knee/German suplex combination finishes Impala at 5:41.

Rating: C. This was a good example of what makes ROH such an uninteresting show to watch. The wrestling was, as always, completely competent at worst and the match was hardly bad. Instead, the problem comes from these teams having absolutely nothing going on. They’re not feuding with anyone, they don’t have an angle going on and they’re just there, taking up space on a show. It’s one thing when you have an act or so doing that, but that feels like the vast majority of what you see around here week to week. That makes for a very dull show, because there’s nothing to care about from these people.

Trish Adora vs. Rachael Ellering

They fight over a lockup to start and trade shoulders until Adora takes her down by the arm. Back up and Ellering connects with a running shoulder and a gutwrench suplex. Christyan XO grabs Ellering’s leg though and Adora stomps away, followed by a running shoulder. Ellering grabs a release fisherman’s suplex and a running elbow to the face gives her two. Some big forearms have Adora in more trouble but she snaps off a German suplex. The Lariat Tubman finishes Ellering at 8:18.

Rating: C. Remember what I said about the previous match? This was the women’s singles edition, as neither of these two have anything going on whatsoever. There’s no reason to believe that is going to change, especially with Final Battle coming up where someone either from ROH or Japan will get a random title shot. The Lariat Tubman is good and that’s about the only highlight here.

Premiere Athletes/Beef vs. Troy Hollywood/Saieve Al Sabah/Darian Bengston

The Athletes and Beef jump them from behind to start and Beef headbutts Bengston a lot. Hollywood tries to make the save and gets pulled outside by the Athletes. Beef looks for a top rope splash but Daivari tags himself in for an elevated DDT to pin Bengston at 2:43.

AR Fox wants the World Title and challenges Bandido.

B3cca vs. Red Velvet

Non-title Proving Ground match. Velvet grabs a wristlock to start and takes her down for a short armscissors. They go into a double splits and forearm it out until B3cca is up with a snap suplex. An arm/leg crank lets B3cca pose a bit but Velvet is back up with a crossbody. That just earns her a crossarm choke but Velvet is up with a superkick.

They’re both down as we have 5:00 to go, which seems to trigger Velvet’s comeback. A bridging German suplex cuts Velvet off for two, though she’s fine enough to grab an Iconoclasm for two of her own. B3cca’s springboard Codebreaker gets two but she misses a 450, allowing Velvet to hit the spinning kick to the head for the pin at 8:16.

Rating: C+. They threw a challenger out there, had her give Velvet some trouble for a few minutes, and then Velvet won in the end. That’s the whole thing and it leaves Velvet right where she was before the match. Find something better for her already, because she’s been champion forever and has nothing to do.

We look back at the Dark Order’s issues involving Preston Vance.

Bustah And The Brain vs. Grizzled Young Veterans

Oliver ax handles Drake down to start and it’s off to Price for a rolling elbow. Gibson saves Drake from a suplex though and Price is run over with a shot to the face. Oliver gets a quick tag and comes in with a flipping neckbreaker off a rather smooth sequence. That’s fine with Gibson, who sends him shoulder first into the post and suplexes him down by the arm.

Oliver is sent outside, where he cuts off Gibson’s dive and ties him in the ring skirt. That’s enough for the tag off to Price, who comes in with a top rope Blockbuster. Gibson is finally pulled out of the apron (Gibson: “You think it’s funny???”) and everything breaks down, with Price hitting the big dive to the floor.

Back up and Gibson uses his scarf to choke Oliver, allowing a Doomsday Device to connect for two. Everything breaks down again and Oliver AA’s Drake onto the top rope for a double stomp from Price. Gibson makes the save so Drake tries a low blow, which is reversed into la majistal for the pin at 10:20.

Rating: B-. As usual, Bustah And The Brain are a very fun team to watch but the two of them have been stuck in the same place forever. There is no reason to think that’s going to change, which is as frustrating as you can get with them. At the same time, the Veterans are still in the same place they’ve been in for months that shouldn’t be a surprise.

Il Cartello Grillo thinks there is a bias against Italians around here.

Trent Beretta vs. Eddie Kingston

Kingston headbutts him to start and unloads in the corner, with Beretta bailing out to the floor. That’s fine with Kingston, who rips at his face and sends him into the barricade a few times. Coleman quotes Hakuna Matata (ok then) as Beretta knees Kingston down back inside and actually decides to slap him for whatever reason.

A DDT onto the apron drops Kingston onto the apron and he seems to have banged up his shoulder. The tornado DDT is broken up back inside and Kingston hits a clothesline but the arm is banged up. The good arm fires off the Kobashi chops in the corner but Beretta is back with a tornado DDT. They go up top and Kingston hits a superplex for two so Beretta gives him a running knee for the same.

Kingston snaps back up with some suplexes and a spinning backfist for two, meaning it’s already time for the frustration. Beretta kicks him down and gets in a piledriver for two more so here is Rocky Romero for a distraction. Cue Ortiz to cut him off so the spinning backfist can finish Beretta at 12:43.

Rating: B-. Kingston is always going to get a reaction from the crowd but dang does he feel like he’s slumming it with RPG Vice. They’re a comedy duo in the massive heel stable and that’s the best they have for a former World Champion? Ortiz isn’t much better than they are either, as he feels like someone who is just there. Kingston being there gave this some name value but this wasn’t much of a main event.

Overall Rating: C. There are some good enough matches on here but this was back to the old ROH standard, with a bunch of wrestling that feels like it’s there for the sake of filling up a show. There are names you recognize, but it felt like almost nothing on this show mattered. That’s the case around here most of the time and it makes for a show that feels like it’s never going to end with one more match after another. Use the good talent they have around here and stop trying to make everyone a thing without actually doing much of anything with them.

Results
Dalton Castle/Outrunners b. Soloroto/Griff Garrison – Mega Powers Elbow/ax handle combination to Solo
AR Fox b. LJ Cleary – 450
Cassie Lee b. Lady Leigh – Pedigree
MxM Collection b. Il Cartello Grillo – Running knee/German suplex combination to Impala
Trish Adora b. Rachael Ellering – Lariat Tubman
Premiere Athletes/Beef b. Troy Hollywood/Saieve Al Sabah/Darian Bengston – Elevated DDT to Bengston
Red Velvet b. B3cca – Spinning kick to the head
Bustah And The Brain b. Grizzled Young Veterans – La Majistral to Drake
Eddie Kingston b. Trent Beretta – Spinning backfist

 

 

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

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Ring Of Honor
Date: September 10, 2026
Location: WJCT Studios, Jacksonville, Florida
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

We continue the period of time before we get anywhere close to Final Battle and that could make for some treacherous shows. You pretty much never know what to expect from most of these shows as they could be any mixture of midcarders with nothing to do. I’m sure a title or two will be on the line though so let’s get to it.

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

In Memory Of Andy Williams.

Opening sequence.

TV Title: Adam Priest vs. Action Andretti

Andretti is defending. Priest chases him outside so Andretti takes a look at the title, only for Andretti to come back with a handspring Stunner. That means Andretti gets to look at the title again but Priest is back up with a running clothesline. Priest works on the arm before snapping the leg over the ropes.

Now Priest goes outside to kiss the title, earning himself a stomping back inside. Andretti whips him hard into the corner for a handspring elbow but Priest is back up with some running clotheslines. Some kicks stagger Priest and a Falcon Arrow gives Andretti two. The leg gets banged up on a split legged moonsault though and Priest slaps on the half crab. Andretti grabs the rope rather quickly and they trade some rollups, with Andretti getting the rope for the pin at 9:44.

Rating: C+. This was in fact a match between Andretti and someone who had been built up with a few wins. At the same time, I cannot bring myself to get interested in Andretti. He’s just a standard heel but he’s with the Opps in the latest attempt to make them a thing. Andretti is perfectly fine but there is nothing about him that makes me want to see him and that’s an issue that is hard to overcome.

Post match Priest is rather unhappy with the cheating and rants a bunch before leaving. Andretti isn’t impressed.

Lacey Lane/Janai Kai vs. Maya World/Hyan

Hyan works on Kai’s arm to start and they flip around a bit, followed by a handshake. Lane comes in to take over on World, with a crucifix getting two. Back up and Lane is draped across the top rope for stereo running boots so it’s back to Kai. Some arm cranking and a suplex take Hyan down and Lane’s slingshot elbow gets two.

Hyan DDTs her way out of a double suplex and World comes back in to clean house. A reverse Cannonball gets two on Kai but lane crushes World and Hyan in the corner. Everything breaks down and Lane is sent outside, meaning it’s a spear to Kai and a middle rope moonsault…only gets two, with Kai making the save. A pump kick gets two on Hyan but Kai is sent outside again. The wheelbarrow faceplant/Downward Spiral finishes Lane at 8:37.

Rating: B-. That save by Kai was a surprise as I was convinced the match was over. World and Hyan are an established team and there isn’t much of a reason to have them toiling around here when they could be built up for a Women’s Tag Team Title match. As usual, Lane has a bit of star power to her but it doesn’t really matter if this is all she’s doing.

We look at Athena dominating on Collision.

Deonna Purrazzo and Emi Sakura seem ready to team up.

Il Cartello Grillo vs. Serpentico/The Colons

Grillo and Serpentico start things off, with Serpentico hitting a running shoulder. Orlando comes in to work on the arm and picks Grillo up for an atomic drop. It’s off to Seal, who gets taken down with an armdrag and everything breaks down, with Eddie getting caught. Impala knees Eddie down and we’re off to the armbar.

Grillo sends Eddie into the corner for the running knee and Seal grabs a chinlock. Back up and Seal dropkicks Eddie into Orlando in the corner and the pace picks up again. A spinebuster gives Orlando two and Serpentico tornado DDTs Grillo out to the floor. Some rolling suplexes and a pair of top rope splashes finish Seal at 7:47.

Rating: C+. I have a grand total of no idea why the Colons and Serpentico are getting a push, or really any kind of television time. The Colons haven’t felt important in years and Serpentico has been a jobber (or somehow a pair of them) for pretty much his entire time around here. How is there no better team who could be in this spot?

Caprice Coleman and Ian Riccaboni sit down with the MxM Collection with Riccaboni looking rather nervous. Riccaboni gets a finger touch and the Collection plugs Honor Club, with Riccaboni putting money in Mansoor’s shirt pocket. With Riccaboni squeezing between the two of them, Coleman has to ask Riccaboni to be composed. Mansoor wants Coleman to change his name to Sun, so he could be Caprice Sun. They all pose to end of the most entertaining segments I’ve seen in a long time.

Ortiz vs. Rocky Romero

This match is indeed happening. The referee gets some handshakes but Romero takes Ortiz down for some kicks to the head. Ortiz’s choke is blocked so he goes with a clothesline, plus a clothesline for good measure. Romero is able to break up a superplex with an arm snap across the top rope, followed by a middle rope knee to the arm. Ortiz gets two off a middle rope sunset flip and tries a Koji Clutch, which is reversed into an arm snap.

Back up and Ortiz gets in a powerslam for a double down before sending Romero outside. The suicide dive connects and a facebuster gives Ortiz two back inside. A tornado DDT gives Romero the same and he goes to the eyes to send Ortiz outside. Cue Trent Beretta for a cheap shot from behind, setting up a standing Sliced Bread for the pin at 8:59.

Rating: C. The match isn’t bad at all and from a technical standpoint, it went well enough. The problem is, again, these two are so low on the totem pole that it’s like watching a pair of opening match wrestlers at an old house show. This felt like a match designed to just fill in time, which makes you wonder why it exists when the promotion gets to decide how long it lasts. Just more content for the sake of content.

Post match RPG Vice brags about their win and Romero mocks Ortiz.

AR Fox/Soleil vs. Body Bundy/Jacked Josh

Bundy and Josh jump them to start, with Soleil fighting back just as fast. Josh is kicked out to the floor and Fox hits a big running flip dive. Back in and Fox’s top rope flip dive connects, followed by some stereo rolling dropkicks (that was nice). A wheelbarrow Stunner finishes Josh at 3:52.

Rating: C+. The match was a fun squash, with Bundy and Josh being an indy team who didn’t exactly look like great body guys but they have enough of a theme together. Fox and Soleil are an entertaining enough team, though I could go with Fox being on his own. He had that nice singles run and then it just stopped for Lio Rush and Action Andretti. I get that Fox isn’t going to be a top star, but he could be more on his own than he is right now.

Action Andretti brags about beating Adam Priest clean

Jacked Jameson vs. Matt Menard

Wait. They have these marathon tapings with the matches feeling randomly assorted and no one cared that they had people named JACKED in back to back matches? Sweet goodness this place somehow finds new ways to not care. Jameson grabs a headlock and puts Menard on the apron, with Menard coming back in to get clotheslined. Menard is tied in the Tree Of Woe for a stomp, followed by something like a 619. A top rope backsplash misses though and Menard rains down some right hands in the corner. The DDT gives Menard the pin at 3:56.

Rating: C. Well, it could have been worse if they had gotten some more time. This is another match where the people involved don’t mean much around here, with Menard’s highlight being a random Pure Rules Title match. Jameson hasn’t meant anything in forever and this was just a quick match that changes nothing for him. As usual.

Infantry vs. Alex Zayne/Mance Warner

Shane Taylor Promotions are here with the Infantry. Warner and Dean start things off with Warner posing in the corner and Bravo coming in with a cheap shot to Zayne. Back up and Warner and Zayne quickly clear the ring and Zayne hits a big running flip dive. Warner bites Bravo’s head and Zayne is back in with some twisting double knees. Zayne gets sent into the post though and the double stomping is on outside.

A swinging neckbreaker takes Zayne down back inside and Christian XO gets in a cheap shot from the floor. The Bronco Buster connects in the corner but Warner is right back up to clean house. That includes the wind up elbow to Bravo and it’s a superplex into a Swanton for two. Dean comes back in to knock Zayne down but he gets two off a facebuster. A running knee and hurricanrana get two on Dean with Bravo making the last second save. Back up and the double stomp finishes Zayne at 10:32.

Rating: B-. There have been some nice matches on this show and it was fun to see the Infantry getting a chance to shine. They’re a talented enough team but as is the case with far too many good wrestlers, they’re stuck in a big stable and can’t get the chance to showcase what they can do. Warner continues to be fun, while Zayne is good while he’s around, even if that isn’t very often.

The Kingdom says AI has given them the solution: they need a third member. Like Bryan Keith, comes in to say he’s here for money but he’s in.

Steph de Lander vs. Zayda Steel

De Lander isn’t about to shake hands to start and knocks Steel into the corner, leaving Steel frustrated. A wristdrag out of the corner seems to get some of that frustration out but a hanging Codebreaker is blocked. De Lander gets her in an electric chair and walks her around the ring for a face first drop onto the apron. Back in and a fall away slam sends Steel flying for two and de Lander suplexes her for the same.

Hold on though as de Lander goes outside to yell at Christopher Daniels, earning herself a suicide dive from Steel. The comeback is on but de Lander catches her on top with a running boot and brings her back down for two. Steel is fine enough to spin around into a DDT to plant de Lander, who is back with a spear for two more. De Lander loads up a fireman’s carry, which is quickly reversed into a rollup to give Steel the fast pin at 7:32.

Rating: B-. They were building into something here with the idea of Steel trying to get in whatever she could over the much stronger de Lander. It made for a good match and Steel continues her slow rise up the charts. That’s not a bad idea as she’s doing well in her spot, though she still has a bit to go.

Bang Bang Gang vs. Beef/Premiere Athletes

Robinson and Daivari start things off with Daivari taking over on the arm. That doesn’t last long as Robinson snaps off a Russian legsweep and screams a lot, with Austin screaming right back. Colten comes in and gets taken into the wrong corner, with Beef coming in to work on the arm. The chops in the corner miss though and it’s off to Austin for the snap jabs. The Gang clears the ring but Nese posts Robinson to cut him off.

Back in and Robinson is tied in the Tree Of Woe for some stomping, including some with Nese doing some crunches. Robinson is stomped down in the corner and Nese fires off some crossfaces to the jaw. The throat snap across the top rope sets up a missed Lionsault and it’s Austin coming in to clean house. Everything breaks down and a full nelson slam gets two on Nese. A spinning kick to the face gives Nese two but Beef misses a charge in the corner. We hit the parade of secondary finishers, with Robinson decking Mark Sterling. 3:10 To Yuma finishes Beef at 11:25.

Rating: B-. It’s that much easier to get through an Athletes match when they’re not around every week, though the Gang being in there helped too. The Gang can make just about anything work and it’s nice to see them getting a showcase. They’ve had that a few times now and hopefully they get to do something a bit more important.

Overall Rating: C+. The show had some good parts, but my goodness there were a lot of parts overall. You had some nice stuff in there but asking me to watch stuff like Serpentico/the Colons, Menard and Jameson and Ortiz vs. Romero and it’s not the most thrilling show. Split this in half and get rid of some of the lowest level people and it works that much better. It won’t happen, but it would be nice to see.

Results
Action Andretti b. Adam Priest – Rollup while holding the rope
Maya World/Hyan b. Lacey Lane/Janai Kai – Wheelbarrow faceplant/Downward Spiral combination to Lane
Serpentico/The Colons b. Il Cartello Grillo – Top rope splash to Seal
Rocky Romero b. Ortiz – Standing Sliced Bread
AR Fox/Soleil b. Body Bundy/Jacket Josh – Wheelbarrow Stunner to Josh
Matt Menard b. Jacked Jameson – DDT
The Infantry b. Alex Zayne/Mance Warner – Double stomp to Zayne
Zayda Steel b. Steph de Lander – Rollup
Bang Bang Gang b. Premiere Athletes/Beef – 3:10 To Yuma to Beef

 

 

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Ring Of Honor
Date: July 9, 2026
Location: WJCT Studios, Jacksonville, Florida
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

We’re done with Global Wars and that means it is time for a World Title match. Why you ask? Well there’s no particular reason for it but Bandido is defending the title against Bryan Keith. Why Keith? Well he just happens to be getting the shot. Other than that, we’ll have the usual shenanigans so let’s get to it.

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

The opening video looks at Bandido vs. Keith, which doesn’t have much of a story.

Opening sequence.

Grizzled Young Veterans vs. Bang Bang Gang

Drake kicks away Robinson’s offer of a handshake to start and they go to the mat for some exchanges. Robinson threatens to raise his leg, sending Drake bailing over to the corner. We actually hear about Death Before Dishonor in August, which is better than nothing for a show to build towards.

The Veterans escape a suplex and kick Robinson down, only for Gibson to get kicked in the face. A backsplash/legdrop combination gives Austin two and he hits a slingshot ax handle to Gibson on the floor. Back in and Drake gets a blind tag for a double hot shot to take over. Gibson’s suplex sets up the chinlock and Drake gets one of his own. Austin fights out and brings Robinson back in for the snap jabs.

Everything breaks down and Gibson is drop toeholded into a low blow to Drake in the corner. Austin and Gibson slug it out but Drake is back in to help fire off some kicks to the Gang. An exchange of rollups give Austin and Drake two each but Robinson breaks up a Doomsday Device. Robinson’s forward DDT sets up the Fold to pin Drake at 11:17.

Rating: B-. This was fun stuff with all four of them working hard and having quite the fast paced effort. What matters the most though is Austin got a win and the Tag Team Titles are finally around for someone to win. Granted it doesn’t matter if these teams don’t actually get title shots, but at least the option is here again.

Frat House vs. Skyflight

Carter offers Sky a shot to start and then jumps him, with Dante coming in to headscissor Garrison. Dante gets sent into the corner for some rapid fire stomping from various villains and a double spinebuster gets two. With Dante in the Tree Of Woe, Garrison gets to stand on him for something of a low blow. That doesn’t seem to slow Dante down and it’s off to Darius to make the comeback. Everything breaks down and the TKO gives Sky the pin on Jameson at 5:49.

Rating: C+. This was about as good as a Frat House match was going to be as it has been nice to get a bit of a break from them. At the same time, Skyflight gets to do their usual fun match, with Sky’s TKO looking as good as ever. Now just get them closer to the Six Man Tag Team Titles already. Like they should have done a long time ago.

Lio Rush is all creepy with HIS TV Title.

Royce Isaacs vs. Bishop Kaun

They trade running shoulders to start with Isaacs grabbing a kneebar, sending Kaun right over to the ropes. Back up and Kaun chops him down but Isaacs gets in a throw for a breather. A Death Valley Driver gives Isaacs two so Kaun knees him in the face. They strike it out again until Kaun grabs a Wasteland and Pedigree for the pin at 5:22.

Rating: C+. They hit each other rather hard and that was fun to see, but it’s a bit much to get interested in a match featuring half of the Gates Of Agony on a show that is running over two hours. Isaacs is kind of a name from the independent circuit but it’s hardly some top star. It’s not bad, but this was one of those matches that felt like it was there to stretch the show out.

Mina Shirakawa/Queen Aminata vs. Kaci Lennox/Sahara Seven

Seven and Shirakawa lock up to start until Shirakawa avoids a charge in the corner. A kick to the head allows for the tag off to Aminata for the hips to the face, because that has to be in all of her matches. Lennox comes in to suplex Aminata and a Natural Selection gets two. It’s back to Shirakawa to knock Lennox down, followed by a Fujiwawa armbar to Seven. The Figure Four makes Seven tap at 4:58.

Rating: C. This was little more than a squash and it’s not like Shirakawa and Aminata have anything else to do. There isn’t much else for them to do so why not put them in a team? I still have no idea how someone as charismatic as Shirakawa can’t have something to do but here we are, yet again.

Action Andretti sits down with Caprice Coleman but doesn’t want to be here as this show kind of sucks. Granted that might be due to the bad guests so he’s here to save things. Andretti doesn’t like people like Lio Rush who turn on him to become some kind of a Blackheart with no signs. Rush has cut him off and Andretti thinks Lacey Lane probably feels the same. Andretti made call after call and isn’t going to sit on the sideline while Rush becomes this little monster.

Lethal Twist vs. Los Colons/Serpentico

Serpentico runs around to start and gets Lethal to come outside for a chop. A kick to the chest gets two on Lethal back inside but a double kick drops Serpentico as well. Orlando comes in and gets knocked into the corner, with Lethal adding a running dropkick to the back of the head. That means the strut is on before he starts working on Orlando’s leg. The Figure Four is blocked and it’s off to Eddie to fire back. Everything breaks down and it’s time to rip off Serpentico’s mask so Johnson can get the pin at 6:52.

Rating: C. I still have no idea why the Colons are here as there has to be a more interesting team to have in their spot. At the same time, sweet goodness I could go for a break from the “luchador loses his mask for a rollup pin”. It’s certainly logical for a luchador but my goodness it’s been done to death. The Twist need to be on the way to the Six Man Tag Team Titles, as they’re kind of perfect for them right now.

We look back at the Premiere Athletes/Beef wanting a shot at the Six Man Tag Team Titles. See, this is what the titles has been needing. They’re actually building up some teams to come after the champions. That’s how titles work and they’re already feeling more interesting just because teams want them. Now granted they have to actually be defended, but the pieces are being set up.

Mance Warner vs. Matt Menard

Pure Rules so they get in a contest over who can shake the referee’s hand more. Then they go outside to shake hands with the fans and go back inside for a rather aggressive handshake to get things going. An exchange of lockups send them into the corner over and over and all six rope breaks are burned off in 47 seconds.

With that gone, they go to the apron for some chops from Warner and a Rock Bottom from Menard. They go outside where Warner’s chair shot is cut off so Warner brings it inside, sits down in it, and grabs a sleeper. Menard’s arm is up at two drops and he gets two off a cutter. Warner wins a forearm off though and the implant DDT finishes Menard at 5:30.

Rating: B-. This was fun! I had a better time with them messing with things instead of just doing the same basic match that you see time after time. Warner wouldn’t be someone who wants to follow all of the rules and it makes sense that he would turn it into something he would want to do. This was instantly more entertaining than most things on ROH, just because it broke up the show a bit. Nice job.

Kelsey Raegan vs. Isla Dawn

They fight over an armbar to start with Dawn powering her into the corner. A Saito suplex drops Raegan and Dawn knocks her into the corner for a hard kick to the ribs. The running knee gets two and Dawn grabs a cobra stretch. Raegan fights out and sends her into the corner for a running elbow, setting up a DDT for two. Dawn has had it with this and grabs a dragon sleeper for the tap at 5:07.

Rating: C+. This was little more than a squash with Dawn getting to run through Raegan, who only got in a bit of offense. If Raegan is supposed to be something (and she might not be), I’m not sure why you would have her in a match with Dawn as she makes her singles debut. Not much of a match but I’ve been a fan of Dawn for awhile so it’s nice to see her getting a chance.

Post match Dawn takes her time letting go.

We recap Bandido vs. Bryan Keith. They had a match on Collision in February of last year. End of recap.

Satnam Singh vs. Bruss Hamilton

Hamilton jumps him from behind to start and avoids a charge in the corner. That only gets him so far as Singh switches places with him to start firing off the chops. Hamilton can’t get in a slam but Singh certainly can, only for Hamilton to escape a chokeslam. The second attempt gives Singh the pin at 2:55.

Rosario Grillo introduces KJ Impala and Hayden Seal, his partners. They’re rather Italian and called Il Cartello Grillo.

Nathan Cruz/Il Cartello Grillo vs. The Rascalz/Von Erichs

Wentz rolls Cruz up to start and scores with a corkscrew crossbody out of the corner. Impala comes in to slug it out with Marshall and the Von Erichs get two off a double dropkick. Ross misses a running boot in the corner and it’s off to Cruz to strike away in the corner. An atomic drop/running boot combination gets two on Ross but he rolls over for the tag off to Wentz.

That means house can be cleaned, including a quick German suplex. The middle rope Meteora/backbreaker combination gets two on Grillo and everything breaks down. The good guys can hit a bunch of shots in the corner, setting up stereo claws. Hot Fire Flame finishes Seal at 7:25.

Rating: C+. So you introduce the team, put them with a random partner, and then have them lose to a team featuring the freaking Von Erichs. This is where Ring Of Honor manages to completely miss the point as Il Cartello isn’t a bad idea, but they’re bogged down early on with having so many people involved and, you know, losing. But at least those Von Erichs got to make their regular appearance to remind us how lame they can be.

Tehuti Miles vs. LSG

HOW MUCH FILLER DOES ONE SHOW NEED??? Miles dropkicks him at the start and grabs a powerslam for an early two. A big boot gets two more and LSG’s comeback is cut off with a clothesline. Miles grabs a Death Valley Driver to finish at 4:04.

Rating: C. Miles looked impressive here but he’s the what, fifth or so debuting/returning star on the show? In its tenth match? It’s another case of the interesting prospect being lost in the shuffle because there is so much going on. Maybe save this (which came from a big batch of taped matches so it can be put anywhere) for a place that stands out a bit better?

Post match Shane Taylor Promotions comes out to look at Miles, who seems interested.

Ring Of Honor World Title: Bandido vs. Bryan Keith

Bandido is defending and Keith kicks the handshake away before cranking on the arm. Back up and Bandido flips away for the gun pose, earning himself a trip out to the apron. Keith whips him into the barricade a few times before winning a chop off. Back in and Keith kicks away before reversing a 21 Plex attempt into a t-bone suplex. A second and third suplex just fire Bandido up and he gets in a suplex of his own for a double down.

The corkscrew crossbody connects for Bandido and he sends Keith outside for the suicide dive. The springboard high crossbody gets two more back inside but Keith grabs a front facelock. A helicopter bomb gets two and Bandido has to block a fork shot. Bandido’s X Knee gets two but Keith catches him with a t-bone superplex. Keith tries a tiger bomb but gets reversed into a hurricanrana to give Bandido the retaining pin at 13:40.

Rating: B-. This felt like another instance of Bandido being built back up after a loss because he is the designated jobber to the stars in AEW. It’s also another random World Title match for Keith, who barely wrestles in singles matches, while others are undefeated and never get title shots. In other words, it’s a good example of the problem with the title picture around here and that isn’t likely to get better.

Overall Rating: C. And thus we have one of Tony Khan’s favorite ideas in ROH: a card so loaded with people that no one gets to stand out, even when they had good ideas. This show had a whopping 40 wrestlers on it, which is just shy of Wrestlemania II’s 46 and that show included a 20 man battle royal.

As usual, just WAY too much stuff on one show, as apparently someone holds a gun to Khan’s head and makes him not only book these matches but film and air them, because there is no such thing as “nah we don’t need that”. I liked some of what they did with a few debuts and some of the six man stuff, but I’m almost scared to think of how much of this could have been cut out or just moved to another show. Just stop doing so much at these tapings. Why is that so complicated?

Results
Bang Bang Gang b. Grizzled Young Veterans – Fold to Drake
Skyflight b. Frat House – TKO to Jameson
Bishop Kaun b. Royce Isaacs – Pedigree
Mina Shirakawa/Queen Aminata b. Laci Lennox/Sahara Seven – Figure Four to Seven
Lethal Twist b. Serpentico/Los Colons – Rollup to Serpentico
Mance Warner b. Matt Menard – Implant DDT
Isla Dawn b. Kelsey Raegan – Dragon sleeper
Satnam Singh b. Bruss Hamilton – Chokeslam
Von Erichs/Rascalz b. Il Cartello Grillo/Nathan Cruz – Hot Fire Flame to Seal
Tehuti Miles b. LSG – Death Valley Driver
Bandido b. Bryan Keith – Hurricanrana

 

 

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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