Ring Of Honor
Date: April 23, 2026
Location: WJCT Studios, Jacksonville, Florida
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

Last week was a big one as we actually had some qualifying matches for Supercard Of Honor. The show is in less than a month and I’m wondering what we’re going to get on the way there. Multiple title matches are already set and that’s a bit out of the ordinary for this place. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Brandon Cutler/Angelica Risk/Terry Kid vs. Premiere Athletes

Denali and Risk start things off, with only about a foot of size difference. Risk gets pulled down with ease and forearmed in the corner, followed by the knees to the ribs. It’s quickly off to Cutler to strike away on Daivari, including a springboard crossbody. The men fight out to the floor, leaving Denali to chokeslam Risk for the pin at 2:35. Of all of the Athletes’ six person tags that I’ve seen, this was the most recent.

Mark Davis vs. Beef

Beef grabs a headlock to start and knocks Davis out to the floor with a running shoulder. Davis fires off the chops and knocks Beef off the apron, where he sits on Beef’s chest for a unique crash. Back in and Davis chops away some more but Beef scores with a dropkick. Beef strikes away, only to charge into a German suplex.

The big clothesline puts Davis down again but he catches Beef on top with a superplex. The running forearm connects in the corner for two but Beef reverses the piledriver attempt into a rollup for two of his own. Davis chops him down but still can’t hit the piledriver, allowing Beef to hit a belly to back suplex. The Swan Dive misses though and Davis hits a big clothesline for the pin at 7:22.

Rating: C+. So to recap: last night on Dynamite, Davis beat Will Ospreay, the resident AEW superhero, but here he went move for move with freaking BEEF and couldn’t even hit his finisher. Now in theory, since this show is taped in advance and this match advances nothing for either of them, one might think it could have been cut or aired at another time, but nah. Instead it NEEDED to air here because no one pays attention to this show so doing something dumb is fine.

We look at Johnny TV losing his hair in CMLL about two months ago. He’s appeared without his hair in ROH since then so….why are we seeing this?

MxM TV vs. Main Man Oro/Keagan Garland/Angel Fashion

Garland is the son of Scotty 2 Hotty. Fashion and TV start things off with the latter knocking Fashion into the corner to hammer away. Oro comes in to kick Mansoor in the head and Garland comes in to run the ropes. A Hart Attack (leg lariat version) puts Garland down, with Mansoor yelling that he just beat up Scotty’s son. An Alabama slam lets the villains pose but Fashion and Oro break it up.

Garland pounds on Madden in the corner but Madden walks out to hit a powerbomb/double chokeslam at the other two (ok that was nice). TV hits a suicide dive onto all of them but Garland ducks the Flying Chuck. The Worm almost connects but Madden cuts it off at the last second. The Glossy Centerfold finishes Garland at 3:58.

Rating: C. I was worried this was going to go even longer but this was more “hey Scotty 2 Hotty’s son is wrestling”, which was a nice little bonus. You can definitely see the resemblance and while it’s too early to tell how it’s going to go, it’s nice to see Garland getting a shot. Other than that, MxM TV is exactly what they have always been.

We look back at Lee Moriarty beating Marshall Von Erich to retain the Pure Wrestling Title last week.

Caprice Coleman sits down with Moriarty and asks him about being all honorable and then part of Shane Taylor Promotions. Moriarty says he’s the best Pure Wrestler in the world and it’s him being himself. He and Shane Taylor won’t always get along but they work well together. Moriarty is also apparently a talented painter and says it’s similar to being an artist in the ring.

On one hand, I definitely do appreciate these interviews as ANYTHING giving these people some more personality is a good idea, but my goodness maybe build up some people to take the title from him? Or just drop the title altogether because it stopped feeling important years ago?

Diamante vs. Rachael Ellering

Pure Rules. They fight over wrist continue to start and the threat of a Fujiwara armbar sends Ellering straight to the rope. An ankle lock sends Ellering to the ropes again so Diamante starts working on the leg (why Ellering being in the corner doesn’t count as a rope break isn’t clear). Another ankle lock means Ellering is out of rope breaks but she comes back with a big clothesline. Diamante is right back with a top rope double stomp to the back, setting up another ankle lock to make Ellering tap at 5:34.

Rating: C-. Yeah wow that was thrilling. Someone burned off their rope breaks and then gave up. This felt like someone playing No Mercy and wanting to get through Championship Mode while using the same hold to get a submission. That might make for a logical path and match under these rules, but dang it doesn’t make for much in the way of excitement.

Frat House vs. Colons/Spanish Announce Project

Orlando backs Garrison into the corner and it’s off to Eddie for a quick dropkick. It’s off to Karter, who gets hit with a slingshot crossbody into a backbreaker. Angelico comes in to hiptoss Serpentico onto Karter but he knocks Serpentico into the corner to take over. Garrison grabs a suplex DDT on Serpentico but misses a top rope backsplash (making him lose his hat).

Serpentico Dudley Dogs Vance and Angelico comes back in to clean house. Everything breaks down and Garrison’s torture rack powerbomb gets two. Coleman says that he’s finishes a lot of people with that move. I’d love for Coleman to name say….three. Angelico and Serpentico get stereo holds on Jameson and Vance for the double tap at 7:25.

Rating: C+. This was a very Ring Of Honor match, as it featured people who pretty much don’t work on any other shows in any meaningful ways and wrestled the same match they have almost every time they’re on this show. None of these wrestlers have moved up or down the card in months and that is likely going to be there case for the next several months. The match was perfectly acceptable wrestling but it changes nothing. The problem with Ring Of Honor is that a lot of their shows are comprised of that exact same kind of match. It can get exhausting in a hurry and that is definitely happening here.

Billie Starkz vs. Hyan

They fight over a test of strength to start and Starkz bites her hand to escape. Starkz misses a charge though and gets knocked to the floor, where she sends Hyan crashing into the barricade. Back in and Starkz strikes away in the corner, though Hyan does manage a sunset flip for two.

A belly to back suplex gets two more and Hyan takes her up top for a superplex, followed by a falcon arrow for the same. They go to a pinfall reversal sequence for two each until Starkz Alabama Slams her into the corner. The Swanton only gives Starkz two as she pulls Hyan up. Instead it’s the pancake to finish Hyan at 9:15.

Rating: B-. Hyan has come a long way since her debut around here and it’s nice to see someone developed like that. At the same time, it was nice to see Starkz get a win, even if she is still only so much of a star. Granted a lot of that is due to having Athena dominate the division for such a long time and making everyone else look secondary.

Survival Of The Fittest rundown.

Swirl vs. Adam Priest/Tommy Billington

Tornado Tag and at least this has been a feud for a good while now. It’s a brawl to start fast with Johnson getting slammed on the floor and Christian, still in his robe, getting beaten up inside. The Swirl fights back by sending Priest into the steps, allowing Christian to hit a Blockbuster off the steps.

Back in and Billington gets double teamed, including in the Tree Of Woe. Priest is knocked to the floor again and Billington gets beaten down in the corner again. A chair is brought in and a running shot to the head knocks Billington silly for two. Billington fights back though and manages to load Johnson up in a Tombstone, with Priest coming off the top to spike him down (with a sick sound) for two.

Christian’s handspring kick to the face hits Johnson for two and Priest drops Johnson with a DDT. They go to the corner for a Tower Of Doom with a super Spanish Fly off the top for an even bigger crash. The Swirl wins a chop off but Priest clotheslines both of them down. The top rope elbow only hits chair though and the top rope double stomp/Death Valley Driver combination finishes Priest (Johnson gets the pin of course) at 12:03.

Rating: B. This was by far the best match on the show and it felt like it was the culmination of a big feud. It also boosts up the Swirl as a team, which is a good idea. Of course it isn’t as good of an idea as having Christian wrestling some singles matches (he hasn’t had one since December) to build him up for his World Title match in less than a month or talking about it or something. But insert complaints about Ring Of Honor being a disaster here.

Overall Rating: C+. While it’s hardly a big surprise, it’s becoming more and more obvious that this stuff is thrown together with the important matches being added later. That’s fine enough, but it also feels like the regular matches are made without any connection to the bigger matches. It makes these shows very frustrating as the wrestling is fine, but it feels completely disconnected from what is being talked about and promoted. In other words, PUT SOME EFFORT INTO THIS THING ALREADY!

Results
Premiere Athlete b. Brandon Cutler/Angelica Risk/Terry Kid – Chokeslam to Risk
Mark Davis b. Beef – Clothesline
MxM TV b. Main Man Oro/Keagan Garland/Angel Fashion – Glossy Centerfold to Garland
Diamante b. Rachael Ellering – Ankle lock
Colons/Spanish Announce Project b. Frat House – Double submission
Billie Starkz b. Hyan – Pancake
Swirl b. Tommy Billington/Adam Priest – Top rope double stomp/Death Valley Driver to Priest

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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Collision
Date: March 28, 2026
Location: Alliant Energy PowerHouse, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Tony Schiavone

It’s a title shot as we have the Women’s Tag Team Titles on the line in a Revolution rematch. That should make for a good main event, or something close to the main event. Other than that, there is a good chance we get some buildup towards Dynasty, which is somehow in just over two weeks. Let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

Women’s Tag Team Titles: Babes Of Wrath vs. Lena Kross/Megan Bayne

The Babes are challenging and it’s a brawl to start. Bayne and Nightingale trade running shoulders in the corner, with Bayne getting the better of things. A Saito suplex drops Bayne though and Nightingale is right back with some rapid fire clotheslines in the corner. The other two come in as well and a double clothesline puts Kross back on the floor.

Cameron’s high crossbody gets two but Nightingale is sent outside, where Bayne’s dive…doesn’t quite work as her feet get caught in the ropes but she’s fine. Back in and Kross’ sliding lariat gets two as we take a break. We come back with Cameron getting the hot tag and slugging away on Kross. A half crab is broken up and all four come in, with the Babes getting tossed off stereo fall away slams.

Cameron reverses a double suplex into a double DDT and Nightingale is back in for some German suplexes. Cameron can’t sunset bomb Bayne but Nightingale can Pounce Kross. The Babes both grab half crabs, with the champs both making the rope. Nightingale is sent into the post, leaving Cameron to chop at the two monsters. That just earns her a double chokeslam to give Bayne the retaining pin at 13:11.

Rating: B. This wound up being a good match with the champions quickly figuring out how to do their monster stuff. The Babes are the definition of a fun, wacky team who work well together, but it was time to get the titles off of them. If nothing else, it was holding Nightingale back from her stuff as TBS Champion, which is probably more important. Nice opener here.

The Brawling Birds want a fight but Mina Shirakawa comes in to say she wants to fight Thekla. Any three women who want a fight can come get one.

Myron Reed vs. Johnny TV

The Rascalz and MxM Collection are here too. TV strikes away to start and we’re in an early chinlock. It’s way too early for Starship Pain as Reed is out to kick him out of the corner, setting up a slingshot legdrop for two. The hanging Downward Spiral gives Reed two more but TV is back with an Alabama Slam. The running knee gives TV two but Reed ducks a clothesline and hits a leg lariat. Reed’s springboard 450 gets the pin at 3:58.

Rating: C+. They only had so much time here but that’s exactly how someone like TV should be used. You don’t need to have him out there having long, competitive matches at this point but he was able to help make Reed look good. I’m not sure if Reed is going to become a big star on his own, but at least he got a chance to do something here.

Daniel Garcia, with the Death Riders, talks about how he’s changed a lot. Jon Moxley asks what Private Party could buy with $200,000. Tonight, things get serious. Garcia’s talking here was an improvement over his usual.

Private Party says tonight isn’t about partying because this is their time.

Death Riders vs. Private Party

Claudio Castagnoli is here with Jon Moxley/Daniel Garcia. Private Party is billed as having won nine of their last twelve matches. Assuming that is exclusively talking about AEW, that’s over about a year and a half. Garcia takes Kassidy (they used to be friends, a long time ago) down to start quickly but Kassidy is back up with a wristlock. Kassidy gets mad and hammers away in the corner, with the referee having to break it up.

Moxley comes in and tells Kassidy to hit him in the face, which naturally goes badly for Kassidy. Everything breaks down and Quen dropkicks Moxley down but Moxley is right back to send Quen outside. We take a break and come back with Quen hitting a spinning enziguri to stagger Moxley. It’s back to Kassidy to slug away on Garcia, followed by a big springboard moonsault to take out Moxley on the floor.

Back in and a dancing Swanton gets two on Garcia, with Kassidy still yelling at Garcia. A double cutter drops Garcia and Quen dives on Moxley as Kassidy gets two off a 450. Castagnoli runs Quen over on the floor though, leaving Kassidy to enziguri Garcia. Moxley piledrives Kassidy to give Garcia two and the Dragontamer goes on to make Kassidy feebly tap at 11:46.

Rating: B. This is the kind of match that makes me miss Private Party as they can do some flashy stuff when they’re actually around. The problem is they aren’t here very often and that makes it hard to build any momentum. At least they looked good here, but it’s not like they were going to beat a team that included Moxley.

Last night at ROHxMLP Global Wars (which is worth a watch), Ricochet ranted about how he and the rest of the Demand are ready for Kenny Omega/Jack Perry/Brody King on Dynamite.

Mina Shirakawa/Brawling Birds vs. Nixi HS/Aminah Belmont/Haven Harris

Windsor runs HS over to start and all three are stacked up in the corner for some running elbows. Shirakawa hits a double missile dropkick, followed by the Figure Four for the win at 1:25.

Post match Jamie Hayter says that they liked teaming with Mina Shirakawa but had nothing to do with attacking Toni Storm. They don’t like the Triangle Of Madness, who pop up to swear on Storm’s cold dead body that if anyone tries this with them, it’ll be the same result. Shirakawa sends out the challenge for next week.

Kyle Fletcher brags about the success of the Don Callis Family but they don’t like the Rascalz. Tonight, it’s about revenge. Kazuchika Okada and Fletcher seem to be fine, with Fletcher wanting the World Title.

Tommaso Ciampa vs. Ace Austin

Ciampa backs him up to the ropes to start but Austin grabs a rollup for a fast two. A frustrated Ciampa bails out to the floor but he avoids a low bridge back inside and stomps away (that was smart). Austin is fine enough to send Ciampa outside and get in a handstand into a kick to the chest. Ciampa is right back with some chops up against the barricade but Austin anklescissors him down. Back in and a neckbreaker onto the knee puts Austin down again and we take a break.

We come back with Austin striking away and grabbing a Russian legsweep. Austin’s springboard spinning kick to the head sets up a gutwrench powerbomb for two. They fight over a suplex until Ciampa kicks the knee out and grabs Project Ciampa for two more. A running knee sends Austin crashing to the floor but Austin manages a quick running stomp on the way back inside.

There’s the big dive but Ciampa knees him out of the air. The Psycho Driller gets two and they both need a breather. Back up and Austin kicks him in the face and it’s a Death Valley Driver to send Ciampa into the corner. The Fold is countered with a belly to belly into the corner though and the running knee finishes Ciampa at 13:31.

Rating: A-. That might be a bit high but I loved this one, with both guys beating the living daylights out of each other. What mattered the most here is that I reached a point where I didn’t know who was going to win. That’s all the more impressive when you considered how much higher on the totem pole Ciampa really is. Awesome stuff here and one of the best AEW TV matches I’ve seen in a good while.

Post match Juice Robinson comes in to check on Austin and Ciampa leaves in peace.

The Rascalz want to win tonight because they’ll get into title picture.

The Babes Of Wrath seem to split up, though they’re still friends. And Babes.

Don Callis Family vs. Rascalz

Mark Davis/Kyle Fletcher for the Family here. Fletcher easily backs Wentz into the corner to start before blocking Wentz’s wristdrag attempt. A backsplash misses though and it’s off to Xavier to dropkick Davis into the corner. Davis is back up with a fireman’s carry toss into Fletcher’s kick to the face for two.

The Family rams them together, followed by stereo belly to belly suplexes as we take a break. We come back with Xavier kicking away at Fletcher and getting two off a cutter. Wentz is back in to strike away and Xavier’s Cardiac Kick connects, leaving everyone down. Davis is right back up to kick Xavier in the face, setting up the piledriver for the pin at 11:08.

Rating: B. This did get good with the Rascalz flying around, but there is only so much they can do to make themselves stand out. At least Davis was able to get in his rather good piledriver, which he has turned into a signature move. As usual, the Family is better when Don Callis isn’t involved and they had another good one here.

Last night at Global Wars, Ricochet and Don Callis were ready to get together to take out Kenny Omega on Dynamite. They also want to play golf.

Here’s what’s coming on various shows.

Kevin Knight is ready to keep his momentum going and win the International Title.

Jon Moxley has no sympathy for Private Party being banged up and he doesn’t feel any sympathy for Will Ospreay, who wrestled an unsanctioned cage match with a broken neck.

International Title: Kevin Knight vs. Kazuchika Okada

Okada is defending. Knight works on the wrist to start and drops a knee on the arm. Back up and Okada escapes the armbar before bailing out to the floor. Knight welcomes him back inside and snaps off some armdrags. They go right back to the floor, where Okada snaps off a DDT. Back in again and Knight is fine enough to snap off some chops before knocking Okada down. The spinning splash gets two and Okada is outside again, this time for a slingshot splash.

We take a break and come back with Okada hitting the Air Raid Crash onto the knee for two. The falling top rope elbow connects, though Okada would rather flip off the fans rather than cover. Knight is back up with a big dropkick and the clothesline comeback ensues. Okada hits the better dropkick though and his own clotheslines but the rainmaker misses.

Instead Knight low bridges him to the floor for a heck of a springboard clothesline, followed by another one for two back inside. Knight’s top rope superplex is blocked so he settles for a super hurricanrana. A Coast To Coast dropkick gives Knight two but Okada rolls away before the UFO Splash can launch. Knight tries it anyway (because he can jump that far) but hits raised knees. They go to a pinfall reversal sequence until Okada grabs the rope for the win at 17:23.

Rating: B+. This got good near the end, mainly due to watching Knight getting to show off his rather amazing athleticism. Okada looked like he had to escape rather than win here, which is a good way to make Knight look like a star. At the same time, Okada’s title reign continues to feel mostly forgotten, as I could barely remember which title he had. It’s nice to see him in the ring on occasion, but the title really doesn’t feel all that important, which needs to be fixed.

Overall Rating: A-. Yeah that’s probably a bit high but I loved this show, which had some very impressive matches. The Austin vs. Ciampa match was a blast and the main event wasn’t that far behind. They also set up some things for the future and that makes for a heck of a two hour show. Great show here, though I’m not sure how many people will be watching it over basketball, which even Schiavone hinted at during the show.

Results
Lena Kross/Megan Bayne b. Babes Of Wrath – Double chokeslam to Cameron
Myron Reed b. Johnny TV – Springboard 450
Death Riders b. Private Party – Dragontamer to Kassidy
Mina Shirakawa/Brawling Brutes b. Nixi HS/Aminah Belmont/Haven Harris – Figure Four to HS
Tommaso Ciampa b. Ace Austin – Running knee
Don Callis Family b. Rascalz – Piledriver to Xavier
Kazuchika Okada b. Kevin Knight – Rollup while holding the rope

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

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

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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Collision
Date: November 27, 2025
Location: The Pinnacle, Nashville, Tennessee
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness

It’s a special Thanksgiving edition of the show and you can tell it’s a big one because Matt Menard is in action. Other than that huge one, we also have more in the Continental Classic, which fits Collision better than almost anything else could. Hopefully they take advantage of the special time slot and put on a bigger than usual show. Let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

Opening sequence.

Continental Classic Gold League: Pac vs. Mike Bailey

They chop it out to start with Bailey kicking him down to the floor. A running kick misses though and Pac pulls him outside for a snap suplex. Bailey gets whipped into the barricade and taken back inside, with Pac sending him even harder into the corner. The cravate goes on, followed by a running elbow in the corner for two. A dropkick gets Bailey out of trouble and it’s a running shooting star press for two. Pac gets sent outside for the triangle moonsault and we take a break.

We come back with Pac hitting a toss belly to belly superplex for two but charging into a boot in the corner. They get up and trade kicks to the head before going outside to do it again. Pac grabs a German suplex and Bailey has to jump up to the apron at nine, with Pac missing a charge to the floor. That lets Bailey hit the big moonsault, followed by a poisonrana back inside. The Ultimate Weapon misses and the Brutalizer finishes for Pac at 15:10.

Rating: B-. Well, it was nice to see Bailey get beaten up for a good while as there’s something rather soothing about seeing that every time. Pac is on a bit of a roll at this point and it would be nice to see him make a run in this thing. Then again the first match doesn’t tend to mean much, so now we get to wait and see where it goes, which is kind of the point of the tournament.

Gold League Standings

Kyle Fletcher – 3 points (4 matches remaining)
Kevin Knight – 3 points (4 matches remaining)
Pac – 3 points (4 matches remaining)
Kazuchika Okada – 0 points (4 matches remaining)
Mike Bailey – 0 points (4 matches remaining)
Darby Allin – 0 points (4 matches remaining)

Daniel Garcia, with Jon Moxley, is ready to end Matt Menard and get some gold.

Bandido takes the blame for the loss for the Tag Team Title match at Full Gear. Brody King says the team isn’t over and they want the belts back. For now though, King wants him to retain the World Title at Final Battle.

Apparently Rush is out of the World Title match though so Bandido is defending against Sammy Guevara, The Beast Mortos, Komander, Hechicero and Blake Christian. This is the first mention we’ve had of the title match and it comes on an AEW show eight days before Final Battle.

Daniel Garcia vs. Matt Menard

Jon Moxley is on commentary. Menard yells at Garcia to start and shoves him out of the corner, followed by the right hands. Garcia fights out of trouble on the floor and comes back in to slug away in the corner. Menard is already busted open as we take a break. We come back with Menard fighting out of a Boston crab, which he reverses into one of his own.

That’s broken up as well and they go outside, with Garcia ramming him into the announcers’ table. A running dropkick crushes the steps against Menard’s head, which is naturally only good for a nine. Back in and Menard mocks Garcia’s old dance so Garcia kicks him in the chest. A bulldog choke finishes Menard off at 11:09.

Rating: C. Forgive me for only being so interested in Garcia, one of the least interesting stars in AEW, beating up his former mentor who was mostly a comedy star. This is a story that has been put together over the last several months but that doesn’t make for an interesting story. I guess we needed to see Garcia beat him up for that long, though hopefully this wraps the whole thing up for good.

Post match here is Mark Briscoe to interrupt. He’s thankful to be in Nashville and to be your TNT Champion, but he’s also thankful to Garcia for saying he wanted the TNT Title. Briscoe had been wondering who he should face first and now he knows that he’s going to devour Garcia like he’s going to devour turkey and macaroni and cheese tonight.

Ricochet lists off some names he’s already beaten and you should be glad to have him as your champion.

Here is FTR to brag about winning the Tag Team Titles back. Stokely Hathaway talks about how FTR keeps overcoming obstacle after obstacle…and here is the Bang Bang Gang to interrupt. The Gang talks about how they’ve recently beaten FTR and don’t need to hear about FTR’s greatness again. Over the weekend, the Gang won $200,000 and now they want some gold to go with the green. The Gang slaps the title down and wants a shot, with FTR bailing instead. Makes as much sense as anyone else would.

Here is MxM TV, for some reason dressed as the Cowardly Lion and the Tin Man, for the Casting Call.

MxM Collection/Johnny TV vs. Outrunners/Dalton Castle

Castle and the Outrunners get jumped to start fast with Taya Valkyrie being powerbombed onto Castle on the floor. Back in and Magnum gets pummeled in the corner, only to powerbomb his way to freedom. Madden cuts off the comeback attempt but the Collection misses their own Mega Powers elbow. Castle comes in to clean house and it’s Total Recall to Mansoor. The real Mega Powers elbow sets up the Bang A Rang to give Castle the pin on Mansoor at 2:30. Just a quick comedy match.

Post match the Demand comes out to interrupt the celebration. The Outrunners and Castle are beaten down so Ricochet goes over and gets in an argument with a country singer. Said singer (Michael Ray?) jumps the barricade and they’re held apart.

The Don Callis Family is grateful for various things, with Kazuchika Okada being thankful that he doesn’t have to team with Konosuke Takeshita. This was no Survivor Series 1989.

Eddie Kingston vs. Katsuyori Shibata

The brawl is on outside before the bell, with Shibata putting him in a chair for a boot to the face. They get inside for the opening bell and Kingston grabs a butterfly suplex. Shibata snaps off a German suplex and takes over on the arm. Kingston gets beaten down in the corner and we take a break. We come back with Shibata hitting him low but not being able to get a cross armbreaker, with the referee making him break due to the low blow. Well that’s different. Shibata charges into a boot in the corner and gets DDTed for the pin at 7:06. It’s as sudden as it sounds.

Rating: C-. I’m not sure what this was about but almost half of the match was in the break and Kingston’s offense at the end was literally those two moves. Kingston hasn’t done much since he got back and this didn’t help him in the slightest. At the same time, Shibata is supposed to be this big tough fighter and gets pinned by a basic DDT in that little time? I don’t get it.

Post match Kingston says he won’t comment on what Hook did. He says he never wanted to just play a character. Instead, he is pro wrestling because he loves these people who love pro wrestling. He’s the guy who wants to inspire someone to get into wrestling one day (Kingston: “By the way, don’t do it.”). Then there’s Samoa Joe, who took the AEW World Title. Kingston only gets peace when he’s in this ring so defend the title against him at Winter Is Coming. When Kingston is on, he’s great at connecting with the crowd and he was feeling it here.

Red Velvet mocks Mercedes Mone for losing at Full Gear and wants a rematch at Final Battle. Do we really have to do this again?

Thekla vs. Tay Melo

Melo hammers away to start fast and throws Thekla down by the arm. Something like a reverse triangle choke (that’s a weird one) has Thekla in early trouble so she has to make the rope. A running knee sends Melo out to the apron and we take a break. We come back with Melo tying her hair up for the big slugout, with Thekla hitting a hard shot to the face. The Death Trap goes on but Melo stacks her up for two. Thekla does her spider thing and gets caught with a running knee. A piledriver gives Melo two more but the TayKO is escaped, allowing Thekla to hit a spear. The stomp gives Thekla the pin at 8:39.

Rating: B-. Another not very long match, especially with the break included, but at least Melo was able to put up a good fight. Melo might not be the most successful star in AEW but she’s often a tough out, which makes her a good choice in a match like this. Thekla continue to feel like a player and that’s a good thing to see, as the division can use some new blood.

Post match the Sisters of Sin come out for the beatdown but Jamie Hayter makes the save. Kris Statlander makes a fairly unnecessary appearance for part of the save as well.

Continental Classic Blue League: Konosuke Takeshita vs. Roderick Strong

Takeshita takes over with a test of strength to start, which is broken up rather quickly. Strong’s headlock doesn’t get very far so they go with the grappling. A backbreaker rocks Takeshita but he elbows his way out of an abdominal stretch. They go outside with Strong being sent hard into the barricade and we take a break.

We come back with Strong hitting a dropkick into an Angle Slam. The running forearms in the ropes set up a failed Strong Hold attempt, allowing Takeshita to hit a Blue Thunder Bomb for two. A super Raging Fire is blocked so Strong backbreakers him onto the turnbuckle for two instead. They strike it out until a fireman’s carry gutbuster rocks Takeshita. The Sick Kick misses so Strong German suplexes him for two. The running knee sets up Raging Fire to give Takeshita the pin at 13:17.

Rating: B. Commentary pointed out that Strong was taking Kyle O’Reilly’s place and that makes sense, as O’Reilly has been on a bit of a roll as of late. Other than that, this was pretty much exactly what you would have expected from these two, as Strong put up a good fight but wasn’t enough to overcome the rather complete Takeshita in the end. Still though, good main event and Takeshita had to work for it.

Blue League Standings

Jon Moxley – 3 points (4 matches remaining)
Claudio Castagnoli – 3 points (4 matches remaining)
Konosuke Takeshita – 3 points, 4 matches remaining)
Roderick Strong – 0 points (4 matches remaining)
Mascara Dorada – 0 points (4 matches remaining)
Orange Cassidy – 0 points (4 matches remaining)

Overall Rating: B-. Perfectly fine show here with some good matches, though it had some weak spots in there as well. The good thing is you can easily focus on the Continental Classic, which is going to eat up a bunch of time on any given show. At the same time, there were some weaker points on this show as well and they dragged the good stuff down. Not bad at all overall, but one where you should just catch a recap rather than watch the full thing.

Results
Pac b. Mike Bailey – Brutalizer
Daniel Garcia b. Matt Menard – Bulldog choke
Outrunners/Dalton Castle b. MxM Collection/Johnny TV – Bang A Rang to Mansoor
Eddie Kingston b. Katsuyori Shibata – DDT
Thekla b. Tay Melo – Stomp
Konosuke Takeshita b. Roderick Strong – Raging Fire

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

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

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

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

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

Opening sequence.

We run down the card.

MxM TV vs. Skyflight

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

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

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

Workhorsemen vs. Chance Prophet/Rosario Grillo

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

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

Yuka Sakazaki vs. Zoey Lynn

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

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

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

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

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

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

Aaron Solo vs. Jay Lethal

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

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

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

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

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

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

Serena Deeb vs. Katie Arquette

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

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

Diamante/Billie Starkz vs. Alex Windsor/Sareee

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

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

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

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

Beef vs. Dralistico

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

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

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

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

We take a quick look back at the opening video.

Johnny TV vs. AR Fox

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

We open with a Death Before Dishonor recap.

Opening sequence.

Frat House vs. AR Fox/Kingdom

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

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

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

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

Premiere Athletes vs. Spanish Announce Project

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

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

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

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

Rachael Ellering vs. Deonna Purrazzo

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

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

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

Trish Adora vs. Ashley Vox

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

Post match Adora kicks Vox outside.

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

Alex Zayne vs. Johnny TV

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

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

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

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

Jordan Oliver vs. The Beast Mortos

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

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

The Outrunners say they’re down but not out.

LSG/Beef vs. Don Callis Family

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

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

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

Josh Woods vs. Matt Mako

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

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

Hologram vs. Aaron Solo

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

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

Here’s what’s coming on various shows.

Lee Johnson vs. Bandido

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Ring Of Honor
Date: August 28, 2025
Location: Wolstein Center, Cleveland, Ohio
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

It’s the night before Death Before Dishonor and that means we are likely going to be getting some matches being added to the show. There are a total of four matches officially set and multiple titles have not been set for the card. Odds are we’ll get at least something set up this week, which is overdue to say the least. Let’s get to it.

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

Bandido and Brody King talk about losing their first match as AEW Tag Team Champions but Bandido is going to retain his ROH World Title at Death Before Dishonor. You really couldn’t just have Bandido do this alone?

Opening sequence.

We run down the card.

Lance Archer vs. Beef

Beef tries to slug away to start and is promptly knocked right back down. Archer hammers him down and chokes on the ropes but Beef cartwheels away. Beef actually gets in a few shots of his own, only to get caught going up. The chokeslam gives Archer two and Beef goes up, only to get caught with the Blackout for the pin at 5:11.

Rating: C. You know all of the times where Archer has done something like this? Well this was the most recent edition and it took a bit longer. I’m not sure why that was the case as Beef may be popular, but he’s far from some kind of big star. Archer isn’t doing anything at the moment anyway though, so it’s not like the win gives him anything.

Last week in England, Athena and Billie Starkz promised to keep the Women’s Title from Mina Shirakawa, with Athena demanding respect. To prove a point, Athena beat up her opponent even more but Shirakawa made the save.

Allysin Kay vs. Taya Valkyrie

Johnny TV and the MxM Collection are here too. Kay starts fast with a neckbreaker and Valkyrie needs an early breather on the ramp. Back in and a spear lets Valkyrie hammer away but Kay manages a kick to the head. Valkyrie sweeps the leg and hits a double stomp but Kay fights up again. That’s cut off by a TV interference and Shania Pain finishes for Valkyrie at 4:12.

Rating: C. Normally this would feel like a tease of the Pure Rules Title tournament but that seems to have been scrapped (thank goodness). Neither of these have anything going on at the moment and that doesn’t seem to be changing anytime soon. They’re talented stars, but I need more than the two of them just having random matches (the story of Ring Of Honor).

Post match the Collection says that the rest of the show will be them posing but here is the Dark Order to interrupt.

MxM Collection/Johnny TV vs. Dark Order

Uno and Mansoor start things off but the villains clear the ring to pose, only for the Order to come in and pose instead. Madden cuts off Reynolds’ dive though and TV powerbombs Taya Valkyrie onto Reynolds. A catapult sends Reynolds into a bent over Madden and Valkyrie kisses TV.

Reynolds gets in a springboard clothesline for a needed breather though and it’s off to Uno to clean house. The Order sends them all throat first into the ropes for some running shots to the back. The referee gets distracted though and Mansoor low blows Uno, setting up the Centerfold for the pin at 8:32.

Rating: C+. You might as well let one of these teams go after the Six Man Tag Team Titles as it’s not like the two of them have anything else going on. The Collection and TV have already gone after the belts but that has been several months ago now so see what they can do. Or just dump the belts because they mean nothing and have barely been around in months.

Spanish Announce Project vs. Stephen Wolf/Danny Orion

Angelico takes Wolf down by the arm to start and then armdrags him down for a bonus. Serpentico comes in and we hear about the Tag Team and Six Man Tag Team Titles being vacated, with the titles being decided this week at Death Before Dishonor. Well that’s better than nothing.

A clothesline takes Serpentico down and Orion’s shot to the face gets two. Serpentico avoids a charge in the corner though and the running Downward Spiral allows the tag off to Angelico. Everything breaks down and Serpentico takes Wolf down on the floor, leaving Angelico to half crab Orion for the tap at 7:18.

Rating: C. The match was fine but you know what you’re getting with the Project. Commentary talked about the Tag Team Titles but there is no reason to believe that the Project is going to be involved in the title hunt. The Project can work well in this style and they did again here, even if it’s the same thing we’ve seen from them for months.

And now, the return of QTV, with QT Marshall saying he hasn’t been around for two years. They don’t think much of Paul Walter Hauser, who will never be one of the boys. Harley Cameron isn’t sure why she’s still around here.

We look at Xelhua vs. Lee Moriarty going to a time limit draw, setting up the title match at Death Before Dishonor.

Okamura vs. Stigma

CMLL showcase. Stigma takes him down to start but gets dropped again just as fast. Back up and Stigma sends him outside for a suicide dive, followed by another dive. Back in and Okamura catches him on top with a superplex for two and a falcon arrow gets the same. Stigma hits a quick superkick and goes up, only to get caught with a Tower Of London for the pin at 5:00.

Rating: C+. It had some nice spots, but the match came and went so fast that it didn’t have time to really stand out. At the same time, it’s a pair of wrestlers who mean nothing around here and that doesn’t help. It has nothing to do with their talent or abilities, but rather they’re outsiders who haven’t gotten a reason to stand out around here. In other words, it’s just a pair of people doing moves and that only means so much.

Death Before Dishonor rundown, with Sammy Guevara/the Von Erichs facing Shane Taylor Promotions for the Six Man Tag Team Titles and Guevara/a mystery partner facing the Outrunners for the Tag Team Titles. It makes as much sense as anything else, ignoring the insanity that is acting like the Promotions deserve a title shot.

Mistico/Mascara Dorada/Neon vs. Adam Priest/Workhorsemen

Under lucha rules. Henry shakes hands with Mistico to start but Drake gets in a cheap shot from the apron. Mistico fights back but everything breaks down and the villains clear the ring. Neon comes in and gets taken into the wrong corner, allowing Henry to hit a slingshot hilo.

Some flips let Neon get away from Priest though and Mistico and Dorada come in for a triple dive to the floor. Back in and Mistico powerslams Henry for two but Priest knocks h down and hits a frog splash for two of his own. A series of kicks send Drake out to the floor and Dorada’s shooting star press gets two on Priest. La Mistica finishes Drake at 10:41.

Rating: C+. Well of course the CMLL Trios Champions aren’t going to lose to a team who was thrown together a few weeks ago. This was a way to showcase the CMLL stars and that’s a fine way to go, but it seems like there is a better main event for the last show before the pay per view. Mistico is a major star, but I could go for more than that.

Post match Mistico thanks the fans but a masked wrestler comes in to jump him. It’s MJF, who says that if Mistico wants a shot at his title, be ready to put everything on the line.

The Bandido/Hechicero bar vignette wraps up the show.

Overall Rating: C. The wrestling was fine, but without the ads I wouldn’t have any idea that Death Before Dishonor was this week. There was very little to build up to the show, with a bunch of matches that could have taken place at any point in the year. As usual, Ring Of Honor seems to think you can just throw the Ring Of Honor name out there and expect it to sell itself. Not a terrible show here, but a pretty weak excuse for a go home show.

Results
Lance Archer b. Beef – Blackout
Taya Valkyrie b. Allysin Kay – Shania Pain
MxM Collection/Johnny TV b. Dark Order – Centerfold to Uno
Spanish Announce Project b. Danny Orion/Stephen Wolf – Half crab to Orion
Okamura b. Stigma – Tower Of London
Mistico/Mascara Dorada/Neon b. Adam Priest/Workhorsemen – La Mistica to Drake

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

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

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

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

Opening sequence.

We run down the card.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Willie Mack vs. Gringo Loco

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

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

Lance Archer vs. Ren Jones

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

Video on Xelhua vs. Lee Moriarty.

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

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

Taya Valkyrie vs. Leila Grey

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

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

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

Main Man Oro vs. Tomohiro Ishii

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

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

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

Xelhua vs. Lee Moriarty

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Collision
Date: July 19, 2025
Location: Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom, Chicago, Illinois
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness, Colt Cabana

We’re done with All In and back in the normal time slot, with the promise of must see TV in the form of comments from new TNT Champion Dustin Rhodes. That could go in a few different ways but for now at least it seems they have something in mind for the next few weeks. Let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

Tony Schiavone is in the ring to bring out Dustin Rhodes for a chat. The fans think Rhodes deserves it and he wishes his dad was here. His dad told him to “keep stepping” and he has remembered it for a long time because it means being persistent. One day he hit rock bottom but the one thing he has never done is tell himself that he isn’t good enough. Getting back up is what keeps himself going every day. He is now the face of TNT and he will give his all every week.

Cue Don Callis and Kyle Fletcher to interrupt, with Fletcher saying this should be his celebration. The only thing Rhodes has done is sign his own death certificate because the title belongs to Fletcher. Rhodes talks about the times he has come short with this title but now he’s here because he pulled off what Fletcher couldn’t.

Callis says Rhodes is a great wrestler and a better man but the high that he is still chasing is being champion. So what happens when Fletcher takes the title? Callis will save a place in the Family for him, because it’s better than being the third wheel in his horrible family. The fight is on and Rhodes easily clears the ring. In theory Fletcher takes the title from Rhodes sooner or later, but you never can tell with Rhodes. Fletcher might pin Rhodes and Rhodes will get another title as a result.

Video on Willow Nightingale vs. Kris Statlander.

AR Fox vs. Ricochet

Ricochet bails to the floor to start and then comes back in to spin around Fox. Back in and Fox scares him out to the floor, where Fox takes him down again. Cue the Gates Of Agony but Fox drops Ricochet on the apron again for a running flipping double stomp. Back in and a spinning belly to back suplex drops Ricochet again but the Gates drop Fox on the apron.

We take a break and come back with Fox fighting back and hitting his Swanton. They trade some rollups for two each until Ricochet muscles him into a Death Valley Driver for two. The Spirit Gun misses so Fox ties him in the ropes for the slingshot Canadian Destroyer for two of his own. The Gates offer a distraction though and Fox misses the 450. Now the Spirit Gun can finish Fox at 11:17.

Rating: B-. Fox is firmly in the “he’s going to be entertaining” mode and has been for a few months now. That’s the kind of thing that can be rather valuable, and now it seems that AEW is giving Fox more of a chance. On the other hand you have Ricochet, who is his usual self and finding something with the Gates behind him. Having him take the TNT Title from Rhodes wouldn’t be the worst idea either.

We look at Hangman Page beating Jon Moxley at All In and the fallout on Dynamite.

We go to commentary…where the Death Riders jump Colt Cabana and bust him open. Cabana gets hung with a chain and the villains leave through the crowd.

Kris Statlander is ready to face Willow Nightingale because she is a wrestler. Wheeler Yuta comes in and tells her that champions bounce back. Statlander is not pleased.

Megan Bayne vs. Tay Melo

Everyone is banned from ringside. Bayne fires shoulders in the ribs to start and then drops her with a clothesline. Melo pulls her into a Fujiwara armbar and then a triangle choke, which is broken up with the usual spinebuster. Back up and Bayne sends her outside as we take a break.

We come back with Melo firing off some running forearms and a German suplex drops Bayne. The running knee is blocked so Melo switches to a guillotine choke, which is reversed into a Falcon Arrow for two. Melo is back with a running knee into a Canadian Destroyer for two of her own. Bayne isn’t having this and hits a running clothesline, followed by a running Liger Bomb for the pin at 9:55.

Rating: B-. This is more like it from Bayne, who survived a fired up comeback from Melo before putting her away. Bayne is the monster of the division at this point and it should be interesting to see where she goes from here. Odds are she has to beat up Anna Jay as well, but then it might be time to have her go after the winner of Athena vs. Toni Storm. Just give her something involving gold, as it would be an appropriate part of her look.

Sky Flight is still looking for a fight when Don Callis comes in. Christopher Daniels says they’re not looking for management, but rather competition. Anytime.

Alex Windsor took Athena to her limits so now she’s All Elite.

Alex Windsor vs. Taya Valkyrie

Valkyrie has Johnny TV and the MxM Collection with her. Valkyrie knocks her down and hits a running corner clothesline to start fast. Back up and Windsor takes her down by the arm for a basement dropkick before knocking Valkyrie into the corner. They trade quickly escaped leglocks before Windsor’s discus lariat gets two. A Sharpshooter makes Valkyrie tap at 3:12.

Rating: C+. Windsor was fine enough here, but not exactly anything that stood out. I’ll take that over nothing though, as occasionally you need to bring in some fresh faces. Beating Valkyrie still means enough so it’s a good first win, as Windsor is already feeling a bit better presented than Thekla.

Post match Athena pops up in a balcony and says Windsor didn’t take anyone to her limit so get out of there. Athena says it’s time for her to take over and mocks Toni Storm’s voice and posing. Cue Storm to challenge Athena to come fight right now, but Athena says Storm gets to face Billie Starkz on Dynamite. Works for Storm, who storms the balcony, sending Athena running away. Athena comes off like a star, which makes waiting this long to bring her up all the more frustrating.

Billy Gunn comes in to see Anthony Bowens, who thinks they’re on different pages. Gunn says Bowens is obsessed with Max Caster, but he has a slump buster next week. Bowens is in.

Big Bill/Bryan Keith vs. Cru vs. Gates Of Agony vs. Gunns

For $200,000 and Juice Robinson is here with the Gunns. Austin jabs away at Rush to start but Andretti comes in for a double team to bring him down. Kaun comes in but walks into a dropkick, allowing Keith to come in. The Gunns double team Keith down, meaning it’s off to Bill (the fans approve). Everything breaks down and they brawl to the floor as we take a break.

We come back with Colton fighting out of a wristlock but Rush takes out most of the potential taggees. Bill gets to come in though and house is cleaned, including a running boot to knock Kaun off the apron. Some big boots on the floor drop various people until Liona tackles Bill over the announcers’ table. Back in and Austin takes over but cue Ricochet to pull him to the floor. Open The Gates finishes Andretti at 9:48 to give the Gates the money.

Rating: B-. You know pretty much exactly what you’re going to get with this kind of a match, but I’m not overly interested in the money deal for the winners. AEW has been using that more and more often lately and that feels like quite the waste when they have a bunch of titles hanging around. Heck the Hurt Syndicate has been begging for competition, but instead of going after a title shot, these teams are fighting for money that won’t likely play any kind of an important role. I don’t get this and hopefully this deal fades away a good bit.

Video on the end of the Patriarchy, with Cope wanting Christian Cage to turn it around.

Here is Max Caster for the usual.

Max Caster vs. Kyle O’Reilly

Roderick Strong is here with O’Reilly, who kicks Caster outside. Caster grabs the mic and wants a chase, only for Strong to offer a trip. O’Reilly kicks away on the floor but Caster goes for the eyes back inside. Caster tries a sunset flip and gets cross armbreakered for the tap at 2:18.

Juice Robinson calls out Ricochet for costing the Gunns but Big Bill comes in for a brawl.

Rush vs. Katsuyori Shibata

They glare at each other to start and go straight to the slugout, with Shibata chopping him into the corner. Rush’s big forearm sends Shibata out to the floor and Rush rams him into various hard objects. Back up and Rush stops to yell at the crowd, allowing Shibata to hit a knee to the floor.

We take a break and come back with Shibata hammering away, followed by a front facelock DDT for two. They fight over rolling suplexes until Shibata gets two off three in a row. An exchange of German suplexes doesn’t go to either of them and Shibata misses the PK. Rush knocks him into the corner and hits the Bull’s Horns for the pin at 10:18.

Rating: C+. Well, Rush and LFI as the next challengers for the Trios Titles isn’t the worst idea, though I’m not sure when Samoa Joe is going to be back to defend the things anyway. As tends to be the case, the Trios Titles are often in need of challengers and Rush/LFI might be next. It nothing else, it’s weird to see Shibata job clean like this, but it could be leading elsewhere.

Post match the beatdown is on but Powerhouse Hobbs makes the save.

Don Callis Family vs. Jet Speed/Mascara Dorada/Bandido

Bandido and Hechicero waste no time in slugging away at each other to start, with Hechicero managing to knock him down. They trade places so Bandido hits a basement superkick. Back up and Bandido hits a kicks him down again, meaning it’s off to Dorada vs. Archer. The villains take over on Dorada, leaving some dropkicks and a superkick to put the villains down. Stereo dives connect but Alexander suplexes Bailey down back inside.

We take a break and come back with Knight dropkicking his way out of trouble. It’s back to Bandido to clean house but Hechicero is right there with some running knees in the corner. Hechicero manages a double down though and Archer comes in to to break various people. Everything breaks down and Bandido German suplexes Alexander but Archer runs him over. Knight dropkicks Archer to the floor and Romero hits a running Sliced Bread for two. Jet Speed hit stereo dives, leaving Bandido to 21 Plex Romero. Dorada’s shooting star press finishes at 12:38.

Rating: B. Yep, that was exactly what I was expecting and that’s not a bad thing. AEW knows how to do this match in their sleep and even had Romero take the fall, which is the main reason you have him in a match like this. It’s another fun one, as AEW has figured out the formula for something like this and it works.

Bandido and Hechicero yell at each other to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. This was a very Collision-esque Collision, as they focused on a lot of lower level stuff, had some bigger names make a few cameos, and included some good enough action. Collision tends to be a show that I never look forward to but always winds up being entertaining. I could go for making it feel more important, though what we get is working well enough.

Results
Ricochet b. AR Fox – Spirit Gun
Megan Bayne b. Tay Melo – Running Liger Bomb
Alex Windsor b. Taya Valkyrie – Sharpshooter
Gates Of Agony b. Big Billy/Bryan Keith, Gunns and Cru – Open The Gates to Andretti
Kyle O’Reilly b. Max Caster – Cross armbreaker
Rush b. Katsuyori Shibata – Bull’s Horns
Jet Speed/Bandido/Mascara Dorada b. Don Callis Family – Shooting star press to Romero

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

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Supercard Of Honor 2025
Date: July 11, 2025
Location: Esports Stadium Arlington, Arlington, Texas
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

It’s time for the first major show of the year and that means we have a few big matches already set. In this case, we have Bandido defending the World Title against Konosuke Takeshita in what should be a heck of a showdown. Other than that, there are some matches being added today so some of this will be a surprise. Let’s get to it.

We run down the card.

Zero Hour: Blake Christian vs. Jay Lethal

Lee Johnson is here with Christian. Lethal goes after him to start but Christian flips to his feet for a strut. After some applauding, Lethal flips away as well and gets in a strut of his own. Lethal can’t get a Figure Four so Johnson offers a distraction, earning himself a suicide dive. Christian hits a suicide dive of his own before starting to work on the arm. Back in and Christian’s strutting Old School is broken up and the Lethal Combination brings him down.

Lethal goes for the leg and grabs a Figure Four, sending Christian straight to the ropes. The Lethal Injection is blocked and Christian is back with a running Spanish Fly. A Swanton misses and banged up the knee again, allowing Lethal to kick the leg out. Something like a reverse powerbomb plants Christian but Johnson offers another distraction. Christian’s bad leg is fine enough to run the ropes for something like a superplex into the Vanilla Choke for the tap at 8:10.

Rating: C. I guess we really are going with Christian as a thing, which isn’t exactly the most thrilling way to go. At the end of the day, Christian is one of a bunch of guys in the midcard on both rosters and that isn’t going to give me much of a reason to believe he’ll pull it off. At least they’re trying and he’s different enough though so it’s worth a try, in theory.

We recap the Dark Order vs. the Frat House, who have been feuding for a few weeks now, with the Order making them pay a big bar tap. It’s a match with an actual story and that’s better than nothing.

Zero Hour: Dark Order vs. Frat House

The Order beats up the pledges on the way to the ring and then jump the Frat House to start fast. The Frat House is knocked outside and Reynolds is backdropped onto the pile. Back in and Garrison starts to take over on Reynolds, followed by some running boots in the corner for two. Stomping in the corner and a slam get two more but Reynolds backflips out of a double belly to back suplex.

A DDT allows the tag off to Uno so house can be cleaned as everything breaks down. Uno gets spinebustered into a 450 for two but he neckbreakers his way out of trouble. The tag brings in Silver for the triple flipping slam, only for Jacked Jameson to break up the pin. Jameson is ejected but Preston Vance gets in a shot with the paddle. Cue Negative One for a distraction though, allowing the Order to fight up. Uno’s discus lariat finishes Vance off at 10:29.

Rating: C+. This is the definition of a goofy, give the fans something fun match and that’s not a bad thing on a Kickoff show. Let the annoying team lose a match, with the glorified mascot costing them the fall. It’s a fine way to go and nothing was overly bad, so call this a perfectly acceptable offering.

Taya Valkyrie, Johnny TV and the MxM Collection are here, with TV wanting the Collection to receive a welcome back from Japan. They even got Ribera jackets! They also have their own fragrance called SEED (“Let it grow inside you!”). And that’s that.

Zero Hour: Lady Frost vs. Diamante

Diamante shakes her hand to start and then hits a forearm to the face to start fast. They forearm it out and Frost flips over her a few times, only to have a cartwheel cut off. The shoulders in the corner have Frost in more trouble and Diamante stomps her down. An elbow drop gives Diamante two but Frost fights back up. A twisting high crossbody gives Frost two and she flips into a slam to plant Diamante again. Diamante is able to catch her going up though and a hanging Cross Rhodes out of the corner finishes Frost at 5:57.

Rating: C. This was another match that didn’t really need to be on the show and was added with no story. That doesn’t make for the best offering but it’s the kind of thing that Ring Of Honor tends to do. Diamante has had flashes of being impressive, but it isn’t going to matter if there is no followup. That is where Ring Of Honor tends to falter, as there is every chance that Diamante won’t be featured anytime soon.

Zero Hour: Von Erichs vs. Premiere Athletes

Nese punches away at Marshall to start, earning himself a slam and elbow drop. Ross comes in to grind away with a headlock on Daivari but Nese sneaks in for a cheap shot from behind. A suplex gets Ross out of trouble but Mark Sterling offers a distraction, meaning the referee doesn’t see the tag. Ross’ rollup gets a VERY delayed two as the referee is trying to gets Marshall back on the apron.

Marshall gets knocked off the apron again to break up another tag attempt but the Magic Carpet Splash misses. Back up and the tag goes through a few seconds later, allowing Marshall to come in and clean house. Nese’s super hurricanrana brings Marshall down so Daivari gets an actual carpet out. The Magic Carpet Splash (with CARPET) gets two, leaving Nese to walk into a pop up spinebuster for two. Ross Claws Sterling and the moonsault gives Marshall the pin on Nese at 8:40.

Rating: C. If there is some appeal to the Von Erichs, I’m not seeing it. They’re as generic of a tag team as you could get, with their only appeal seemingly being their famous relatives. They’re a perfectly mediocre team, so of course they’re approaching a year as two thirds of the Six Man Tag Team Champions. Just find someone more interesting. That shouldn’t be too difficult.

And now, the show proper.

The opening video looks at how this is the wild west, with a focus on the bigger matches.

Hechicero vs. Michael Oku

Rocky Romero and Amira are here too. They shove each other in the face to start until Oku takes him down for a headlock. That’s reversed into Hechicero’s headlock takeover but they wrestle up to another standoff. Oku hits a dropkick but Hechicero pulls him into a choke to slow Oku down again. Hechicero starts cranking on the arm, including a spinning hammerlock slam for two.

Back up and Oku slugs away, setting up a running clothesline and DDT for two. They both miss running dropkicks in the ropes though and they crash down at the same time. Hechicero is sent to the apron but he comes up choking anyway. Oku knocks him out to the floor though, followed by a frog splash high crossbody for two back inside. The half crab sends Hechicero over to the ropes and he pulls Oku into a nasty looking leglock. With that broken up, Hechicero grabs a running headscissor driver for the pin at 11:29.

Rating: B. This was the technical off that is going to be at least somewhat entertaining just about every time. Hechicero can wrestle that style as well as anyone in the world and Oku was more than hanging with him. Good opener here, and it would have been even get more than “these two are both technical wrestlers.

Atlantic Jr. vs. AR Fox vs. Adam Priest vs. Lee Johnson

The winner gets $50,000. Priest is sent outside to start fast, allowing For to give him a big dive. That leaves Fox to send Atlantis to the apron, followed by the big dive to the floor. Fox’s step up moonsault takes Priest out again but Priest cuts off another flip back inside. Johnson is back in with a basement lariat to Atlantis, who makes Johnson DDT Priest.

Back up and Priest pulls Atlantis to the floor to keep up the beating, only for Fox to be back up with a running dive. Priest DDTs Atlantis but Fox grabs a swinging neckbreaker to put Priest down. Everyone gets a breather so a bunch of them go up top. Fox gets dropped onto the turnbuckle, leaving Johnson to hit a frog splash. Priest makes the save but Fox catches him with a slingshot Canadian Destroyer for the pin at 9:15.

Rating: B-. Take four fast paced wrestlers and let them run around as fast as they can until someone gets a pin. The match isn’t likely to have any kind of long term impact but it’s a fun way to get the crowd into things. Fox specializes in this kind of match and that was the case again here, with Priest looking good in defeat.

We recap Blue Panther challenging Lee Moriarty for the Pure Wrestling Title. Panther beat him in a non-title match in Mexico so it’s time for the more important rematch.

Pure Wrestling Title: Lee Moriarty vs. Blue Panther

Panther is challenging under Pure Rules and takes Moriarty to the mat by the leg to start. They trade some arm cranking until Moriarty gets a leglock. That’s reversed into a Fujiwara armbar (how Panther beat him in Mexico), sending Moriarty to the ropes for his first break. Moriarty starts back on the arm until Panther lifts him up into an inverted Gory Stretch. That’s escaped as well and Moriarty grabs an abdominal stretch, which doesn’t last long.

Instead Moriarty pulls him into a reverse cross armbreaker, sending Panther over for his first break. Panther is right back up with a Figure Four, meaning Moriarty uses his second break. A running clothesline gives Panther two but Moriarty is back up with a springboard forearm for the same. Moriarty cranks on the arm and Panther uses his second break as well.

A pair of suicide dives drive Panther into the barricade but Moriarty isn’t interested in trying for a third. Instead he grabs the Border City Stretch, which is enough for the third rope break. Moriarty is rather pleased but Panther knocks him to the floor for a flip dive off the apron. Back in and Moriarty catches him on top for a superplex. Moriarty grabs an ankle lock and then an STF in the ropes to make Panther tap at 13:18.

Rating: B. The big deal here is that Moriarty is now the longest reigning Pure Wrestling Champion of all time, though going so long between title defenses probably made that easier. The match was rather good, especially when you consider that Panther is in his mid 60s, though the title still doesn’t feel overly important. Moriarty needs some more competition for the title, but it isn’t like there is a story to the title matches most of the time.

We recap the Tag Team Title match, with the Infantry challenging the Sons Of Texas. The Infantry earned the shot then insulted the champions so here we are.

Tag Team Titles: Infantry vs. Sons Of Texas

The Sons are defending and Trish Adora is here with the Infantry. Hold on though as we get a vignette of Sammy Guevara flying, but Dustin Rhodes wants him to be serious. Then Guevara gets him to dress like the Green Lantern and Rhodes looks like he wants to die. It’s a brawl at the bell with Rhodes and Bravo heading to the floor. All four get back inside but Adora breaks up a double Shattered Dreams.

Everything breaks down again and the champs hit running dives to the floor, setting up the double pose back inside. Back in and Guevara dropkicks Dean, allowing for some bowing. Bravo trips Guevara to the floor though as one fan in the front row insists on standing up. Guevara is put in a fireman’s carry for a face first ram into the post and it’s time to start taking turns on him in the corner.

The chinlock goes on to keep Guevara down but he’s right back up with some chops in the corner. A slingshot cutter gives Bravo two and Rhodes is knocked off the apron to avoid a quick tag. As tends to be the case, the tag goes through shortly thereafter and Rhodes gets to come in and clean house. Cross Rhodes gets two on Dean as Guevara and Bravo fight out to the floor.

Shattered Dreams hits Dean but Shane Taylor pops up for a belt shot to Rhodes. A very delayed cover gets two and the bloody Rhodes is back up for a Canadian Destroyer. Guevara hits a huge springboard moonsault to the floor to take Taylor out, followed by the Final Reckoning to Bravo. Guevara adds the Swanton to retain the titles at 15:03.

Rating: B-. As usual, the match was fine but it’s not like there is any reason to get interested in the Sons Of Texas. They’re coming up on a year as champions and while I’m sure that’s supposed to be interesting, it continues to be Rhodes getting a rather insane push all things considered. Just give us more of a division and more interesting champions. That shouldn’t be asking too much.

Post match the Infantry jumps the champs, with Anthony Ogogo coming in to…not hit Rhodes, as the Von Erichs run in for the save. Rhodes issues the challenge for an eight man tag tomorrow at All In. Note that the Six Man Champions, who have been champions since last July with three title defenses and have not defended their belts since April, will be in action together, but not in a title match.

We recap Nick Wayne vs. Titan for the TV Title. Titan went to a draw in their Proving Ground match so it’s time for the title to be on the line.

TV Title: Titan vs. Nick Wayne

Nick, with Mother Wayne, is defending. Titan jumps him with a running dropkick in the corner but Wayne is right back with a dragon screw legwhip over the ropes to slow him down. They go to the floor for another dragon screw legwhip and Titan is in early trouble. A leglock sends Titan over to the ropes but he’s able to keep his mask on in the corner. The figure four sends Titan to the ropes again as the fans sound like they’re chanting HAPPY BIRTHDAY (apparently Wayne’s birthday was yesterday, so the fans are nice but a bit tardy).

Titan is able to get back up with a running dropkick to send Wayne outside, where a dive takes him down again. They get back to the apron and chop it out, with Titan knocking him down and hitting a top rope double stomp. The knee is too banged up though and they need a breather on the ramp. Back in and the Figure Four has Titan in trouble again, only for him to make the ropes again. Titan gets up and rapid fire strikes away to leave them both down.

A springboard tornado DDT plants Wayne again and he bails to the floor. The bad knee is enough for Titan to hit a running flip dive, followed by a top rope double stomp back inside. Mother Wayne puts the foot on the rope but gets caught, which is enough for the ejection. Titan grabs something like a Muta Lock, sending Wayne over to the ropes for a change. Wayne catches him on top but gets shoved off. Cue Kip Sabian to crotch Titan on top, setting up Wayne’s World for two. The brainbuster retains the title at 16:12.

Rating: B. This was good enough, with Wayne and Titan having good chemistry together. What matters here is that they set the match up and then delivered it well enough. Wayne already has enough going on and he really doesn’t need to be the champion, but at least his matches are going well. Just find a bit more developed story for him.

Post match Christian Cage comes out to hug Wayne and the Patriarchy poses together.

Red Velvet is frustrated about her injury, but she’ll be back to show that she is the real champion when she beats the interim champion. Note that she hasn’t defended the title since April, which was her first defense since January. But we absolutely need an interim champion.

Interim Women’s TV Title: Mina Shirakawa vs. Yuka Sakazaki vs. Persephone vs. Miyu Yamashita

For the vacant title and Red Velvet is at ringside. Persephone bails to the floor to start, leaving the other three to trade headlocks. Back in and Persephone shoulders Sakazaki but has to kick away from Shirakawa’s leglock attempt. Shirakawa’s dancing is broken up as well, with Yamashita taking her place. Yamashita gets kicked out to the floor though and Shirakawa hits a dive, only for Persephone to dive onto both of them.

Sakazaki is back up with a dive of her own, followed by a missile dropkick to Persephone back inside. The Upside Down has Yamashita in trouble before she trades kicks to the head with Sakazaki. Shirakawa is back in with some kicks of her own, followed by a quick dance. Persephone breaks that up and gives Shirakawa a fall away slam for two. A top rope Sling Blade gives Shirakawa two more but Persephone floats over to hammer on Shirakawa.

Yamashita breaks that up with a kick to the face so Persephone grabs her in a bridging backslide for two more. Yamashita slips out of a Razor’s Edge and grabs a quickly broken choke, followed by some hard kicks to the head. An AA gets two with Shirakawa making the save, only to be knocked outside again. Back in and the figure four has Persephone in more trouble, so it’s Sakazaki breaking it up with the Magical Girl Splash. Sakazaki and Persephone knock each other to the floor, leaving Shirakawa to figure four Yamashita for the tap and the title at 13:45.

Rating: B-. The problem here is the match was thrown together earlier in the day, so there is only so much you can get. At the end of the day, it’s four women with no story thrown together for the sake of setting up basically the #1 contender to Red Velvet at some point in the future. It’s nice to see Shirakawa win a title, though I’m not sure if it could feel more minor.

Post match Red Velvet comes in for the staredown.

Syuri is coming. That’s a big one.

We recap Athena defending the Women’s Title against Thunder Rosa. Athena has been champion for the better part of ever and Rosa wants the title. End of build.

Women’s Title: Athena vs. Thunder Rosa

Athena, with Billie Starkz, is defending. They fight over a lockup to start and get nowhere so it’s time to fight over wrist control instead. Rosa grabs the arm and runs the corner to snap it over the top. A springboard dropkick lets Rosa crank on the arm again, which is reverses with a ram into the post. They go outside where Athena Rock Bottoms her onto the barricade to start in on the back.

A double arm crank with a knee between the shoulders has Rosa in more trouble but Athena can’t believe it when Rosa kicks out. Athena ties her up in the ropes and cranks on the neck, followed by a backsplash for a quick two. Back up and they kick it out until Rosa sends her hard into the corner. Rosa is up with a big boot and the running elbow in the corner, followed by a running basement dropkick.

A northern lights suplex gives Rosa two and they’re both down for a bit. Athena gets in a shot of her own but Rosa hurricanranas her out to the floor. That means a dive to take Athena out again and a top rope double stomp gets two back inside. Athena is ready to walk out so Billie Starkz can get in a cheap shot.

This goes rather terribly, but the distraction lets Athena powerbomb Rosa off the ramp through a table. We pause to make sure that Rosa can continue, followed by Athena hitting a backbreaker for two. Rosa catches her on top and gets a triangle choke in the corner, only for Athena to come back with a superbomb. A bow and arrow finally makes Rosa tap at 18:52.

Rating: B. That belt is going to be in Athena’s coffin at this point. There is pretty much no one left to give her a real run for her money for the title, hence bringing in people from AEW. It’s a good match, but Athena has gone so far as the champion that there might be too much pressure on whomever beats her for the title. That being said, Rosa was a good choice for the challenger, though it’s still hard to imagine Athena actually losing the thing.

All In rundown.

We recap Bandido vs. Konosuke Takeshita. Bandido is World Champion, Takeshita wanted a title shot, the show needed a main event.

Ring Of Honor World Title: Bandido vs. Konosuke Takeshita

Bandido is defending and comes out wearing an Aztec headdress, which is very clearly barely hanging on. Bandido’s wristlock doesn’t get him anywhere but the fans are rather pleased either way. They fight over wrist control and an exchange of legsweeps go to a standoff. An exchange of teased dives gives us a double gun pose before Bandido knocks him down. Bandido anklescissors him down, with even Callis having to appreciate it. Takeshita gets rolled down for a double stomp to the ribs but Bandido misses a charge into the post.

Bandido gets posted on the floor as well and Takeshita starts in on the arm. The Fujiwara armbar goes on, sending Bandido straight to the ropes. Back up and Bandido flips over him, setting up a quick dragon screw legwhip. A spinning sunset flip gives Bandido two more but Takeshita hits a Helluva Kick into a Blue Thunder Bomb for the Sami Zayn inspired inspired two. Bandido kicks him in the face but the 21 Plex is blocked, allowing Takeshita to go after the mask.

Callis comes to ringside for a distraction, meaning Bandido’s dive can hit a raised chair. The mask is partially torn and Bandido is bleeding, so Takeshita gives him a brainbuster onto the stage. Even commentary isn’t sure why Takeshita leaves him on the stage, as a countout means no title change. Bandido beats the count so Takeshita bites the cut before slapping on a chinlock. That’s only good for two arm drops though and Bandido muscles him over for a suplex.

A poisonrana sends Takeshita to the floor, meaning Bandido is right there with the running flip dive. Back in and a frog splash gives Bandido two more and they seem to mistime something, though Bandido makes a nifty save with a rollup for two. Angel’s Wings gets two and Bandido grabs Cattle Mutilation. Takeshita gets out and it’s an exchange of clotheslines for a double knockdown.

Back up and Bandido wins a slugout but the 21 Plex is blocked again. Instead it’s the X Knee into the 21 Plex for two and they’re both down for a needed breather. The super fall away slam gives Bandido two more but a shooting star press hits raised knees. Back up and Bandido hits a running superkick before taking the knee pad down. Another X Knee connects but Takeshita is back up with a kneeling tombstone. The running knee gives Takeshita two but Raging Fire is countered into a small package to retain Bandido’s title at 29:23.

Rating: A-. That lived up to the expectations, as this was the “here’s a match that is going to be great no matter what” and then they went out and nailed the whole thing. It was an awesome main event and the time didn’t feel long. Bandido gets a heck of a win under his belt and that is exactly what they were going for here. Great match and one of the best in Ring Of Honor in a long time.

Post match Hechicero comes out and seems to be the next challenger.

Overall Rating: A-. As usual, the Ring Of Honor specials are really good because they know how to do the in-ring stuff. This was built around the idea of focusing on the in-ring stuff and if you ignore the lack of build to some of these matches on the weekly show, it’s awesome stuff. The in-ring side has never been a weak spot for something from Tony Khan and that was the case again here. Awesome show and worth a look, though you can easily skip the Zero Hour as there is nothing worth the extra time on there.

Results
Blake Christian b. Jay Lethal – Vanilla Choke
Dark Order b. Frat House – Discus lariat to Vance
Diamante b. Lady Frost – Hanging Cross Rhodes
Von Erichs b. Premiere Athletes – Moonsault to Nese
Hechicero b. Michael Oku – Headscissor driver
AR Fox b. Adam Priest, Atlantis Jr. and Lee Johnson – Slingshot Canadian Destroyer to Priest
Lee Moriarty b. Blue Panther – STF in the ropes
Sons Of Texas b. Infantry – Swanton to Bravo
Nick Wayne b. Titan – Brainbuster
Mina Shirakawa b. Yuka Sakazaki, Persephone and Miyu Yamashita – Figure four to Yamashita
Athena b. Thunder Rosa – Bow and arrow
Bandido b. Konosuke Takeshita – Small package

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

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