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

Just in case you hadn’t had enough Ring Of Honor lately, we have a bonus show before Friday’s regular show! Wait wait, don’t tell me. The Premiere Athletes will be in action here! Plus something about teams trying to get in position for a shot at the Tag Team Titles. That’s the kind of cutting edge stuff that has put Ring Of Honor in the place it is in today. Let’s get to it.

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

We look at Maya World winning the TBS Title at Redemption.

Maya World vs. Janai Kai

Non-title. There are no entrances for obvious reasons but commentary says that this was signed before World won the title. So they’re really still trying to avoid saying that it’s taped in advance? The show for the most hardcore fans of the promotion designed for the smart fans? Anyway, Kai grabs a waistlock to start but gets sunset flipped for two.

World sweeps the leg out and hits a slingshot hilo, earning herself some leg trips. Back up and the tabletop suplex gives World two (so Kai is tougher than Hikaru Shida) but Kai catches her going up top. That earns her a powerbomb out of the corner and a Shining Wizard finishes Kai at 6:00.

Rating: C. This wasn’t a squash but it was a basic, easy enough win for World. She’s certainly on the rise in both promotions and that’s great to see, as she has come a long way in pretty much every area. Nice opener here, with the star who got a big win on Sunday getting a showcase here.

We look at Mike Bailey winning the ladder match to become #1 contender to the International Title.

Alan Angels vs. Nick Wayne

Angels takes him down by the arm to start but Wayne is back up with a shove and some spitting. That earns Wayne a running chop in the corner so he knocks Angels right back down. Back up and Angels superkicks him out of the air, only to have him come back with an Alabama Slam. They trade rollups for two each until Wayne’s handspring elbow is countered into a dragon suplex. Angels’ springboard moonsault gets superkicked out of the air, followed by a kick to the head to pin Angels at 8:03.

Rating: B-. This was a back and forth match with the two of them getting to trade comebacks until Wayne knocked him silly. At the same time, this was a match that got some time despite neither of them having much of anything going on. It’s a good example of a match that feels like it’s there to have people in the ring without any particular reason.

Action Andretti/The Opps vs. Landon Hale/Robert Allen/Steve Allen

There’s your weird team of the week. Hook knocks Hale down to start and then pounds away in the corner, allowing Andretti to come in with a top rope clothesline. Steve comes in and gets beaten up by Bowens, including a pop up Fameasser. Andretti hits an Asai moonsault and Bowens armbars Robert for the tap at 2:50.

Isla Dawn vs. Erica Leigh

Dawn has won her one match here and Riccaboni says she is hoping to turn it into a winning streak. Why? One win can get you a title shot around here. Dawn kicks away at the leg to start and stomps Leigh down in the corner. Back up and Leigh hits some running clotheslines in the corner but Dawn is back with a suplex. The Meteora gets two and Dawn grabs a dragon sleeper in the ropes. Leigh’s comeback is countered with a Backstabber into the dragon sleeper to make Leigh tap at 3:43.

Rating: C. This was much more in the squash territory and it was nice to see Dawn getting in there and destroying someone. Dawn has something to her and I could go for having her become one of the regulars in the division. If Maya World is on her way to the main roster full time, there is a spot open for someone and Dawn is a good option.

Post match Dawn grabs the sleeper again and Leigh is left laying.

Adam Priest vs. Kiran Grey

Grey isn’t having anything involving running shoulders so Priest goes with the right hands in the corner. Grey fights back and strikes away but gets knocked down with an uppercut. A legsweep takes Priest down and Grey chokes in the corner. Priest is right back with a running neckbreaker before slamming Grey’s knee onto the mat. Another takedown by the leg sets up a half crab to make Grey tap at 6:02.

Rating: C+. Grey is an interesting situation as he has the creepy/brooding persona but he never wins and tapped out in about six minutes. That’s not exactly the best way to go for him and it didn’t do him much good here. Priest continues to be fine in this spot, though I’m not sure I can imagine him going much higher than this level.

Isla Dawn says she’s going to keep winning until she wins gold so she wants a shot at Red Velvet.

Griff Garrison vs. Aaron Solo

Garrison forearms away to start but Solo is up with a running hurricanrana. With Garrison trying to walk off, Solo runs up to cut that off but Garrison hot shots him back inside. Some right hands have Solo in more trouble until he fights up with some running forearms. A torture rack powerbomb gives Garrison two, as does Solo’s top rope double stomp. Back up and Garrison hits a running spinning….we’ll say headbutt for the pin at 5:45.

Rating: C+. Garrison is another person who has nothing going on at the moment and that has been the case for him for a long time now. At least he won a match here so maybe they’ve got something up for him. Solo is still the usual jobber to the stars and that’s about it, but there are far worse options for that spot.

Video on Lee Moriarty vs. Angelico.

Shane Taylor Promotions vs. Spanish Announce Project

Angelico and Moriarty trade wrist control to start so it’s off to Serpentico. The Promotions send him to the apron though and Taylor gets in the big legdrop. Taylor gets in his usual big shots on the floor but Serpentico kicks him in the head. Angelico comes back in to clean house and hands it right back to Serpentico for two off a Swanton. Moriarty is back up with the butterfly Side Effect to pin Serpentico at 6:39.

Rating: C+. Well, at least it helped boost things up a bit for Angelico vs. Moriarty. That’s better than saying “Angelico almost beat him about two years ago” so I’ll take something over having absolutely nothing to set up the match. It’s still only so interesting, but after years of “and then this person gets a title shot”, it’s an improvement.

Red Velvet is ready for Isla Dawn.

Premiere Athletes/Swirl vs. Outrunners/Dalton Castle/Orange Cassidy

I WAS KIDDING ABOUT THE ATHLETES! And of course they’re headlining the show! The villains jump Magnum to start, with Nese doing some pushups. Floyd comes in off a tag behind Nese’s back and the Outrunners take turns raining down right hands in the corner. Cassidy’s single right hand gets two but Magnum gets caught in the wrong corner for the triple teaming.

Moriarty hammers away but Magnum is right back up for the tag off to Castle. Everything breaks down and the Swirl takes over on Castle and Magnum, only for Castle to suplex them down at the same time. Cassidy’s double hurricanrana takes them out as well and it’s time for the parade of knockdowns. Floyd gets in his string of slams but Mark Sterling breaks up the Orange Punch. Everyone but the Athletes and Cassidy brawl to the back, with Daivari forearming Nese down by mistake. The Orange Punch finishes Nese off at 10:07.

Rating: B-. Cassidy was just there to add in some star power and to avoid the Six Man Champions from having to face another three man team. In theory this was designed to get Castle and the Outrunners their win back after their completely necessary loss on Collision. That only works so well when none of them were around in the end, but this was just your usual eight man tag from ROH anyway.

Cassidy is left alone to end the show. As in the Ring Of Honor show.

Overall Rating: C+. I’m really not sure why this needed to be its own special, but at least it did set some things up, including Moriarty vs. Angelico and Dawn vs. Velvet. At the same time, there was a lot of stuff here that felt like content for the sake of content. As usual, it feels like ROH Dark, which is a fine enough idea, but it’s not something that really works when it’s also used to build things up. But if we try to figure out how things are working around here, we’ll be here far too long. Not a bad show, and it did push some stories forward, which is always appreciated.

Results
Maya World b. Janai Kai – Shining Wizard
Nick Wayne b. Alan Angels – Kick to the head
Action Andretti/The Opps b. Landon Hale/Robert Allen/Steve Allen – Armbar to Robert
Isla Dawn b. Erica Leigh – Dragon sleeper
Adam Priest b. Kiran Grey – Half crab
Griff Garrison b. Aaron Solo – Running spinning headbutt
Shane Taylor Promotions b. Spanish Announce Project – Butterfly Side Effect to Serpentico

 

 

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: July 3, 2026
Location: WJCT Studios, Jacksonville, Florida
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

It’s a rare Friday night show due to the holiday throwing everything off. I’m not sure what we’re going to be seeing here, but there is a Ring Of Honor World Title match set for an upcoming Collision, because of course. Other than that, we do have a title match from CMLL, because that’s where the Tag Team Titles belong these days. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Hook vs. Nick Comoroto

Comoroto powers him into the corner to start so Hook trips the leg for a takedown. A missed charge leaves Comoroto having to skin the cat so Hook grabs a front facelock. Hook gives him a t-bone suplex and an ax handle gets two but Redrum is blocked. Comoroto gets in a powerslam but misses a backsplash, allowing Redrum to make him tap at 4:27.

Rating: C. He’s still Hook and he’s still pretty much the same thing he’s been for a long time now. The suplexes and chokes are nice and Hook has something of a presence to him. The problem is the Opps stuff, which just feels sad without Samoa Joe. It’s almost like people pretending to be a stable without having anything that makes it work. There is still a reason to try with Hook, but dang he needs a new direction.

We recap Beef being beaten down by the Premier Athletes, which might have been an initiation.

Keagan Garland/LJ Cleary/Aaron Dallas vs. Premier Athletes/Beef

Beef and Garland start things off with Garland flipping around to reverse a wristlock into one of his own. Garland backs him into the ropes so Dallas can get in a shot of his own, with Cleary pounding away as well. Beef fights out of the corner and hands it off to Daivari to hammer away. Nese adds an uppercut and Beef’s top rope splash finishes at 3:03.

Rating: C. So I guess Beef is the new odd man out in the Premier Athletes, which might not be a big move but it is at least SOMETHING. If the Athletes just have to be around here every single week (and apparently they do), at least give them something other than “we insult the crowd and win a nothing six man tag”. It’s something and I’ll take that after all the months of them running on a treadmill.

We look at Mercedes Mone beating Maya World to win the Women’s Owen Hart Cup at Forbidden Door. Athena was really not impressed with World either.

Trish Adora/Robyn Renegade vs. Maya World/Hyan

Hyan and Adora start things off with Hyan elbowing her in the face. A gator roll is countered into a small package but World gets a blind tag to send Adora outside. The stereo suicide dives connect with Adora and Renegade before Hyan comes back in with a hurricanrana to Renegade. A Christyan XO distraction cuts Hyan off though and Adora cranks on both arms.

Hyan breaks out and makes the pretty easy comeback to bring in World for the house cleaning. Renegade reverses a Tombstone into a rollup for two as everything breaks down. A swinging suplex drops Hyan but World is back up to put Adora down. Something like Chasing The Dragon drops Hyan but World shoves Adora onto the pile for two. The running knee gives World the pin on Renegade at 9:28.

Rating: B-. This was a rather fun match that I wasn’t expecting. They were all working hard, with World and Hyan breaking quite the sweat to pull out the win. At the same time, Renegade and Adora worked well together for a random team and I liked this for a nice surprise here.

The Premier Athletes don’t think much of Beef’s contributions to their win. Beef challenges Dalton Castle and the Outrunners for the Six Man Tag Team Titles but Mark Sterling calls it the worst promo he’s ever heard. Daivari says the exact same words and gets praised, just in case you didn’t get the idea.

We look at Lio Rush getting involved in the cage match at Forbidden Door.

Rush touches the TV Title and a bunch of smoke comes up. Rush says it’s his.

Action Andretti vs. Alex Reynolds

Andretti won’t shake hands but he will hit Reynolds in the face to start fast. Reynolds flips out of a belly to back suplex and clotheslines Andretti to the floor. Back in and Reynolds hammers away again, only for Andretti to use to use the referee for a distraction to get in a cheap shot.

A corkscrew Vader Bomb gives Andretti two and the pumphandle Side Effect gets the same. Reynolds sends him outside and kicks him off the apron, with Andretti being whipped into the barricade a few times. Back up and some kicks stagger Reynolds and a Falcon Arrow gets two. A tiger driver gives Reynolds two more, only for Andretti to Stunner him over the top rope. The springboard 450 finishes for Andretti at 8:45.

Rating: B-. This was another acceptable match but Andretti is another person on a long list of people who can do athletic moves and have almost nothing that makes them stand out. I’m not overly interested in seeing his feud with Lio Rush because Cru never mattered in any significant way but tag teams must feud because of reasons. This was completely ok, but the people involved aren’t so interesting.

Post match Andretti kicks him down again and grabs a chair but Jon Silver runs in for the save. Andretti leaves but Lio Rush pops up with an umbrella to scare him on the way out.

Mance Warner doesn’t care what rules he’s wrestling under because he doesn’t know rules. He’s here to punch people in the face and hit the pay window. This sounded like the old Warner from his original MLW days and I like hearing that again.

Kiran Grey vs. Anthony Ogogo

Ogogo shoves away a handshake offer and runs him over with a shoulder to start. A running elbow puts Grey down again and Ogogo gets two off a powerslam. Grey gets in a forearm to the back and some running clotheslines but Ogogo hits a big clothesline of his own. The Right Angle sets up the big right hand to Grey and the referee stops it at 4:32.

Rating: C-. Well, Ogogo can in fact still do pretty much exactly what he’s done since he got here several years ago. He can punch and do a few other moves, which doesn’t exactly make me want to see him. As usual, with so many people on the roster, it feels like a bit of a waste of time to see someone who has been here so long and is basically in the same place. I get that he’s some kind of a project, but how interesting is it that he won a bronze medal fourteen years ago?

Caprice Coleman sits down with the Infantry, who talk about their military backgrounds. In the ring, they’re rather dangerous and bring in an American flag to explain how much they have studied every member of the ROH roster.

Cassie Lee vs. Zayda Steel

Steel knocks her down to start but gets sent into the corner for a rub of the head. A headscissors works a bit better for Steel and la majistral gets two. Some armdrags have Lee down again and they head outside, where Red Velvet has to chase Jessie McKay off. The distraction lets Lee ram her into the apron to take over, with the stomping in the corner keeping Steel in trouble. A hard whip into the corner puts Steel down again and a fisherman’s suplex gives Lee two. We pause for the pose though and that’s enough for Steel to hit the Real Deal for the pin at 6:11.

Rating: C+. I approve of Steel getting a win and having the IInspiration in singles match is at least a bit of a fresh way to use them. Steel still feels like someone who could go somewhere if she is given the chance and while this isn’t that yet, it’s better than another loss. She’s looking more comfortable in there and if that keeps growing, it’s a good thing.

Action Andretti wants the TV Title. He doesn’t like Jon Silver or Lio Rush and promises to beat the latter with Rush’s own umbrella.

We look at Jon Moxley beating Bandido at Forbidden Door. Next week, Bryan Keith gets a World Title shot. Why? Like Ring Of Honor knows.

Tag Team Titles: Sky Team vs. La Faccion Ingobernable

La Faccion (Sammy Guevara/The Beast Mortos) is defending and we’re in Arena Mexico for CMLL. Mistico’s entrance in this place does indeed feel special and that’s quite the sight to behold. Dorada (as in Mascara, Mistico’s partner) armdrags Guevara down to start and it’s Mistico springboarding in with a hurricanrana to Mortos. The stereo dives put the champs down but Mortos runs them over back inside.

Guevara takes over on the floor and yells at a camera before Mortos gives Dorada a pop up Samoan drop back inside. Guevara goes for Mistico’s mask and Mortos holds Mistico in the ropes for a top rope double stomp. Dorada is back in with a pop up hurricanrana and Mistico is back up to…not do anything to Guevara, who is pulled out to the floor. The champs run away from stereo suicide dives and we settle down to Guevara vs. Dorada with the latter grabbing a rather springboardy armdrag.

Mortos is sent outside as well, meaning the Faccion wants a time out. Mistico comes back in to clean house and get the rather spinning headscissors takeover to Mortos. Guevara grabs the GTH for two on Mistico so Dorada gives Guevara a super hurricanrana. Mortos’ super gorilla press drops Dorada so Mistico makes the save and everyone is down. A spear drops Mistico but he and Dorada are back up with big dives. Back in and Mistico la majistrals Guevara for two, earning himself a low blow. Dorada is back up with a springboard crucifix bomb before La Mistica makes Mortos tap the titles away at 19:13.

Rating: B. This lucha style takes some getting used to but you can tell that the four of them know what they’re doing. Mortos was good as the power guy to mix things up a bit, but Sky Team is the classic high flying team that the fans can get behind. While Sky Team is rather talented, the most important thing here is that ANYONE who can actually defend the titles on the regular ROH show won the belts. Having them sit in holding for so long was such an annoying situation and it’s not like La Faccion was some kind of special team. This is a great result to see and it was cool to see it in such a different environment.

Sky Team gets the big title presentation to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. The main event was the best part of the show, as not only was it a good match but it also solved a rather annoying problem. At the same time, the show was a bit shorter than it had been in most of the last few weeks and that takes away a lot of what feels like filler. I’ll also take what seems like an actual story over the TV Title after so many just random matches (like Bandido defending against Bryan Keith next week). This show did a better job of avoiding some of the regular problems and that’s a nice thing to see in any given week.

Results
Hook b. Nick Comoroto – Redrum
Premier Athletes/Beef b. Keagan Garland/LJ Cleary/Aaron Dallas – Top rope splash to Cleary
Maya World/Hyan b. Trish Adora/Robyn Renegade – Running knee to Renegade
Action Andretti b. Alex Reynolds – Springboard 450
Anthony Ogogo b. Kiran Grey via referee stoppage
Zayda Steel b. Cassie Lee – Real Deal
Sky Team b. La Faccion Ingobernable – La Mistico to Mortos

 

 

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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Maple Leaf Pro Multiverse
Date: April 17, 2026
Location: Pearl Theater At Palms Casino Resort, Las Vegas, Nevada
Commentators: Johnny Laquasto, So Cal Val

Maple Leaf Pro has gone from a promotion that doesn’t exist about a year ago to a pretty consistently good independent company. That is a heck of an impressive feat and it’s great to see them as part of the lineup around here. I’m assuming there are going to be a lot of guest stars here so let’s get to it.

The opening video focuses on how worlds come together and how the greats will rise, but some will fall.

Subculture (Attack Wrestling) vs. Guy Cool/Vaughn Vertigo (UWN)

The sound mix is WAY off to start, as the theme music is drowning out everything, from the ring announcer to the commentary. Vaughn and Webster start things off with Vaughn taking him to the mat by the arm. Back up and Webster takes him down for an inverted flipping backsplash. Cool (“confidently aloof”) comes in and brings Vaughn right back in for a failed double suplex attempt.

Vaughn is quickly taken down by Subculture, who start in on the arm but manages to take Webster into the wrong corner. A cheap shot to the knee takes Webster down and a pumphandle backbreaker…seems to be a bad idea as Webster fights back. It’s back to Andrews for the double Pele as everything breaks down. Webster gets sent outside and Vaughn’s Swanton hits the standing Andrews. A Stundog Millionaire gets Andrews out of trouble though and Fall To Pieces (shooting star press) finishes Vaughn at 8:21.

Rating: B-. Rather good choice to open the show here, with Subculture getting to show off their rather impressive talents. They’re a team who have done well every time I’ve seen them in the ring and that was the case again here. Cool and Vaughn were fine as villains and held their own rather well, which isn’t surprising given how much experience commentary said Vertigo had.

Commentary previews the rest of the show.

Steven Borden (Ring Of Honor) vs. Kiran Grey (Defy Wrestling)

They shove each other to start and Borden wrestles him down, followed by a backdrop and dropkick. Grey knocks him outside and takes over though and it’s a running elbow back inside. The chinlock goes on and Grey cuts off a comeback rather quickly. A running neckbreaker gives Grey two and he goes up top, where Borden catches him.

The superplex is broken up but Grey misses a top rope splash. Borden hits a Stinger Splash and bulldog but a full nelson slam is blocked. A pump kick drops Borden and Grey tries his own Scorpion Death Drop. That’s broken up as well and the full nelson slam finishes for Borden at 5:55.

Rating: C. The main thing to remember here is that Borden is still brand new in the ring. He’s still certainly a work in progress and that’s going to be the case for a long time. He has a good look and is very athletic. The good thing is that you can see a lot of his father in him. Get him in a good developmental program and there is absolutely a shot of him going somewhere.

We see Paul Hauser on Jimmy Kimmel, talking about his wrestling career.

Sidney Akeem (GCW)/Rich Swann (MLP)/Michael Oku (RevPro) vs. The Demand (AEW)

Ricochet and Swann start things off but it’s off to Kaun before anything happens. Kaun tosses Swann into the corner and runs him over with a shoulder. Everything breaks down and Akeem and Oku go up, only to have the Gates pull them out of the air. That’s reversed into a pair of hurricanranas to the floor, leaving Swann and company to hit three straight dives.

Back in and Kaun chops the heck out of Swann in the corner and it’s back to Ricochet. Swann fights out of the corner and avoids a charge from Ricochet, allowing the tag off to Akeem. House is quickly cleaned and Oku comes in for a triangle dropkick. The Gates double team Akeem into a backsplash for two and Ricochet’s springboard splash gets the same.

Open The Gates is countered into a double DDT and some trouble teaming manages to knock Liona down. A pair of top rope splashes gets two on Liona with Ricochet and Kaun having to make a save. The Gates are knocked to the floor but come back in to clear out Swann and Oku. Open The Gates and the Ricocsault finishes Akeem at 12:37.

Rating: B. While it was fairly obvious that Akeem was out there to take the pin, at least he got to showcase his impressive athleticism first. This was about four people flying all over the place and the two monsters…well being monsters really. It was a fast paced and flashy match and it did exactly what it was designed to do so well done.

We look at the announcement of MLP’s upcoming weekly TV show. Yeah that’s a big deal.

CMLL World Title: Jonathan Gresham (MLP) vs. Hechicero (CMLL)

Hechicero is defending and actually shakes hands to start. They start off rather slowly with neither getting very far on while going for the legs. Hechicero twists the leg around and now Gresham isn’t interested in a handshake. We pause for Gresham to tie his boot and they go back to trying for the leg again and it’s a standoff.

Hechicero’s boot is undone this time and Gresham uses the distraction to hit a quick dropkick. A not so great Figure Four has Hechicero in trouble but he flips Gresham off anyway. The rope is grabbed but Gresham won’t let go as this is quite the evil side of him. Gresham dropkicks the leg out so Hechicero hits one heck of a chop to send him outside. Back in and Gresham’s chops have no effect on Hechicero’s rather large chest so it’s a low blow to put Hechicero in trouble instead.

Hechicero is right back with a dragon screw leg whip over the rope, followed by a top rope elbow for two. The hammerlock backbreaker drops Gresham again but Hechicero’s knee is banged up. An octopus doesn’t last long for Gresham as he gets faceplanted down. Gresham reverses a surfboard into an ankle lock, with Gresham switching into a German suplex for two. A springboard hurricanrana sets off a pinfall reversal sequence until Hechicero knees him down. Hechicero’s spinning sunset flip retains the title at 16:25.

Rating: B+. This turned into a chess match and I liked what we got here with Hechicero getting to be the hero for a change. It worked well for him with the technical stuff being so easy to cheer. On the other hand you have Gresham as a villain, which works out very well for him too. I liked this a lot and they had a great match.

We recap Paul Hauser vs. QT Marshall. They had a street fight in Ring Of Honor last year and they’re running it back here.

Paul Hauser (Progress) vs. QT Marshall (Ring Of Honor)

Street fight with Hauser actually as the villain this time. They circle each other to start until Marshall starts sending him into the corner. An early Diamond Cutter sends Hauser rolling out to the floor and Marshall knocks him over the barricade. Marshall spits an energy drink in his face and whips out a door but Hauser fights back.

A chair shot off the apron puts Marshall down but he’s back with a DDT inside. More weapons are brought in, including a barbed wire board, though Hauser blocks a suplex onto said board. Instead Marshall is sent into the wire and Hauser hits him in the head with his Progress title.

Hauser stomps away and sets up a table, which of course is covered in thumbtacks. A superplex takes too long though and Marshall sunset bombs him through the tacks (and table) instead. Hauser low blows his way out of trouble and hits a spinebuster into a quickly broken half crab. Some kind of Sharpshooter variant makes Marshall tap at 12:30.

Rating: C+. Hauser isn’t exactly a polished wrestler but he knows how to do a nice enough brawl. At the same time, he is absolutely playing with the house’s money, as he loses nothing for doing this kind of thing and can gain another following. I was a bit surprised by the ending as it came out of nowhere, but it was a nice enough brawl.

Gisele Shaw is ready to retain her Women’s Title against a bunch of opponents.

Women’s Canadian Title: Gisele Shaw (MLP) vs. Persephone (CMLL) vs. Shotzi Blackheart (MLW)

Shaw is defending…and hang on as we’re making this a four way.

Women’s Canadian Title: Gisele Shaw (MLP) vs. Persephone (CMLL) vs. Shotzi Blackheart (MLW) vs. Killer Kelly (Wrestling Revolver)

Shaw is still defending and rolls Persephone up for an early two. Blackheart sends Shaw outside though, leaving Persephone to roll Kelly up for two. Blackheart’s high crossbody takes the two of them down and the reverse cannonball hits Kelly. Shaw is back in to superkick Blackheart and a hanging swinging neckbreaker gets two. Back up and Blackheart hits a rolling kick to the head and a legdrop connects as well.

Persephone pulls Blackheart to the floor though, only for Blackheart to get back up for a heck of a suicide dive. Shaw dives onto all three of them and the head back inside, with Blackheart hitting a Doomsday Dropkick to Persephone. Everyone is down and it’s Kelly up first to crawl around a lot. Shaw spears the heck out of Blackheart and Kelly Death Valley Drivers Persephone for two. Kelly grabs a Tree Of Woe dragon sleeper on Kelly, which can only last so long. Persephone is back up with a Razor’s Edge to Kelly…but Shaw steals the pin to retain at 12:21.

Rating: C+. This was another perfectly fine match, with Shaw not so much winning as much as surviving. That’s how she should be going, as she has a big mouth but can back it up just well enough. Kelly as an addition was a surprise, though I’m not sure how big of a deal it was to have her in there. Good enough match, though nothing that hasn’t been done before, especially the finish.

Rascalz (AEW) vs. Mistico (CMLL)/Mascara Dorada (CMLL)/Amazing Red (HOG)

Yeah this should work. Dorada and Xavier start things off and they trade wrist twisting. With that not being the most thrilling, Xavier flips over him and brings Wentz in to stay on the arm. Dorada fights back on both of them before handing it off to Mistico for a quick dropkick. Red kicks Wentz to the floor but Reed cuts him off, setting up a Dream Sequence for two on Dorada.

A flipping legdrop gets two on Dorada and we hit the chinlock. Mistico breaks that up and hits a springboard elbow before Red plants Xavier with a tornado DDT. Back up and Reed and Xavier are tied up for a Boston crab/camel clutch, with Red adding a running dropkick. Wentz is back in for the save and it’s a triple dropkick to Dorada. Red kicks Xavier into the corner but Mistico gets kicked down and we get a needed breather. The Code Red gets two on Wentz but Reed hits his running cutter to take Red down. Back up and Mistico La Misticas Reed for the tap at 11:32.

Rating: B+. I love a match where it’s exactly what you’re expecting it to be and that was the case here. This was a situation of “here are six high fliers, watch them fly the whole time”. They did their job well, with one of the biggest stars in the world being there at the end for the show’s main event. Heck of a main event.

Overall Rating: B. Maple Leaf Pro is rapidly developing an identity for itself: they might not do anything new or revolutionary (which is fine) but whatever they do is done well. That’s all you can ask for in a promotion like this and I’ve yet to see them have a bad show. I’m curious about their upcoming TV show, as they’re certainly making things work with these stand alone events.

Results
Subculture b. Guy Cool/Vaughn Vertigo – Fall To Pieces to Vertigo
Steve Borden b. Kiran Grey – Full nelson slam
The Demand b. Rich Swann/Michael Oku/Sidney Akeem – Ricosault to Akeem
Hechicero b. Jonathan Gresham – Rolling sunset flip
Paul Hauser b. QT Marshall – Leglock
Gisele Shaw b. Killer Kelly, Persephone and Shotzi Blackheart – Razor’s Edge to Kelly
Amazing Red/Mascara Dorada/Mistico b. Rascalz – La Mistica to Reed

 

 

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

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Ring Of Honor
Date: January 15, 2026
Location: eSports Stadium Arlington, Arlington, Texas
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

I’m not sure what to expect from this show because things are kinds of all over the place here, as usual. The only big story is Blake Christian coming after the World Title and now has Jay Lethal in his corner. Other than that, we have the usual assortment of people allegedly trying to get into title contention. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Spanish Announce Project vs. Grizzled Young Veterans

Angelico and Drake start things off with Drake wrenching the arm before sending Angelico into the corner. Some alternating elbows in the corner drop Angelico, who fights right back without much trouble. Serpentico comes in to work on the arm and drops a backsplash for two. The Veterans shrug that off and kick them down, with Drake working on Serpentico’s leg.

Gibson grabs a half crab, which is broken up, so Serpentico hits a quick backbreaker. Angelico comes back in to clean house with everything breaking down. Drake sends Angelico into the steps, leaving Gibson to give Serpentico the middle rope Codebreaker. Drake’s springboard dropkick finishes Serpentico off at 8:47.

Rating: C. In case you were wondering what a tag match between two teams going nowhere looks like, here you are. I’m assuming this was the way to heat the Veterans up before they get wrecked by Eddie Kingston and Ortiz, which makes me wonder about the logic when it’s in two different places. Either way, the technical stuff was fine, but these teams are so low on the totem pole that it just doesn’t matter.

Post match the Veterans promise the same for Kingston and Ortiz. Cue the two of them with chairs for the save.

Lance Archer vs. Vin Parker

Chops and a crossbody take Parker down and the Blackout finishes at 1:52. Total decimation, which will in no way get Archer closer to a title shot, even though he’s 15-0 here.

Kiran Grey vs. Shane Taylor

The rest of the Promotions are here with Taylor. Grey gets in a shot to the face and grabs a choke, which is broken up with pure power. A knee to the face rocks Grey and Taylor fires off some shoulders in the corner. Taylor’s big clothesline gets two but Grey sweeps the leg and gets two off a jumping splash. Taylor is back with a release Rock Bottom and his own big splash for two, followed by the right hand for the pin at 5:01.

Rating: C+. They pretty clearly see something in Grey and that’s not a bad thing. He certainly has something of a mystique to him and it’s interesting to see some fresh blood around here. It also helps that he got in a bit of offense and wasn’t totally squashed, so at least there was some protection here.

Frat House vs. Aaron Solo/QT Marshall/Von Erichs

Karter gets dropkicked by Ross to start and it’s off to Marshall for a dropkick of his own. Solo comes in to neckbreaker Garrison, who catches him with a slingshot powerslam. The House takes Solo into the corner for some stomping before Jameson misses a middle rope backsplash. Marshall comes in to clean house and Vance clotheslines Karter by mistake. Stereo Claws set up the cutter to give Marshall the pin at 6:25.

Rating: C. This was about what you would expect from these guys, though I did appreciate it being a bit shorter. The Von Erichs were their usual bland selves and Solo got to be the punching bag for a good chunk. The good thing is that it wasn’t long enough to get dull, making it more “well it could have been worse”, which is about the best you can hope for with these guys.

We look at Trish Adora beating Zayda Steel in last week’s mixed tag.

MxM TV vs. Shane Taylor Promotions

Rare heel vs. heel mixed tag here. Valkyrie and Adora start things off, with Valkyrie hitting a basement clothesline to take over. Madden comes in to elbow Bravo in the back, setting up a finger tip double elbow drop. Mansoor gets caught in the wrong corner though and some clubberin sets up a chinlock. A belly to back suplex gets Mansoor out of trouble and the diving tag brings Valkyrie back in.

The running knees in the corner get two on Adora and they forearm it out. They clothesline each other and it’s back to Madden to clean house as everything breaks down. Mansoor spinebusters Bravo and hits a dive but we pause for a fan to get Mansoor’s attention. Bravo gets in a cheap shot (Bravo to the fan: “BE RIGHT BACK!”) to Mansoor, followed by the double stomp for the pin at 7:04.

Rating: C+. I’m curious about the fan getting involved as it’s better than the same nothing matches that they have over and over. The Promotions are still about the same as usual, meaning they’re only so interesting, but MxM TV playing the heroes for a change made things a bit better. Just find something different for both of them to do already and things could improve.

Post match Bravo brings the fan over the barricade and she’s rather tall.

Red Velvet vs. Robyn Renegade

Non-title Proving Ground match, meaning if Robyn can win or last the time limit, she gets a future title shot. Renegade uses the hair to pull her down to start but Velvet is right back with a short armscissors. That’s reversed into a fall away slam and Renegade throws her out to the floor. Back in and a springboard double stomp to the back gives Renegade two. They trade missed hand licking chops in the corner until Renegade grabs a sitout gordbuster for two more. Velvet gets fired up and hits a leg lariat, followed by the big left hand for the pin at 5:27.

Rating: C. There have only been so many success stories in modern Ring Of Honor but Velvet has been added to the list in recent months. Something has clicked since she returned from her injury and she feels like a star. That’s a nice thing to see and her matches are becoming one of the highlights around here.

Tony Khan announces that Ring Of Honor will be teaming up with Metro Plex Wrestling, run by Athena, on January 29. Athena is rather pleased. Eh it’s something different at least.

Dark Order vs. Swirl

Jay Lethal is here with the Swirl. Christian and Uno start things off, with Christian flipping him off in a few different ways. Uno is back with a knockdown into his own strut, allowing Reynolds to come in for a double basement dropkick. Reynolds fights out of the wrong corner but gets kneed in the face for his efforts. They go outside, with Christian using the chair for a step up forearm to the back.

The chinlock goes on back inside but Reynolds fights up and ties him in the ropes for something like a Black Widow. The tag brings in Uno to clean house, including a big boot into a DDT for two. Christian fights out of a Gory Bomb though and everything breaks down. A Lethal Injection is countered into a Gory Bomb/Codebreaker combination to drop Christian again. Johnson is back in for the save and a pair of basement superkicks knock Reynolds silly. The Death Valley Driver/top rope double stomp combination finishes Reynolds at 7:05.

Rating: C+. The Swirl are the top heels around here, though I’m not sure where that is leading. In theory it sets up Christian getting a World Title shot, though he’s been ready for that for a rather long time now. At least they’re looking like a dominant team at the moment and I could go for seeing that continue for a while to come.

Post match the beatdown is on again until Tommy Billington and Adam Priest make the save.

Overall Rating: C. There were parts here that I liked, but one of the biggest issues was the simple fact that it featured so many of the same people that we’ve seen time after time. How many Lance Archer squashes can we see? Or Shane Taylor Promotions for that matter? Meanwhile, the Women’s Pure Title, Tag Team Titles, Six Man Titles and Women’s Title have not been on the line in about six weeks. Fix this, as it’s making for quite the annoying show.

Results
Grizzled Young Veterans b. Spanish Announce Project – Springboard missile dropkick to Serpentico
Lance Archer b. Vin Parker – Black Out
Shane Taylor b. Kiran Grey – Right hand
Aaron Solo/QT Marshall/Von Erichs b. Frat House – Cutter to Vance
Shane Taylor Promotions b. MxM TV – Double stomp to Mansoor
Red Velvet b. Robyn Renegade – Left hand
Swirl b. Dark Order – Death Valley Driver/top rope double stomp combination to Reynolds

 

 

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