Ring Of Honor
Date: July 16, 2026
Location: WJCT Studios, Jacksonville, Florida
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

We’re coming up on Death Before Dishonor and that should be a big deal around here. Granted we do have another Bandido loss to get through first, but it’s not like another is going to make a difference after all of his other AEW PPV losses. Other than that, we might be seeing some more with the Tag Team Titles after their rather long hiatus. Let’s get to it.

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

Lio Rush is still weird with his title.

Opening sequence.

Six Man Tag Team Titles: Dalton Castle/Outrunners vs. Beef/Premiere Athletes

Beef and the Athletes are challenging. Magnum and Nese start things off and of course it’s time to pose. Magnum’s headscissors takes Nese down and it’s off to Castle for a double splash. Floyd comes in and Beef’s clotheslines don’t do much to him so Beef grabs the armbar. Nese gets in a cheap shot from the apron and Daivari gets to stomp away, followed by a neckbreaker for two.

We hit the chinlock for a bit, followed by Beef’s side slam for two more. Magnum backdrops his way out of trouble and it’s back to Floyd for a bunch of slams. Beef’s crossbody cuts him off for two and we hit the chinlock, only for Magnum to get up with a clothesline. Castle comes back in to clean house but the triple elbow is broken up. Daivari shoulders Nese by mistake though and it’s the Mega Powers Elbow and fist drop combination to retain the titles at 11:07.

Rating: C+. Even if Beef and the Athletes were just a quick set of challengers, what matters here is they had a title match. Castle and the Outrunners are fine as champions as they are the entertaining act who can win for a good while without being boring. Beef and the Athletes are a quick set of opponents and now the Athletes can yell at Beef a bit more, which works fine as the Athletes apparently have to be on every show.

Post match the champs are glad to have won but a mention of the Lethal Twist upsets Castle’s tummy. Either way, the champs are ready for them.

Angelico vs. Tim Bosby

Angelico wrestles him down by the arm to start but Bosby, who looks to be an amateur star, goes to the rope for the break. A spinning slam drops Angelico and a release belly to belly gets two. The chinlock doesn’t last long and it’s Angelico back up to strike away, including a kick to the head from the mat. The leglock makes Bosby tap at 3:15.

Rating: C. Much like the Premiere Athletes, Angelico is someone who has to be on almost every show and it gets a bit tedious. He’s completely fine but he doesn’t exactly add much and when the show goes long, this is the kind of match that just feels like it stretched things out. It would help if Angelico had done ANYTHING important in forever but that just hasn’t been the case.

We look at Bandido’s recent wins and tease of him going after the International Title.

Main Man Oro vs. Mark Davidson

Feeling out process to start with Davidson grabbing a flying mare to take Oro down early. Back up and Oro scores with a rolling kick to the head before taking the leg out. A t-bone suplex puts Davidson down for two more but he’s back up with a rolling cutter for two of his own. Oro gives him the running kick in the corner though and a leg trap suplex finishes Davidson at 5:01.

Rating: C+. Oro has popped up a few times around here and he continues to feel like someone else who just occasionally wrestles here. That’s about all there is to say about him as there are so many wrestlers kind of floating around without getting to do much. As usual, do something with these people and it might matter, but until then, they’re simply more names on a long list of filler.

The Kingdom vs. Workhorsemen

Taven and Henry trade wristlocks to start until Henry snaps off a spinwheel kick. Bennett comes in and can’t get the Proton Pack, instead settling with a clothesline for two. It’s off to Drake to chop away before Henry twists Bennett’s neck a bit. Drake’s belly to belly drops Ciampa again but the Vader Bomb misses.

That’s enough for the tag back to Taven to clean house with the kicks to the face. A pop up right hand gets two on Henry but he reverses a suplex into a quick brainbuster. Drake and Bennett chop it out, to the point where Drake has to put the straps back up for extra protection. Taven is sent outside and a Skysplitter of all things gets two on Bennett. Drake and Bennett strike it out again until Taven rolls Drake up with feet on the ropes for the pin at 9:06.

Rating: C+. Another perfectly good match between two teams who don’t feel like they’re doing a thing around here. The Workhorsemen are the designated jobbers of the division and the Kingdom disappeared for several more weeks. I do like having the Kingdom back for a bit as they have the credentials to back it up, but the Workhorsemen are another team I could use a break from seeing for a good while.

AR Fox is upset over his title loss but Alan Angels comes in to mock him. Angels yells at him for never being there for him and a match is made.

AR Fox vs. Alan Angels

They trade rollups for two each to start and Angels hides in the ropes. Fox spins out of a wristlock into one of his own but Angels snaps off a hurricanrana. Back up and Fox strike away to get a breather, setting up a leg lariat to knock Angels back down. A Stunner out of the corner and the anarchist suplex give Fox two more but Angels moonsaults him out of the corner for two of his own.

Angels chops away some more and catches him in the corner for a double stomp to the back on the apron. Fox is able to give him a hanging DDT, setting up the running flipping double stomp. Back in and Fox pulls him into a cutter for two more, followed by a Swanton for another near fall. Fox misses a 450 and gets kicked in the head to give Angels two. Angel’s Wings is broken up though and Fox grabs Lo Mein Pain to the 450 for the pin at 11:11.

Rating: B-. As usual, Fox is capable of doing a bunch of things in the ring and looks so smooth out there while doing a rather unique style. At the same time, I’m not sure how interesting it was to have him facing a student who has been mad at him for what must have been a good thirty five seconds before the entrances started. I guess this was the way to get Fox back on his feet after his title loss and I can go with having him around more often.

We go to Arena Mexico for a CMLL match.

Tag Team Titles: Sky Team vs. Los Hermanos Chavez

Los Hermanos (Angel de Plata/Angel de Oro, whose NJPW Strong Tag Team Titles and CMLL Tag Team Titles aren’t on the line) are challenging and we get a quick ceremony honoring them for being in the ring for twenty years. Mistico and Oro start things off and look so much alike that commentary has to explain the way to tell them apart.

Mistico’s headscissors takes Oro down and Sky Team send them outside for the suicide dives. Back in and Mistico gets kicked out to the floor, with Dorada being sent out next to him. Mistico gets a running start though and is tossed into a hurricanrana to send Plata to the floor. Dorada does the same to Oro and it’s a pair of corkscrew dives to take the challengers down again.

We settle back down to Dorada clearing both of them out, setting up Mistico to get in some hurricanranas for the same. Back in and Mistico’s Code Red gets two on Oro, with Plata breaking it up for two of his own. A Michinoku Driver plants Dorada for two, with Mistico making a save of his own. Everything breaks down again and stereo springboard hurricanranas get two on Los Hermanos. Plata and Mistico strike it out until Dorada snaps off a running hurricanrana to the floor. La Mistica makes Oro tap at 13:55.

Rating: B. It was another entertaining match from Sky Team, though I’m hoping that this is just wrapping up their stuff from the CMLL shows and we get back to ROH for some regular title defenses. I absolutely get the idea of having something like this once in awhile, but we’ve kind of covered it for the time being. Otherwise, Guevara and Mortos could have kept the titles.

We get a sitdown interview with Sammy Guevara, who brags about being in everyone’s head. Guevara is like water because he can adapt to anything but some people don’t like water. He has been a success around the world but some people still won’t show him respect. Guevara is happy with how he has been a role model for his daughter (who he loves) and wants the World Title in another arm to hold alongside her. That’s a nice thought.

Bustah And The Brain vs. MxM Collection

After a hug off, Oliver and Mansoor start things off. Oliver takes him down by Mansoor is up to strike a pose, allowing Mason to come in with a running hip attack to the face. Oliver is back up with something close to a Pounce and Price comes in. That means a double clothesline to put Oliver and Price down, meaning Mansoor gets to drop Oliver with a forearm. Mansoor stomps away and Mason gets in some choking, followed by a tie in the Tree Of Woe.

Oliver slips out without much trouble though and it’s back to Price to pick up the pace. Price whips out a brush covered in hair to tease going after Mansoor, freaking him out in the process. With that blocked, it’s a double running boot in the corner but a double Styles clash is broken up. Price grabs a pop up Stunner to Madden and uses him for a tornado DDT to Mansoor. Back up and Mansoor gets dropkicked out of the air, setting up the double Styles Clash for the pin at 10:12.

Rating: B-. Bustah And The Brain have grown on me a lot since their start around here and it’s good to see them having some success. If the titles are actually around, I’d love to see them getting their chance at them. That might not be happening anytime soon, but at least they’re getting in the ring and not overstaying their welcome.

Dezmond Xavier vs. Brandon Cutler

Cutler works on a headlock to start so Xavier spins out, only to get crushed with a backsplash. Back up and Cutler springboards into an armdrag to put Xavier down again. Xavier is fine enough to dropkick him outside for a suicide dive but a 450 misses back inside. Cutler pops up to the top back inside for a hurricanrana but Xavier knocks him back into the corner. The tornado DDT gives Xavier two, only for Cutler to grab a cutter. The Shining Wizard gives Cutler two more but Xavier catches him with a Cardiac Kick for the pin at 7:05.

Rating: C+. Xavier getting a singles push isn’t a bad idea but he’s in the middle of the incredibly crowded midcard. I’m not sure if this was enough to really make him stand out but that’s the case for a lot of people around here. The match was completely fine and did in fact remind me that Cutler is in fact still around.

Shane Taylor Promotions vs. Adam Priest/Tommy Billington/Ortiz/Eddie Kingston

Bravo flips Ortiz off to start fast and they run the ropes for a crisscross. Ortiz puts him down and the good guys start taking turns on the arm. It’s off to Taylor, who blocks a double drop toehold but gets taken down with a middle rope bulldog. Priest gets taken down though and the Promotions take over on him, with a quadruple teaming on the floor making it worse.

Back in and the Promotions start taking turns on Priest, with Taylor hitting a heck of a clothesline. Dean adds his Bronco Buster but Priest fights up and brings Kingston in to clean house. Everything breaks down and we get the parade of knockdowns until Priest is the only one close to standing. Bravo gets in a huge dive to the floor and it’s Priest left alone with Dean back inside. Dean goes to pick him up but gets small packaged for the pin at 12:31.

Rating: B-. This had some nice action as the Promotions have some talented stars. As has been the case with far too many people on this show though, they’re around so often that it stops making much of an impact. At the same time, I’m not sure why you would tease having Tehuti Miles join them last week and then have them lose here. Either way, not a bad match at all.

Athena/Billie Starkz vs. Lacey Lane/Viva Van

Diamante is here with Athena and Starkz. Van and Starkz start things off with the former hitting a nice rolling kick to the head. A high crossbody puts Starkz down again but Diamante offers a distraction, allowing Athena to get in a boot of her own. The chinlock with a knee in the back goes on but Van enziguris her way to freedom.

That’s not enough for the tag though as Starkz breaks it up and drops a Swanton. Van fights back again and brings in Lane to start the comeback. A springboard spinning legdrop gives Lane two but Starkz gives her a Backstabber. Van comes back in for a double armdrag and dropkick but Athena knocks her down without much trouble. The curb stomp finishes Van at 7:23.

Rating: C. Athena is right back where she was before, which has literally been the case for years now. Hopefully it doesn’t continue the seemingly never ending tease of Starkz being the one to get the title off of her, but there are some options out there to get the spot instead. For now, though, Van and Lane have another loss but are fine for a low level women’s team.

Post match Athena wrecks Van a bit more.

TV Title: Lee Johnson vs. Lio Rush

Rush is defending but Johnson steals the title before the match, which feels like a rather dumb idea. That earns him a quick takedown, followed by a bunch of chest scratches. What looks like a BFT is escaped and Johnson bails to the floor, allowing him to chop away. Naturally this makes Rush laugh and he strikes away to start his comeback.

A snapmare lets Johnson kick him in the chest, setting up a standing moonsault for two. Back up and Rush hits a quick spear, followed by a Stunner for the 1998 special. Rush knocks him to the floor for the suicide dive, setting up a Jackhammer (ok I was kidding about the 1998 thing) for two more. Back up and Johnson backflips over him out of the corner, setting up a reverse DDT for two of his own.

A half snapdragon just wakes Rush up for the spinning kick to the head, with the springboard Stunner getting two more. Rush loads him up for something…but seems to start hearing voices. He goes outside to look for something and gets caught by Johnson’s big running flip dive. Back in and Johnson misses something off the top, allowing Rush to grab the cutter into the cutter choke to retain at 13:06.

Rating: B-. Rush does indeed deserve credit for everything he has gotten out of this, as there was no reason to believe that it was going to work and then it is coming off pretty well. He’s certainly dedicated to the thing so points for trying this hard. The fans are into him too so this is about as much as you can ask for here.

Overall Rating: C. Oh goodness no. This was every issue that the old Ring Of Honors had, as we had 11 matches and a bunch of people clogging up the show. The wrestling was fine, but it was a horrible presentation because there was too much going on. As usual, Ring Of Honor goes with the idea of quantity over all things and it made for a rather bad show. The wrestling worked and the people are doing what they can, but this could have been three if not four different shows. That’s way too much, as it’s ok to either not put so many people on every show or just not film it all. You know, just for a change.

Results
Dalton Castle/Outrunners b. Beef/Premiere Athletes – Mega Powers Elbow/fist drop combination to Beef
Angelico b. Tim Bosby – Leglock
Main Man Oro b. Mark Davidson – Leg trap suplex
The Kingdom b. Workhorsemen – Rollup to Drake with feet on the ropes
AR Fox b. Alan Angels – 450
Sky Team b. Los Hermanos Chavez – La Mistica to Oro
Bustah And The Brain b. MxM Collection – Double Styles Clash to Mansoor
Dezmond Xavier b. Brandon Cutler – Cardiac Kick
Adam Priest/Tommy Billington/Ortiz/Eddie Kingston b. Shane Taylor Promotions – Rollup to Dean
Athena/Billie Starkz b. Lacey Lane/Via Van – Curb stomp to Van
Lio Rush b. Lee Johnson – Cutter choke

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

Global Wars: Cincinnati
Date: June 18, 2026
Location: Andrew J. Brady Music Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

This is one of those big shows with a bunch of guest stars as Ring Of Honor basically does its own version of Forbidden Door. The big match is Athena defending the Women’s Title against Syuri and the rest…well it’s hard to say as a lot of these matches aren’t advertised. In other words, how Ring Of Honor of the show. Let’s get to it.

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

I was in attendance for part of this show, sitting in the ninth row on the floor with the entrance on my right.

Opening sequence.

The opening video looks at Lio Rush and Action Andretti challenging AR Fox for the TV Title. Rush and Andretti were partners but then split up, with Rush being all insane.

TV Title: Action Andretti vs. Lio Rush vs. AR Fox

Fox is defending. Andretti is outside to start and Fox isn’t sure what to do with Rush. This means Rush whispering something into Fox’s ear and it’s time for both of them to go after Andretti. Rush starts running the ropes and Andretti gets kicked out to the floor as the fans seem to like Rush over the champion. Andretti is back up but Fox moonsaults onto both of them on the floor.

Fox goes after Andretti on the ramp and avoids a 450 but gets planted with a DDT. Andretti goes after Rush but winds up breaking an umbrella and sending Rush into the barricade instead. Fox is back up to dive onto both of them but gets small packaged to give Andretti two. Andretti’s springboard clothesline hits Rush and a springboard twisting splash gets the same on Fox.

Back up and Fox dropkicks Andretti in the corner, followed by a cutter to Rush. Fox’s tornado DDT and anarchist suplex drop Rush for two but Andretti sends Fox outside. A springboard Stunner gives Rush two on Andretti and Andretti’s falcon arrow gets the same. The pumphandle Side Effect gets two on Fox so Andretti goes up, with the two of them catching him at once.

With everyone back down, a triple knockdown leaves all of them needing a breather. Fox slugs away at both of them to take over but Andretti cuts him off with a low blow. Rush Stunners him though and grabs a choke, with Fox diving in for the save. Fox is sent outside though and Black Thunder gives Rush the pin and the title at 14:53.

Rating: B. I get it. I’m not wild on Rush’s whole deal, but he is clearly popular with the crowd and being presented as a big deal. Giving him something, even as low as the ROH TV Title, is a smart thing to do. My bigger issue is Fox losing the title so soon, as I became a much bigger fan after some of his recent promos. As for Andretti….well Fox is rather awesome.

Lacey Lane/Viva Van vs. Red Velvet/Thunder Rosa

Van runs Velvet over to start and they trade bridging escapes. Lane and Van hit stereo dropkicks but it’s quickly off to Rosa for some chops and armdrags. Back up and Lane takes over on Rosa, allowing Van to come back in for a rolling kick to the head. Rosa neckbreakers her way out of trouble though and Lane is sent into the corner so Velvet can hammer away. Rosa gets caught in a fireman’s carry but Velvet tags herself back in, with Lane taking over again. Everything breaks down and we hit the parade of knockdowns before Van and Velvet trade rollups for two each. Rosa’s package powerbomb finishes Van at 7:40.

Rating: C. This was a weird one as it’s a cold match between a pair of teams who don’t really work together all that often. Maybe this leads to Rosa showing up here to take a run at Velvet (it’s not like either of them have anything else to do). Other than that though, this felt like a match that was just thrown out there to burn up some time.

We look at Syuri beating Athena in February.

Diamante vs. Maika

Diamante wrestles her to the mat in a hurry and gets in the slaps to the back of Maika’s head. Back up and Diamante pulls her down by the hair, meaning it’s time to hammer away on the mat. Some Kawada kicks have Maika in more trouble and Diamante grabs a headlock. Maika fights up and hits a dropkick in the ropes, followed by a delayed suplex for two. A big clothesline connects but Diamante reverses into a German suplex. Diamante misses a clothesline though and the Michinoku driver finishes for Maika at 6:25.

Rating: C+. This is where Global Wars/Forbidden Door runs into a problem. Maika is a talented star from Stardom but she was debuting here. Odds are she’s not staying for any significant amount of time so this was little more than a pit stop. The match was fine and that’s about all, but it’s kind of hard to get interested in people who haven’t been around here before in a match with no story.

We look at LFI winning the Tag Team Titles in December.

And now, to Arena Mexico for LFI’s first title defense in three and a half months.

Tag Team Titles: La Faccion Ingobernable vs. Los Villanos

Los Villains (El Hijo de Villano Tres (“Tres”) and Villano Tres Jr. (“Jr.”) are challenging. Guevara flips over Tres to start and sticks the landing on a hurricanrana. They trade nipups so Mortos comes in to run Tres over. Jr. comes in with a springboard knockdown but the champs are right back up for some posing. Guevara teases something off the top but drops down for a stomp instead.

The champs go after Jr.’s mask to no avail and it’s Tres back up to start the comeback. A spinning springboard dive hits Mortos and it’s a Codebreaker into a double stomp back inside. Guevara gets thrown from the ramp onto Mortos but Mortos clotheslines both of them down without much trouble. Guevara adds a dive of his own, followed by a corkscrew version from Mortos.

Back in and a rolling cutter drops Tres before Mortos wrecks Jr with a backbreaker and discus lariat. Tres is back in with a tornado DDT to Mortos, who is back up with a super gorilla press for two on Jr. A Doomsday Device doesn’t work though and it’s a poisonrana to Mortos. Guevara takes out Jr. on the floor though and a moonsault gives Mortos the pin on Tres at 14:39.

Rating: B-. Remember what I said about how it’s hard to care about people who aren’t around here and don’t do much in a promotion? That’s the case for both of the teams, as LFI haven’t been in a match in three and a half months but their title reign has to continue for whatever reason. It’s an entertaining match, but this might as well have been a bunch of guest stars doing high spots for about fifteen minutes.

We look at Athena beating Hyan.

AEW TV Title: Konosuke Takeshita vs. Lee Johnson

Takeshita is defending and Blake Christian/Jay Lethal are here with Johnson. I can’t even bother getting annoyed at commentary saying that Johnson is on a roll when his last singles win around here was in December. Johnson’s headlock doesn’t last long so he goes with a dropkick out to the floor. The suicide dive connects and Johnson hammers away back inside.

A hard whip into the corner has Takeshita in more trouble and Johnson grabs the chinlock. Takeshita fights up but his ankle is banged up, meaning he can’t get up top. Instead they knock each other down again, with Takeshita getting up to take over again. A big clothesline gives Takeshita two but the running knee is blocked. Johnson superkicks him down and ducks a clothesline, setting up a cradle for two. Takeshita is right back with the Blue Thunder Bomb into the running knee to retain at 9:30.

Rating: B-. Well at least we know these people. Takeshita is a great star and doesn’t have much to do with Ring Of Honor but I’ll take someone who is around on these shows one way or another. I have no idea why Johnson was the one getting a title shot here, but logic in title shots is not exactly Tony Khan’s strong suit.

The Opps want to fight Beef and the Premiere Athletes. Anthony Bowens wants violence and Hook thinks he’s starting to get it.

Takumi Iroha vs. Hyan

Iroha is Syuri’s partner. We get a hug to start but Iroha wants to get going so they fight over a lockup. Iroha’s big kick to the head misses though and Hyan realizes this isn’t going to be easy. Hyan misses a dropkick and she gets caught with a quick DDT for two. A sliding knee drops Hyan again but she slips out of a Razor’s Edge. That earns her a kick to the chest and Iroha grabs a quickly broken Scorpion Deathlock.

Hyan muscles her up with a suplex and a belly to back version gets two. Iroha is right back with a running knee to the face and they strike it out. Hyan is knocked down but avoids a Swanton, allowing them to go out to the apron. Iroha gets planted down and a spear gives Hyan two back inside. A big kick knocks Iroha silly but Hyan picks her up instead of covering, allowing Iroha to kick right back. The running Razor’s Edge out of the corner finishes Hyan at 9:49.

Rating: B-. Well, for someone who has never been around here before and likely won’t be again, Iroha looked good enough in beating a midcarder. That’s about all there is to this one, as it’s not like either of them are a big deal around here. The match was fine, but much like a lot of this show, it’s just there.

Lethal Twists/RPG Vice vs. Outrunners/Mike Bailey/Mistico

Mistico gets the big singalong entrance and while the fans wave their hands, I’m not sure if they knew the words (Bailey on the other hand sang every word to the thing multiple times, looking like he was having a great time). Vice teases walking off but comes back for the opening bell as Mistico and Romero start things off. A flying mare takes Romero down and a running hurricanrana does it again.

Everything breaks down though and Mistico gets beaten down, followed by the running clotheslines in the corner. The Outrunners and Bailey are back in for the save though and hammer away with ten right hands each in various corners. We settle down to the Outrunners taking over on Romero but Christian spears Magnum on the apron to cut him off. Lethal stomps him down in the corner and the Figure Four goes on. Christian adds a slingshot hilo but Magnum slams his way out of trouble.

Floyd comes in to clean house, including a swinging suplex to Lethal. The Mega Powers Elbow is broken up though and it’s Bailey coming in to clean house. The running shooting star press gets two on Beretta but Romero is back in with a Shining Wizard for two of his own. Mistico dives onto Romero, leaving Bailey to get cuttered. The Outrunners break up the Lethal Twist’s Mega Powers Elbow and the four of them brawl off to the back. That leaves Mistico to La Mistica Romero for the tap at 11:46.

Rating: B-. This was a wild match and that’s what it should have been, with the fans clearly understanding that it’s a big deal to have Mistico around. At the same time, RPG Vice are a good choice for foils as it’s not like they mean anything in AEW/ROH anyway. Throw in the Outrunners (though oddly not Dalton Castle) and this was fun. Granted so was getting a photo with Mistico to end the night but maybe that’s just me.

Ring Of Honor Women’s Title: Athena vs. Syuri

Only Athena is defending. They go with the grappling to start and it’s an early standoff. An exchange of wristlocks gives us an exchange of flipping escapes so Syuri knees her in the ropes. Somehow Athena manages to go from leaning on the ropes to powerslam her onto the apron.

Back in and Athena knees her down so a backsplash can connect for two. Syuri rolls her up for two more and a facebuster sends Athena out to the ramp. The slugout goes to Athena and she hits a Wasteland to drop Syuri again. Back in and Syuri gets sent hard into the corner for two but she grabs a sitout bulldog. A running knee and right hand give Athena two more but Syuri pulls her off the top into a hammerlock.

The double arm crank sends Athena over to the rope and she’s back up with a superkick. The Black Widow has Athena in more trouble so she faceplants her way to freedom. Syuri gets her cross armbreaker and even crashing over the top doesn’t break it up. A tornado DDT off the barricade plants Athena again and they both have to beat the count back in at nine.

Back in and they slug it out until Syuri grabs a German suplex. Athena snaps off one of her own but Syuri is back with a powerslam. A big knee and kick to the head put Athena down again but she pulls Syuri into a pumphandle Tombstone. The O Face retains the title at 16:18.

Rating: B+. This lived up to the hype of a main event and it felt like Athena’s title was in jeopardy more than once. That’s a good sign that the match is going well, as there was no reason to believe that Syuri was going to win here. This felt like a big time match and I got into what I was watching so rather well done.

Athena shows respect to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. This is one of the weirder shows that Ring Of Honor has, as there are parts of it that were good to even better than that (the opener, the eight man, and especially the main event), but there is a big chunk in the middle that is just there to stretch out the run time. I’m not at all saying these wrestlers are bad or untalented or anything close, but they’re just names on a list of people wrestling on this show and that is only so interesting. I’m not a fan of this concept but we’re nowhere near done, with seven more matches to go from the tapings.

Results
Lio Rush b. Action Andretti and AR Fox – Black Thunder to Andretti
Red Velvet/Thunder Rosa b. Lacey Lane/Viva Van – Package powerbomb to Van
Maika b. Diamante – Michinoku driver
La Faccion Ingobernable b. Los Villanos – Moonsault to Tres
Takumi Iroha b. Hyan – Running Razor’s Edge
Mike Bailey/Mistico/Outrunners b. Lethal Twist/RPG Vice – La Mistica to Romero
Athena b. Syuri – O Face

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

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

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

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

Thankfully the audio is fine for the show itself.

Kickoff Show: Sammy Guevara vs. Action Andretti

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

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

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

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

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

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

Kickoff Show: Rush vs. LSG

Bull’s Horns finish LSG in 42 seconds.

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

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

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

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

Kickoff Show: Rascalz vs. Premiere Athletes

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

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

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

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

And now, the show proper.

Nigel McGuinness vs. Josh Woods

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

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

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

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

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

Post match respect is shown.

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

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

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

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

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

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

TV Title: Lio Rush vs. AR Fox

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pure Rules Title: Ace Austin vs. Lee Moriarty

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

AEW National Title: Mark Davis vs. Xelhua

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

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

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

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

Here’s what’s coming on Collision.

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

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

Ring Of Honor World Title: Bandido vs. Blake Christian

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Collision
Date: March 22, 2026
Location: Save Mart Arena, Fresno, California
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness

It’s the second half of the Slam Dunk show as Collision is split up for a pair of shows this weekend. In this case we have the Trios Titles on the line as the new champions are defending against…eh it’s hard to guess as the titles can be kind of all over the place. The wrestling is going to need to carry things again here and that can work rather well at times so let’s get to it.

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

Orange Cassidy/Roderick Strong vs. Lee Johnson/Jay Lethal

Blake Christian is here with the villains. Lethal struts around to start but can’t spin out of Strong’s early wristlock. Strong sends Lethal into the corner and throws Cassidy at him, with Cassidy coming in to pose a bit. Johnson comes in for a big boot/Russian legsweep combination but has to escape a Beach Break attempt.

Back up and Cassidy puts his hands in his pockets to start rolling around. A dropkick connects so Lethal comes in, only to have his Figure Four attempt kicked away. Johnson drops Cassidy with a suplex for two and we take a break. We come back with Cassidy still in trouble in the Tree Of Woe and Christian sneaking in for a quick 619.

Cassidy fights out of the corner and avoids Johnson’s charge, allowing him to kick Lethal away for the tag to Strong. House is quickly cleaned, with an Angle Slam dropping Johnson for two. Everything breaks down again and Lethal’s Hail To The Chief connects, with Strong having to make the save. The Stundog Millionaire hits Lethal and an Orange Punch drops Christian off the apron. End Of Heartache hits Johnson and Cassidy gets the pin at 10:47.

Rating: B-. Nice opener, as Strong and Cassidy get to show that they can work together, which is a good sign for their future. Granted that might have made more sense before they had their big match with the Dogs. Either way, it’s nice to see them win, as the Lethal Twists get to continue their status as the top heels in ROH and losers in AEW.

Post match Strong announces that he’s officially part of the Conglomeration. The Dogs pop up for a challenge for a match next week.

We look at Lena Kross/Megan Bayne winning the Women’s Tag Team Titles at Revolution. The Babes Of Wrath want a rematch.

Megan Bayne/Lena Kross vs. Alex Gracia/Vipress

Non-title. Bayne shoulders Gracia down to start and takes her into the corner for some running shots to the face. It’s back to Bayne for a German suplex and the monsters hit stereo clotheslines. A double chokeslams finishes Gracia at 1:43. Total domination.

Lio Rush vs. Tommaso Ciampa

So Rush is basically Gollum now and Ciampa looks more confused than anything else. Rush, with his eyes bugging out, does his regular running dodges and sends Ciampa outside. There’s the suicide dive, with Ciampa dropping him onto the announcers’ table. Back in and Rush is sent to the apron and then into the post, with Ciampa hitting a running knee to the floor. We take a break and come back with Rush escaping a Fairy Tale Ending and kicking Ciampa in the head.

The springboard Stunner is kicked out of the air and a second attempt is blocked as well. The third works a bit better though as Ciampa is stunned. Rush goes up with Ciampa rolling outside, only to get picked up for back to back Stunners. Ciampa gets up again and they slug it out, followed by the two of them biting the others’ finisher. They strike it out with Rush hitting a spinning kick to the head. Back up and Ciampa sends him into the corner, followed by Project Ciampa for a rather near fall. The running knee finishes Rush at 11:04.

Rating: C+. Yeah I’m not feeling the new Rush thing. It’s weird based on the idea that he looks strange without his hair. The fact that this is somehow a downgrade from Cru isn’t a good sign, but at least Ciampa won here. Hopefully Rush isn’t featured very often or is at last tweaked, because this wasn’t the strongest fit.

Video on Kenny Omega vs. Swerve Strickland and Hangman Page vs. MJF from Revolution.

Trios Titles: Jet Speed/Mistico vs. Don Callis Family

El Clon/Josh Alexander/Konosuke Takeshita are challenging for the Family. Mistico and Clon start things off but the rest of the Family run in to jump Mistico from behind. Everything breaks down and Mistico gets double teamed. Bailey comes in and gets reversed suplexed but Mistico is back up with a headscissors to Clon. Mistico takes all three villains down without much trouble and Knight adds a dive as we take a break.

We come back with Clon working on Bailey’s leg to send Bailey over to the rope. Bailey manages a kick to the head and it’s back to Knight to clean house. Takeshita comes back in with a Blue Thunder Bomb for two but Knight avoids the running knee. Raging Fire is countered as well and Knight plants him down, allowing the tag back to Mistico.

Clon immediately gives him a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for two but a springboard is cut off with a kick to the head. Everything breaks down again and Mistico hits a big dive to the floor but the UFO Splash misses back inside. Clon’s step up moonsault gets two but Knight manages the spring board clothesline to Takeshita. That leaves Mistico to grab La Mistica to make Clon tap at 13:12.

Rating: B-. For a token title match on a show that probably isn’t going to get much in the way of viewership, I’ve seen far worse. They had a nice back and forth match with the new champions getting to beat something of a regular team (or at least a regular stable) to start off their reign. Mistico and Jet Speed still aren’t exactly fascinating champions, but it’s better than one of them going after the World Title at the same time.

Schiavone runs down upcoming cards in an Excalibur imitation to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. Much like last night, the show was fine, albeit completely inconsequential viewing. It’s not something that had much in the way of important wrestling but the action you did get was fine. That’s about all you could get out of this kind of a show as there was no reason to do anything else and it worked out well enough. There’s nothing worth going out of your way of seeing, but it’s a fine watch all things considered.

Results
Orange Cassidy/Roderick Strong b. Lee Johnson/Jay Lethal – End Of Heartache to Johnson
Megan Bayne/Lena Kross b. Alex Gracia/Vipress – Double chokeslam to Gracia
Tommaso Ciampa b. Lio Rush – Running knee
Mistico/Jet Speed b. Don Callis Family – La Mistica to Clon

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: March 5, 2026
Location: WJCT Studios, Jacksonville, Florida
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

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

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

Opening video.

Video on Persephone.

Persephone vs. Sara Leon

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

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

Komander vs. Sidney Akeem

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

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

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

Top Flight vs. Grizzled Young Veterans

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

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

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

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

Paid In Full vs. Darian Bengston/Kiran Grey

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

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

Josh Woods vs. Nathan Cruz

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

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

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

Tommy Billington/Adam Priest vs. Workhorsemen

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

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

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

Mina Shirakawa vs. Zayda Steel

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

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

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

Post match respect is shown.

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

Bang Bang Gang vs. MxM Collection

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

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

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

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

Lacey Lane vs. Robyn Renegade

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

AEW International Title: Kazuchika Okada vs. AR Fox

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Ring Of Honor
Date: February 26, 2026
Location: H-E-B Center At Cedar Park, Cedar Park, Texas
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

I’m back to the point where I don’t know what to expect from these shows and that’s a weird feeling. There are so many titles around here but a bunch of them are either never defended or defended at random and that makes the shows hard to predict. Maybe it’s different this time around so let’s get to it.

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

Shane Taylor Promotions are ready to win their matches tonight, with Trish Adora promising to end Deonna Purrazzo’s luck.

Opening sequence.

JD Drake vs. Adam Priest

The much bigger Drake easily wins a slugout and shoulders Priest down. Priest’s comeback is cut off in a hurry and Drake drops a leg for a quick two. Drake slowly takes him into the corner for the chops but misses a sitdown splash. Priest throws him down for two but Drake takes him up top, where a Priest’s sunset bomb gets two. Drake gets two more off a Shining Wizard so he tries a spinebuster, only to get countered into a rollup to give Priest the pin at 7:25.

Rating: C. Decent enough match between two people who don’t have much going on, at least when it comes to singles status. Drake has just been floating around for a long time now and while he’s a good hand, there isn’t much that makes him stand out. Priest still feels like someone with potential, but his smaller size is going to be a lot to get around.

We look at Skyflight beating TMDK last week in a six man main event.

Frat House vs. TMDK

Garrison slugs away at Tito in the corner to start and a clothesline connects as well. A flapjack/running boot combination drops Tito for two but it’s off to Haste. That means a release Falcon Arrow to Garrison and everything breaks down. Tito takes out Garrison and Haste’s fireman’s carry swung into a spinebuster finishes Karter at 3:37.

Rating: C+. It was a fast paced tag match and TMDK looked dominant, which is why you bring them in for a match against a team like the Frat House. I can’t imagine TMDK sticks around but having them in a two match series like this is fine. Not a great match, but it was entertaining while it lasted.

Women’s TV Title: Zayda Steel vs. Red Velvet

Steel, with her one match winning streak after losing everything else, is challenging. Velvet snaps off some armdrags into an armbar to start before missing some right hands. They trade near falls off some small packages until Steel’s Backstabber out of the ropes gets two. An exchange of running shots in the corner goes to Velvet, who grabs a powerbomb for two more. Steel is back with a spinwheel kick for two but Velvet’s Iconoclasm gets the same. A TKO gives Steel two more and she can’t believe the kickout. Velvet is right back with a spinning kick to the face to retain at 6:02.

Rating: C. This didn’t have much of a story to it as they were just kind of trading moves back and forth until Velvet got the pin. Steel still feels like an interesting prospect, but she needs to string together some wins to shake off the early losing streak. There wasn’t much of a reason for her to get a title shot here, but I’ll take it over the title sitting on the shelf.

Post match respect is shown.

TMDK is happy with their win but they get jumped by Shane Taylor Promotions.

Grizzled Young Veterans/Big Bill/Bryan Keith vs. CJ Tino/Richie Slade/Che Cabrera/Dom Kubrick

Isla Dawn is here with the villains. Keith throws his gear at Tino to start and shoulders him down for two. Slade comes in and gets his arm twisted, allowing Drake to come in as well. Drake lets Slade forearm away to no avail before Gibson unloads with forearms of his own in the corner. Slade slips out of a slam though and hands it off to the muscular Guevara (Latino Meat, which made me chuckle), who wants Bill. That’s what he gets before actually winning a slugout. The Veterans come back in to clean house and Bill’s big boot finishes Tino at 4:32.

Rating: C. This was almost but not quite a squash as the villains ran through everyone but Guevara. I’m not sure why they need to be teaming together but I do like seeing the Veterans actually winning something for a change. It’s a quick match and that’s all it needs to be so I’ll take what I can get.

Post match the winners split some money but are interrupted by Skyflight, who give them a staredown.

Skyflight vs. Adrian Quest/Ricky Gee/Danny Rose

I do appreciate the jobbers having their names on their gear. Quest and Sky start things off with some wristlocking before Darius comes in instead. That earns him a quick triple teaming down and a front facelock from Rose. That’s broken up and Dante comes in to pick up the pace, including an enziguri and springboard high crossbody for two on Gee. Everything breaks down and Gee is catapulted into a cutter to give Dante the pin at 4:34.

Rating: C+. This was another fast paced match and it was nice to see them staying to the point here, with both teams getting to look good. Quest/Gee/Rose seem to be a regular team and I could go for seeing some more of them in the future. They were smart to keep this fast and it worked well enough.

We look back at Jay Lethal turning on Bandido and joining the Swirl.

Jay Lethal vs. Tommy Billington

Billington was barely shown in the clip but at least commentary explains how he’s connected to Lethal. They start fast with Lethal being sent outside for a suicide dive, followed by a backdrop back inside. Lethal is back up with a suplex onto the apron and then a cutter back off of it and they head back inside.

One heck of a chop drops Billington in the corner and Billington hammers away. It’s time to start in on the leg with the Figure Four going on rather quickly. The rope is reached and Billington rolls away from the threat of Hail To The King. Billington catches him up top with a superplex but Lethal is back up again. Lethal takes over again and tries Hail To The King, which is reversed into a crossface. Cue Lee Johnson for a distraction, allowing Lethal to hit the Lethal Injection for the pin at 8:15.

Rating: B-. Lethal having the best match of the night thus far is hardly a surprise as he’s still one of the best in-ring stars in the company. I do like him being added to the biggest story around here as it adds some credibility. I’m just not sure who is going to step in and take him out, though actually getting to the Christian vs. Bandido match that has been teased for months would be nice.

Satnam Singh vs. Jordan Oasis

Oasis slugs away with forearms to start but is quickly sent into the corner. The loud (or in this case, not so loud) chops have Oasis in trouble and we hit a nerve hold. That’s broken up and Oasis goes after the leg, only to get sent to the apron. The chokeslam brings Oasis over the top and plants him down for the pin at 2:54. Pretty standard Singh match.

Deonna Purrazzo says her Pure Rules match against Trish Adora means it’s the two of them, one on one.

Persephone vs. Johnnie Robbie

Persephone rudely backs her up against the ropes to start but gets armdragged down a few times. Robbie’s sunset flip is rolled through for a basement dropkick and a hard kick to the back has her in more trouble. A judo throw and some forearms have Robbie in more trouble and Persephone powers her into the corner. We’re off to the chinlock but Robbie is back up with some kicks to the head for two. Robbie’s knee to the face drops Persephone again but she counters a rollup into a Razor’s Edge to finish Robbie at 5:43.

Rating: B-. Robbie got in a lot of offense here and it was a nice performance from someone who hasn’t been around very often. At the same time, commentary continues to treat Persephone as a huge deal and that is likely going to continue. I’m not sure what she’s going to do, but it doesn’t feel as important when Athena has already beaten her in a big match.

Tony Nese vs. Komander

Before the match, Mark Sterling complains about luchadors like Komander, saying Nese is going to clear them out. Nese backs him into the corner to start and then flips over Komander out of said corner. Komander sends him outside for a suicide dive and chops away against the barricade. A Daivari distraction lets Nese get in a kick to the head and we hit the waistlock.

Nese double stomps the ribs into another waistlock, which has Komander slapping his stomach, which doesn’t count as a tap. Back up and Nese misses a charge into the post, allowing Komander to strike away. A quick DDT drops Nese for two and a double moonsault gets the same. Komander’s regular moonsault hits raised boots but Nese’s pumphandle driver is countered into a rollup for two. The very springboardy DDT plants Nese and Cielito Lindo finishes him at 8:31.

Rating: B-. Komander continues to get in a bunch of offense, though it doesn’t exactly lead to much no matter what he’s doing. Hopefully he gets to do something as he’s right there to go after one of the titles. Then again wins and losses only mean so much around here, which is one of Ring Of Honor’s biggest issues.

We look at Nick Wayne winning the TV Title from Komander last April.

Nick Wayne vs. Lucas Riley

Non-title Proving Ground match, because Wayne being gone since JULY isn’t enough to warrant a title defense. Wayne snapmares him down to start and messes with Riley’s hair, only for Riley to take him down and do the same. Normally this would mean war, but normally this would be a title match. Well actually normally he would have been stripped of the title somewhere in the last six plus months but oh well. Back up and Wayne chops him against the ropes but Riley grabs a Michinoku Driver for two. Wayne’s dragon suplex gets two and he kicks Riley in the head for the pin at 3:45.

Rating: C. I have no idea why this wasn’t a title match. Wayne has been gone for the better part of a year and yet here we are with a Proving Ground match. This is a perfect example of the title situation not making sense around here, as wrestlers will get title matches out of nowhere or after winning one match, but Wayne gets to go into yet another month without defending his title. I get that things might be different, but some kind of logic would be nice.

Women’s Pure Title: Deonna Purrazzo vs. Trish Adora

Purrazzo is defending for the first time since winning the title on December 5. They fight over wrist control to start and Adora bails from the threat of the Fujiwara armbar. Adora pulls her throat first into the ropes, which apparently counts as a rope break. A small package gives Adora two and they forearm it out.

The Lariat Tubman misses and Purrazzo is back with her own clothesline to put them both down. Adora’s bridging German suplex gets two, as does Purrazzo’s nasty powerbomb. The Fujiwara armbar doesn’t work as Purrazzo’s arm gives out thanks to the neck damage. The Lariat Tubman connects but Purrazzo rolls outside. Back in and Purrazzo rolls her into the Fujiwara armbar and leans back to make up for the bad arm for the tap at 9:15.

Rating: B-. Yeah it was fine. There’s still no need for this to be a title, as we went almost two months without the thing being defended and pretty much nothing was lost. Purrazzo is a rather talented star and it’s fun watching her in the ring. That doesn’t mean she needs a title basically customized for her.

Post match Diamante and Billie Starkz run in to beat down Purrazzo, with Adora joining in.

Athena is proud of her minions and wants to beat up Maya World, who attacked her at Global Wars. Therefore World has earned a match with Athena. A Proving Ground match of course. Because Heaven forbid it’s a title match.

Overall Rating: C. This show was back in the good old Ring Of Honor format of frustrating me to no end, as it’s over an hour and forty minutes long with matches seemingly pulled out of a hat. You could have easily dropped a handful of these matches and not lost a thing, but I’m wondering if this was due to the rumored studio show starting soon. Since Ring Of Honor had absolutely no choice but to tape and air all of these matches, they just didn’t have a choice otherwise.

Then you have the title situation, which is somehow getting worse. Either you have people getting title matches after almost no success (Zayda Steel), titles being defended at random after months of activity (Deonna Purrazzo), titles not being defended after a hiatus approaching enough time to conceive and have a baby (Nick Wayne) or just not being defended for three months (Athena, Shane Taylor Promotions, Bandido as of next week), I have no idea how the title process works around here.

There are WAY too many titles though and no sign of them ending, much like there is no sign of this place being well put together. Maybe the studio thing will help that, but I’m having fears of those nearly three hour shows that are just like this, with random matches up and down the card and talks of getting into title contention for hours on end. Not an awful show here, but good grief figure out how things are supposed to go around here and stick to it already.

Results
Adam Priest b. JD Drake – Rollup
TMDK b. Frat House – Fireman’s carry slam to Karter
Red Velvet b. Zayda Steel – Spinning kick to the face
Big Bill/Bryan Keith/Grizzled Young Veterans b. CJ Tino/Richie Slade/Che Guevara/Dom Kubrick – Big boot to Tino
Skyflight b. Adrian Quest/Ricky Gee/Danny Rose – Slingshot cutter to Gee
Jay Lethal b. Tommy Billington – Lethal Injection
Satnam Singh b. Jordan Oasis – Chokeslam
Persephone b. Johnnie Robbie – Razor’s Edge
Komander b. Tony Nese – Cielito Lindo
Nick Wayne b. Lucas Riley – Kick to the head

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

Dynamite
Date: December 31, 2025
Location: Liberty First Credit Union Arena, Ralston, Nebraska
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone

We’re done with Worlds End and we’re wrapping up the new year with MJF back on top of the mountain. MJF won the World Title again at the pay per view, marking what I’m sure will be a humble title reign. Other than that, we also have a new Continental Champion in Jon Moxley, whose losing ways were completely erased with a pair of huge wins on Saturday. Let’s get to it.

Here is Collision if you need a recap.

We get a recap of the bigger events of Worlds End.

IMG Credit: All Elite Wrestling

MJF arrives and it’s time for a championship celebration. On Saturday, he beat the franchise (Swerve), the Samoan Submission Machine (the Samoan) and the main character (Page) at once and that makes him the top man. The World Title is thrown down and the Triple B is back. He loves the idea that anyone thinks they can catch him, because he’s a stallion and he’s tired of walking around so everyone can keep up.

It’s time to sprint….but Kenny Omega pops up on screen. Omega knows his time is coming to an end, but what if he becomes World Champion again? He isn’t collecting belts anymore, because he’s collecting one belt. There are a lot of people coming for the belt and his name is on the list. MJF says Omega wouldn’t say that to his face but here are Hangman Page and Swerve Strickland in (different parts of) the crowd.

Security runs out to cut him off and says they need to earn a title shot by getting some wins. Page and Swerve get in the ring so MJF bails, leaving security to get beaten up. The two of them say they’re coming for the title but the Opps appear on screen. Samoa Joe says he should be the #1 contender but he’s sick of hearing about these two. He wants to wrap this up next week so it’s a lights out match.

The Conglomeration is ready for tonight when Toni Storm comes up next to Orange Cassidy (“Citrus Boy”). Mina Shirakawa comes up and is NOT happy but Storm insists it’s not like that. Storm does have Luther produce an orange for a big bite, but Shirakawa pulls her away. Mark Briscoe asks for a bite and Roderick Strong wants no part of this.

Orange Cassidy/Toni Storm/Roderick Strong vs. Death Riders

Tornado match. The men go to the floor to start, leaving Storm to hammer on Shafir inside. Castagnoli knocks Storm outside but gets dropkicked by Strong, who gets hammered in the corner by Garcia. Cassidy is back in for the save and puts his hands in his pockets to escape Shafir’s full nelson. The Riders beat the fire out of Cassidy and we take a break. We come back with Strong chopping his way out of trouble and giving Castagnoli an Angle Slam.

Cassidy and Storm get back inside for the dancing offense, plus a double hiptoss to Castagnoli. Storm teases her own Swing on Castagnoli, which is broken up due to avoiding the battle against the laws of physics. Strong has to save Cassidy from Mother’s Milk and it’s a Stundog Millionaire to Castagnoli. Storm gives him the hip attack but Wheeler Yuta shows up for a distraction, allowing Castagnoli to uppercut Cassidy for the pin at 9:38.

Rating: C+. I’m not sure why this was a tornado match, but the match seemed to be more about having an excuse to do the Storm/Cassidy stuff. Now granted, there’s nothing bad about that as those two have some great chemistry, though I’m not sure if that’s going to be anything more than a funny bit. The match itself was nothing out of the ordinary for everyone else, with the Death Riders being up to their old shenanigans.

Post match Mina Shirakawa comes in to yell at Cassidy, with Storm calming her down.

Video on Mercedes Mone and her very long TBS Title reign.

Bandido vs. The Beast Mortos

Non-title. Bandido flips around to start and does the bullfighting deal, likely in a tribute to Tito Santana. Mortos knocks him outside for the running flip dive but Bandido is back with a leg sweep into the gun pose inside. This time it’s Mortos being sent outside so Bandido can put on the cape and dive.

We take a break and come back with Bandido snapping off a very spinny headscissors into a frog splash for two. Mortos is right back with his big backbreaker into the discus lariat for two, followed by another lariat for zero. The moonsault misses though and Bandido is up with an impressive X Knee, followed by the 21 Plex for the pin at 9:56.

Rating: B-. I’m hardly surprised that these two worked well together as Bandido can work against anyone and Mortos is a great choice to face a fast moving star. It’s also a good way to build up Bandido before his title match against MJF in two weeks. That being said, I could go for having champions lose less often, as there are more than enough wrestlers on the roster to find someone for this spot who doesn’t have a title.

Post break Bandido and Brody King are in the back, with Bandido saying he’s ready to be the World Champion. Er, the AEW World Champion. King loves the idea, and says he’s first in line for the new champ. Works for King.

Brody King vs. Lee Johnson

Johnson jumps him to start but gets chopped down hard on the floor. The bell rings and Johnson gets a foot up, only to be blasted with a lariat. The cannonball and the piledriver finish for King at 52 seconds. Note that Johnson is set for a big match tomorrow on Ring Of Honor. This certainly makes me want to see more of him. They finally hype up a match for Ring Of Honor with some weeks of build and hype: the Swirl vs. Jay Lethal/Bandido. Instead though, here is one half of the Swirl getting squashed in less than a minute. Either make ROH seem important or get rid of it already.

And then the night before on Dynamite, half of the Swirl gets squashed in less than a minute. Because of course he does.

Darby Allin talks about how pain gives him peace. He wants the World Title, but first he needs to beat Pac to end this with the Death Riders.

IMG Credit: All Elite Wrestling

Josh Alexander vs. Jon Moxley

Non-title contenders match, as Alexander, with his two singles wins in eight and a half months in AEW, gets a chance to earn a title shot. Alexander hammers him in the back to start but Moxley is back up for the exchange of forearms. Moxley pounds him down in the corner before hitting the big big forearm. Back up and Alexander knocks him outside for a crash, with Moxley coming up holding his knee. Some shots in the Tree Of Woe have Moxley in more trouble and we take a break.

We come back with Alexander still working on the knee and they trade their signature holds. Moxley makes the rope rather than tapping to the ankle lock and they go to the apron. Neither can hit a piledriver so they strike it out until Alexander hits a World’s Strongest Slam. Back in and Alexander misses the moonsault so they trade more forearms.

The running cutter gives Moxley two and a hard clothesline turns Alexander inside out. Moxley knocks him outside for a dive, though the knee is banged up again. Alexander wraps the knee around the post and grabs the Hartbreaker. They get back inside with Moxley grabbing the bulldog choke, followed by the elbows to the face and another choke for the pin at 15:33.

Rating: B-. So I guess Moxley is just awesome again. After a few months of having troubles where he kept giving up and going against everything he spoke about, he’s just….back? Like he just woke up one day, decided he was done losing, and is unbeatable again? And we’re supposed to cheer him? Hopefully that isn’t where we’re going (and it very, very well may not be, as it’s still early in the new turn) because that’s a lot to take.

Post match Shelton Benjamin and MVP come out to stare Moxley down and he seems to be fine.

The Triangle Of Madness liked seeing Kris Statlander drop Jamie Hayter on her head. Let them take her place and make it really toxic.

IMG Credit: All Elite Wrestling

National Title: Jack Perry vs. Ricochet

Perry, with Luchasaurus (whose shoulder is banged up), is challenging and the Gates Of Agony are here with Ricochet. Perry backs him up against the ropes to start so Ricochet grabs a wristlock. After some glaring between the big guys on the floor, Perry and Ricochet trade some flips until Ricochet is sent outside. Perry’s dive sends him into the barricade but Luchasaurus gets beaten down, allowing Ricochet to hit a dive of his own as we take a break.

We come back with Ricochet rolling some suplexes into a running shooting star press for two. A big running clothesline gives Perry two but the threat of the running knee sends Ricochet out to the apron. Perry follows him to the floor for a sitout bulldog, only to get crotched on top. He’s fine enough to give Ricochet a top rope tornado DDT but the Gates offer a distraction, meaning the Spirit Gun can retain the title at 10:15.

Rating: B-. I still have almost no idea why this title needs to exist but Ricochet cheating like a weasel to win is a fine way to go. It’s nice that they set this up on Saturday and then did the title match here, though there is still only so much to get out of Ricochet having the title. In theory they’ll have something better going forward, but this was about as basic as you can get (which isn’t a terrible thing).

Post match Luchasaurus gets beaten down, which might be a way to write him off to heal up that shoulder.

Jon Moxley, with the Death Riders, are fine with fighting Shelton Benjamin. As for Darby Allin, if he wants to face Pac, he…has to face Wheeler Yuta first.

Willow Nightingale is ready to get her title back.

MJF is ready to make his previous title run look like nothing but Bandido and Brody King interrupt. King says MJF needs to worry about Bandido, rather than Kenny Omega and company.

TBS Title: Mercedes Mone vs. Willow Nightingale

Nightingale is challenging and gets knocked outside to start fast, with Mone sending her into the barricade. Mone’s running knees only hit the barricade and Nightingale absolutely smashes her with a clothesline back inside. A middle rope dropkick knocks Mone outside again, with the apron cannonball dropping her again. Mone is able to send her into the steps though and the running knees connect as we take a break.

We come back with Nightingale hitting a Death Valley Driver and they’re both down. Nightingale hits a Pounce into another Death Valley Driver for two. The Babe With The Powerbomb gets the same as Mone gets over to the ropes. Nightingale misses a moonsault but she gets her knees up to block a frog splash.

An AA onto the apron drops Mone again but another cannonball misses. Mone can’t get the Three Amigos so Nightingale clears off the announcers’ table, where Mone hits the third suplex. Back in and Mone elbows her into the Statement Maker but Nightingale powers out rather quickly. The Babe With The Powerbomb is blocked so they trade rollups, only for Nightingale to hit the Babe With The Powerbomb for the pin and the title at 15:24.

Rating: B. This was a match where it felt like they were building up to something special and then they paid it off with the big title change. Mone has been losing a lot lately, but at least she finally lost the big title. I’m not sure what is going on with Mone next, but at least Nightingale got her big singles win. Nightingale has been having some success lately and that is great after seeing her come up short so many times. Nice ending here, which is a good way to close out the year.

Various stars, including Kris Statlander, come out to celebrate to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. The ending was more than good enough to make the show a success, though there were a few things that got on my nerves here. That’s the usual for AEW, as they have quite a few good things and some less than appealing ones, though also as usual, the good outweighed the bad. MJF as World Champion again is good, but I’m going to need some more time with the new Moxley. Good show here, with a great finale.

Results
Death Riders b. Orange Cassidy/Toni Storm/Roderick Strong – Swiss Death to Cassidy
Bandido b. The Beast Mortos – 21 Plex
Jon Moxley b. Josh Alexander – Bulldog choke
Ricochet b. Jack Perry – Spirit Gun
Willow Nightingale b. Mercedes Mone – Babe With The Powerbomb

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: December 18, 2025
Location: Utilita Arena Cardiff, Cardiff, Wales
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

We’re in the UK so it’s time for Global Wars, meaning Ring Of Honor vs. wrestlers from the international location. That could make for some interesting stuff, though it’s basically what we’ve been seeing on Dark and the other AEW shows since they’ve been in the UK. There are some rather talented UK wrestlers out there so hopefully most of them come in here. Let’s get to it.

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

Michael Oku vs. Rocky Romero

Amira Blair is here with Oku. Romero shoves him away to start but can’t get a song from the fans. A running hurricanrana and dropkick have Romero down but Romero goes after the arm. Oku is sent outside to stay on the arm and a double stomp gives Romero two back inside. The Forever Lariats are cut off with a dropkick though and Oku grabs a DDT for two.

It’s way too early for Oku’s half crab or Lionsault so he triangle dropkicks Romero to the floor. The running flip dive takes Romero out again and they both go up top, where Oku wins a slugout. Romero is able to crotch him on top though and it’s a butterfly superplex into a cross armbreaker. Oku switches that into a half crab, which is reversed as well, meaning Oku goes with a jumping knee. The half crab goes on again and Romero taps at 9:46.

Rating: C+. I still don’t get the massive appeal of Oku and I don’t get the appeal of Romero in the slightest. Oku is by far the more interesting and smoother of the two in the ring though and the fans were way behind him here. That made for a nice opener and the match was a nice mixture of technical wrestling and high flying.

Evil Uno vs. Mark Davis

Davis chops away to start and Uno gets fired up. He also gets dropped with a running shoulder and they go outside, where Davis’ chop hits chair. Back in and Uno fires off his own chops but gets German suplexed. The chinlock goes on for a bit, only for Uno’s DDT to connect for two. Uno’s Swanton gets two but Davis catches him with an enziguri. A running lariat finishes Uno at 6:36.

Rating: C-. This was as Ring Of Honor of a match as you could get, as Uno and Davis are the definitions of “these guys are still under contract?”. The match was fine enough, but this felt like it should have been the opener of a boring house show. These guys are ok in stables or on a team, but seeing them in a singles match is quite the stretch.

Video on Athena and Billie Starkz and their recent issues.

Madison Rayne thinks she still has something to give. She’s coming for Athena and Diamante.

Nina Samuels vs. Alex Windsor

Windsor takes her over with a headlock to start before working on the arm. Samuels can’t roll her way out and gets sent outside for a dive off the apron. Back in and Samuels kicks her in the head and stomps away, meaning it’s time to rake the eyes. Samuels pulls on the arms in the ropes and we hit the chinlock.

Windsor fights up with some clotheslines and something like a Blue Thunder Bomb gets two. An ax kick gives Samuels two of her own and she forearms Windsor down. A tilt-a-whirl backbreaker drops Windsor again but she’s back with a hard clothesline to give us a double breather. Windsor is back with a twisting superplex into a Sharpshooter to make Samuels tap at 8:29.

Rating: C+. It’s nice to have Windsor back as she’s one of the better stars to be added to the women’s division in a bit. It wouldn’t surprise me to see her answer Mercedes Mone’s challenge for the Rev Pro Women’s Title on Collision. Samuels is someone who has done well in almost every promotion I’ve seen her in, though she doesn’t seen to stick for some reason.

Lee Johnson vs. Lio Rush

Rush starts fast and sends him outside, where Blake Christian cuts off a dive. Back in and Johnson avoids a cutter but gets sent outside again, this time for a heck of a suicide dive. Christian offers another distraction though and Johnson grabs a side slam for two. Rush manages a spinning DDT though and starts hammering away. Now the cutter can connect, followed by a spinning kick to the head for two. Johnson avoids a charge in the corner though and grabs a snap suplex. Rush fights back but has to deal with Christian, allowing Johnson to roll him up with feet on the ropes for the pin at 6:57.

Rating: C+. Another nice match here with both of them moving rather fast. Johnson relying on Christian to win is a fine way to go, but at the same time, get them in the Tag Team Title picture already. Either that or have Christian get his singles match for the World Title already, which is far from a bad idea.

Post match Christian brags about how the Swirl started this show but the World Champion isn’t here. Christian snapped Bandido’s arm and put him on the shelf at Final Battle so come get your arm snapped now.

Blake Christian vs. Angelico

Serpentico is here with Angelico. They trade takedowns to start with Angelico grabbing an armbar. Back up with Christian gets in his own takedown into a Jay Lethal strut. Angelico is sent outside for a spinning suicide dive before Christian goes after the arm. Angelico’s clothesline and kick to the head get two, followed by a spinning Downward Spiral for two. A Spanish Fly gives Christian two of his own and it’s a Lethal Injection to finish Angelico at 6:43.

Rating: C. Angelico is becoming the definition of someone who is just there too. You know the match you’re going to get from him and he doesn’t win any matches. That makes it a bit tedious to see him announced, as there’s no drama or surprise with him. Christian continues to grow on me, and at least they didn’t have this go too long.

Post match Christian goes after Angelico again and Serpentico gets taken out as well.

Session Moth Martina vs. Red Velvet

Non-title Proving Ground match, meaning if Martina wins or lasts the ten minute time limit, she gets a future TV Title shot. Martina (who is basically a walking party) gets Velvet to dance to start and they trade headlocks. Velvet gets two off a leg lariat but Martina is back up with a dropkick. A spinning suplex gives Martina two more and they go to the corner, where an Iconoclasm pulls Martina down for two. Velvet kicks her down and hits Straight Out Your Mama’s Kitchen for the pin at 3:58.

Rating: C. Martina is often a lot of fun and one of the most entertaining people you’ll see on a show, but she didn’t get to showcase that here. It made for a less than interesting match, as they were in and out of there so fast. Velvet getting a mostly dominant win isn’t a bad idea at all though as she’s been doing rather well since she came back.

Wheeler Yuta vs. ???

It’s an open challenge and it’s Nigel McGuinness accepting. McGuinness says that Yuta ended Bryan Danielson’s career and that killed the Batman to McGuinness’ Joker, so it’s time for revenge. That….oddly makes sense. Slightly less sense? Someone answering an open challenge having an announced weight. They fight over wrist control to start before Yuta avoids a rebound lariat. A LeBell Lock is quickly escaped and Yuta wrestles him down, only to get stomped on the arm.

McGuinness takes him down by the arm and leans back on it (ouch) but Yuta is back up with a running dropkick. Cattle Mutilation has McGuinness in more trouble but he slips out and hits a running uppercut in the corner. Yuta’s running knee is cut off with a hard clothesline but the London Dungeon is escaped. They trade crossfaces until Yuta uses the ropes to escape, only to get blasted by a clothesline to give McGuinness the win at 10:48.

Rating: B-. This wasn’t a classic match, but it was more than good enough. At the same time though, this was a great idea for a main event as McGuinness is not only a legend, but a national star for England. It felt like a special treat and that’s a smart way to go to wrap up the show. McGuinness can more than still go in the ring and beating up Yuta is always fun to see.

Overall Rating: C+. The best thing about this show was that it felt different from the usual dull Ring Of Honor show. It had a hot crowd and a theme to the show which made it feel more interesting. While the action wasn’t exactly great, I’ll take something like this over the same stuff that we get time after time. It might not have been a great show, but the main event was fun and the whole thing worked well enough.

Results
Michael Oku b. Rocky Romero – Half crab
Mark Davis b. Evil Uno – Clothesline
Alex Windsor b. Nina Samuels – Sharpshooter
Lee Johnson b. Lio Rush – Rollup with feet on the ropes
Blake Christian b. Angelico – Lethal Injection
Red Velvet b. Session Moth Martina – Straight Out Your Mama’s Kitchen
Nigel McGuinness b. Wheeler Yuta – Lariat

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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Final Battle 2025
Date: December 5, 2025
Location: Greater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, Ohio
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman, Jon Moxley

It’s the biggest show of the year and most of the card was actually set up in advance. The main event is a six way Survival Of The Fittest, which should be fun and quite the spectacle. Other than that, the vacant Tag Team Titles are to be decided and various other titles are on the line. Let’s get to it.

Zero Hour: Premiere Athletes vs. Outrunners

Mark Sterling and Stori Denali are here with the Athletes and Sterling says the Outrunners are the long term effects of unfiltered cigarettes. Magnum and Nese start things off with Nese backing him into the corner to little effect. Instead Nese moonsaults over a charging Magnum, who grabs a running headscissors to take Nese down. The other two come in and it’s a double suplex to drop the Athletes again.

Back in and Sterling’s distraction has Magnum in trouble for a change, allowing Sterling to choke away on the rope. Magnum avoids a charge and the needed tag brings in Floyd to clean house. Everything breaks down and Total Recall gets two, with Nese making the save. Nese is back in with a superkick, allowing Daivari to hit one of his own. Magnum drops Daivari but gets distracted by Sterling, allowing Denali to take Magnum down. The Magic Carpet Ride gets two and the Outrunners get fired up, allowing Total Recall to finish Daivari at 9:15.

Rating: C. This could have been on any given edition of the weekly show and that makes for quite the uninteresting addition here. This match wasn’t announced in advance and feels like it was just there to boost up the already high match count. I have no reason to believe the Outrunners are going to be near the Tag Team Titles anytime soon, but at least they got to use this ten minutes instead.

Zero Hour: Zayda Steel vs. Leila Grey

Steel is recently departed from the WWE ID Program and Evolve. Steel tries a quick rollup to start and they trade running elbows against the ropes. Grey avoids a running knee in the corner but comes back with a sling blade for two. A hard clothesline drops Steel as commentary ignores the match to talk about Survival Of The Fittest.

Angel’s Wings is countered into a half crab to put Grey in trouble (on YouTube, the feed went out here and the rest of the match wasn’t aired) but she manages to power out. A bulldog out of the corner drops Steel but she sends Grey outside for a nice dive. Back in and Steel hits a tornado DDT, only for Grey to roll through into the Angel’s Wings to finish at 6:33.

Rating: C. I had to watch this in two parts due to the transmission issues and it didn’t really make things much better. Grey has all kinds of charisma and could be something if she’s given a chance (and some more polishing in the ring). Steel is someone who will get a chance given her look and background, which are more than enough in the Ring Of Honor women’s division.

Zero Hour: Ace Austin vs. Lee Johnson

Feeling out process to start with Austin using the speed to take over. A bridging rollup gets two, with Johnson having to go to the eyes to escape. Austin suplexes him out to the floor but gets sent into the steps for his efforts. Back in and Johnson hammers away at the banged up face before taking him back outside. The moonsault from the barricade into the reverse DDT plants Austin on the floor but he’s fine enough to avoid a clothesline back inside.

A guillotine legdrop hits Johnson and a doctor bomb gets two more. Austin misses the Fold and gets caught with a Blue Thunder Bomb for another near fall. Johnson’s half and half suplex drops Austin again but he escapes a powerbomb. The pop up version of the powerbomb drops Austin for two but he kicks Johnson in the face. The Fold finishes for Austin at 9:26.

Rating: B-. The crowd wasn’t overly interested but this was a case of two talented stars getting to showcase themselves. Austin feels like he could be a star if he’s given the chance and while this is about as low on the totem pole as you can be, at least he won. Now just do something with him and see what he can do.

Zero Hour: Death Riders vs. Grizzled Young Veterans

Jon Moxley is on commentary as Yuta takes Drake down by the hair to start. Garcia comes in and goes with some grappling, only to be sent outside by Drake. The fans approve as he gets back in and is knocked down just as fast. Garcia finally manages to knock him down and goes after the arm before Yuta’s German suplex gets two. Drake fights out of trouble and brings in Gibson, who snaps off a suplex into the corner.

The Riders shrug that off and it’s a middle rope forearm Hart Attack to Gibson. Yuta takes Drake out and it’s a splash to Gibson to set up the Dragontamer. The rope is eventually reached and Gibson knocks both of them down, allowing the tag back to Drake. A nearly Coast To Coast missile dropkick gets two on Yuta as Moxley is getting fired up. Drake gets sent outside and a chop block cuts Gibson down. Yuta’s running knee finishes at 10:03.

Rating: C+. And the Riders are around again, despite doing nothing out of their ordinary here. It’s another match that felt like it was there for the sake of tacking on another episode of the weekly show before we get to the biggest show of the year. Just more filler content and hardly anything noteworthy.

And now, the show proper.

The opening video talks about how many things have changed in the last year. I’m really not sure how much I’d focus on the pace of changes in Ring Of Honor.

We recap the Women’s Pure Title tournament. Almost eight months after it was announced, we’re finally at the finals, with the woman who was favored to win the thing from the beginning included.

Women’s Pure Title: Deonna Purrazzo vs. Billie Starkz

For the inaugural title and Purrazzo takes her down into the Fujiwara armbar at the bell. Starkz burns off her first rope break less than twenty seconds in so Purrazzo grabs a headlock. An armbar keeps Starkz in trouble but the Fujiwara armbar is reversed into a rollup for two. They fight outside with Starkz sending her into the steps a few times, as this is stretching the “pure” moniker.

Back in and Starkz works on the arm before grabbing what looks like a Tazmission. That’s broken up and Starkz is sent outside for a baseball slide. Starkz shrugs that off and forearms away but clotheslines the post by mistake. A Russian legsweep sends Starkz back first into the announcers’ table and they go back inside. They trade kicks to the face until Purrazzo hits a discus lariat to leave both of them down.

Back up and they forearm it out with Purrazzo knee lifting her into the Fujiwara armbar. Another rope break gets Starkz out as Moxley sounds like he’s finally understanding Pure Rules (which isn’t a good sign that he didn’t seem to get them for the first ten minutes). They fight to the apron, where Starkz hits an Alabama Slam into a running Swanton to the back.

The Swanton gives Starkz two and a choke sends Purrazzo over for her first rope break. Purrazzo is back up with a German suplex into the Gotch style piledriver for two. The threat of the Venus de Milo has Starkz using her third rope break so Purrazzo cranks on both arms in the ropes. Starkz breaks out and hits a spinning Downward Spiral. The Swanton is loaded up but Purrazzo reverses into the Venus de Milo in the middle of the ring for the tap at 13:52.

Rating: B-. The action was good, but there was pretty much nothing here that mattered with the Pure Rules. It was basically Purrazzo trying to get her big hold and then finally managing to get it on. You could have dropped the Pure Rules from the whole thing and it wouldn’t have particularly mattered. It doesn’t help that the tournament turned into a running joke in Ring Of Honor and there was almost no way to make it live up to the hype. Certainly not a bad match, but at usual, just nothing that felt like you needed to see the thing.

Post match Queen Aminata comes out for the staredown.

We recap Nigel McGuinness vs. Lee Moriarty. They had a Pure Rules Title match last year with Moriarty winning but then McGuinness beat him in a four way match. Somehow this counts as making them 1-1 against each other so now it’s a 30 minute Iron Man match. Non-title of course.

Nigel McGuinness vs. Lee Moriarty

Non-title thirty minute Iron Man match and Shane Taylor is here with Moriarty. McGuinness wears the old Pure Rules Title because….I guess it looks nice? They go technical to start with neither being able to get very far. The threat of a rebound lariat has Moriarty stepping away and it’s an early standoff. Moxley talks about the Heartland Wrestling Association as McGuinness escapes a cravate. McGuinness misses another rebound lariat but grabs some rollups for two each. The Border City Stretch makes McGuinness tap at 3:45 for the first fall.

Moriarty – 1
McGuinness – 0

McGuinness takes over with a wristlock so Moriarty rolls around and picks the ankle, only to get caught in a cravate. An uppercut knocks Moriarty into the corner and McGuinness is getting frustrated. They fight over an abdominal stretch until Moriarty has to go to the ropes. The Tower Of London is broken up and Moriarty goes outside, where McGuinness chops him down with twenty minutes to go. Back in and Moriarty grabs a small package for the pin at 10:56.

Moriarty – 2
McGuinness – 0

McGuinness manages to grab a quick hammerlock DDT before twisting the arm around as a bonus. Moriarty reverses into an ankle twist as the fans start chanting for McGuinness. The London Dungeon is broken up so McGuinness twists him down by the arm. A double arm crank is broken up, leaving McGuinness to use his feet to snap the arm instead.

Moriarty knocks him off the top and hits a high crossbody. McGuinness is right back with the London Dungeon, sending Moriarty right back to the rope. They trade chops in the corner until McGuinness pokes him in the eye (and shrugs in a nice moment). McGuinness goes back to the arm and grabs the London Dungeon to finally make Moriarty tap at 19:08.

Moriarty – 2
McGuinness – 1

You can see McGuinness’ confidence kick in as he knows he can beat Moriarty. McGuinness goes after the arm again but Moriarty rolls him up for the fall at 19:48.

Moriarty – 3
McGuinness – 1

McGuinness goes after the arm again and ties it up using his legs. Moriarty manages to slip out and it’s time to trade uppercuts. Moriarty’s missed charge in the corner lets McGuinness grab a neckbreaker out of said corner for two. A London Dungeon with a backbreaker is broken up so McGuinness switches into a triangle choke.

McGuiness’ LeBell Lock sends Moriarty to the ropes with five minutes to go. Another hammerlock DDT is countered into a rollup for two so McGuinness hits the rebound lariat for tow more. They go outside with Moriarty choking him out for a near countout as McGuinness manages to beat the count. The Border City Stretch goes on but McGuinness reverses into a rollup for the pin at 28:10.

Moriarty – 3
McGuinness – 2

Back up and they collide for a double down as we have a minute left. McGuinness pulls him into another rollup for the pin at 29:30.

Moriarty – 3
McGuinness – 3

McGuinness grabs a rollup for another fall at 29:48.

McGuinness – 4
Moriarty – 3

Taylor punches McGuinness out and Moriarty gets the pin at 29:59.

Moriarty – 4
McGuinness – 4

And then time expires. Hold on though as McGuinness goes to leave but Moriarty wants sudden death. McGuinness is back in and rolls Moriarty up with trunks for two. A sunset flip gets the same and they trade rollups for two each. It works so well that they do it again, with Moriarty grabbing a European clutch for the pin at 34:08.

Moriarty – 5
McGuinness – 4

Rating: B+. I loved that last bit of regulation time as I wasn’t expecting two straight falls in such a short span of time. It made for some nice extra drama and that’s what I wanted to see out of something like this. Moriarty winning is the right move as this needs to wrap everything up. McGuinness has lost to him twice now and that should be it for their rivalry, which is what it should have been. Rather good match though, with a heck of a story involved.

Post match McGuinness gives Moriarty the old title as major respect is shown.

Jon Moxley grabs the mic and talks about the Don Callis Family. Those guys thinking they’re owed something but he was raised and fortified by Ohio tap water. If Konosuke Takeshita wants to make any ground in the tournament, he’s going to have to take it from him.

We recap Mercedes Mone defending the Women’s TV Title against Red Velvet. This is one of Mone’s titles and now Velvet, who was out of action for months of her reign, is getting her rematch.

Women’s TV Title: Red Velvet vs. Mercedes Mone

Mone is defending and gets jumped during the Big Match Intros. They fight over small packages for some near falls each until Velvet misses a standing moonsault. Mone slams her down for two more and it’s off to a double arm crank. Three Amigos have Velvet in more trouble but a frog splash hits raised knees. Velvet slugs away and hits some running knees to the back.

Some stomping and choking, include Velvet doing the splits, have Mone in more trouble but she manages to send Velvet outside. The Meteora off the steps connect with Velvet, followed by the running knees against the ropes back inside. Mone takes her up top and it’s a super victory roll to give Velvet two. A Backstabber and gutbuster give Mone two and it’s time to get frustrated.

What looks like a super Tombstone is countered into a flipping faceplant into the Final Slice gives Velvet two. That means a stunned face off the kickout but the Mone Maker is countered into a faceplant for two more. Velvet kicks her in the head for another near fall but Mone gets the Statement Maker. That’s broken up with a kick off the ropes…and Velvet cradles her for the pin and the title at 13:45.

Rating: B+. Well that was awesome. I’m not sure what to think as I’ve never seen Velvet come anywhere close to what she did here and it was a heck of a match. What matters the most is that Mone put her over clean, which is what has been a rare situation for her in AEW/ROH. Awesome stuff here, and if Velvet can do this going forward, I can more than live with it.

Post match Velvet is thrilled and Mone is devastated.

We recap the Tag Team Title match. La Faccion Ingobernable had to vacate the titles due to Rush being injured so the titles have been held up. Former champion Sammy Guevara is teaming with the Beast Mortos against….a team who has never had a regular tag match before. Because Ring Of Honor.

Tag Team Titles: La Faccion Ingobernable vs. Adam Priest/Tommy Billington

For the vacant titles. Guevara and Billington start things off with Billington working on the arm to keep Guevara down. That’s broken up and Guevara knocks him away, meaning it’s time to yell at the fans. Billington goes to the leg and Guevara is quickly over to the ropes for some safety. Priest comes in to hammer on Mortos in the corner, earning a choke shove. Guevara jumps in on commentary to brag about the team’s success as Billington dropkicks Mortos.

A double backdrop puts Mortos down for two but he’s right back with a neck twist to Priest. Guevara comes in (the fans cannot stand him) for a basement superkick and it’s already back to Mortos (the fans can stand him a bit more). The right hands in the corner have Priest staggered and the villains get to take turns beating on him. Priest is able to come back with a middle rope tornado DDT and the much needed tag brings Billington back in.

The missile dropkick gets two on Mortos, who is right back with a Samoan drop for two more. Something like a Doomsday Device is broken up and Mortos misses a charge into the corner. A running clothesline/German suplex combination drops Mortos for another near fall and priest snaps off a super hurricanrana. Cue Hechicero to shove Priest off the top though and Mortos’ corkscrew moonsault pins Billington for the titles at 13:11.

Rating: B-. There wasn’t much to this one, as the action was fine but there was no reason for Billington and Priest to get the title shot. You have all kinds of teams on the ROH roster and yet here’s a team just being thrown out there for the vacant titles. It’s like they do all of the work and then just do something else at the last minute. I don’t get it, but it’s a good example of the problems with the weekly show. Either way, nice enough match here, but absolutely nothing memorable.

We recap Eddie Kingston vs. Josh Woods. They have no story here, as this is just a way to build Kingston up for his AEW World Title shot next week. That’s it.

Eddie Kingston vs. Josh Woods

Woods goes for the legs to start but Kingston pulls him down into a quick neckbreaker. Back up and a springboard kick to the head drops Kingston, allowing Woods to go after the arm. That’s broken up as well and Kingston starts hammering him down but Woods is back with shots of his own. They trade the strikes until it’s a double down for a fairly early breather.

Woods gets the better of things but walks into a German suplex. Kingston fires off chops in the corner but gets caught in an armbar. That’s broken up as well and Kingston fires off some headbutts in the corner. Even Kingston is a bit staggered but he’s able to superplex Woods down for two. The Rolling Chaos Theory gives Woods two more, with Kingston grabbing the rope. Back up and Kingston grabs a German suplex to drop Woods, allowing Kingston to shout about Samoa Joe. The DDT finishes Woods off at 9:45.

Rating: B-. They beat each other up here but there was only so much to be gotten out of two people who don’t have any issues. This was all about warming Kingston up for the World Title match next week, which means this didn’t need to be on the pay per view. Put this on Collision instead and let the show breathe a bit.

Post match, respect is shown.

We recap the Six Man Tag Team Titles. Shane Taylor Promotions have been champions for a bit and SkyFlight wanted a shot. End of build.

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

The Promotions are defending and jump them from behind to start fast. SkyFlight fights back and a jumping back elbow puts Dean down. It’s time to alternate shots on Dean’s arm until Dean gets Dante into the corner for a cheap shot. Taylor comes in to hammer Darius down in the corner before the Infantry gets to slug him against the ropes. Darius fights back but gets sent into the corner again, meaning Taylor can come in to be imposing.

The big splash gives Taylor two and it’s back to Dean, who knocks Dante outside. The running shot in the corner hits Darius and the big running flip dive takes Dante down again. Back up and Dante manages to be on the apron for the tag. House is quickly cleaned but Trish Adora trips Dante from the floor. Leila Grey takes her shoes off for the big brawl and here is Christopher Daniels to Angel’s Wings Anthony Ogogo. Everything breaks down and Taylor knocks Darius silly with the right hand, giving Dean the retaining pin at 11:30.

Rating: C+. Much like the Tag Team Title match, this didn’t have much in the way of a story to the whole thing. It was just a match between two teams, with the Promotions getting a successful title defense. It’s certainly not bad, but there’s only so much you can get out of a match with so little build put in.

We recap Ricochet defending the National Title against Dalton Castle. Ricochet won the inaugural title last month and is making the first defense of an AEW title in ROH. Castle has messed with Ricochet and has had two matches this week to get ready. Granted they were trios matches but you can’t expect it to be that much better.

AEW National Title: Dalton Castle vs. Ricochet

Ricochet is defending. They take their time to start until Ricochet grabs an early rollup for two. Castle takes him down as well and we get a lap around the ring, including the Boys. Back in and Castle takes him down again, setting up the falling splash and a spinning elbow to the face. Ricochet bails out to the floor and hits one of the Boys, meaning Castle needs to check on him.

That’s fine with Ricochet, who is right back with a running flip dive, followed by a Steve Austin middle rope elbow for two. Castle is sent into the corner for a legsweep into a slingshot dropkick. Ricochet goes up so Castle rolls away in a smart move. Ricochet’s handspring is countered into a German suplex and there’s a suplex to drop Ricochet again. The reverse Sling Blade gives Castle two so Ricochet is back up with an enziguri. A Lionsault gives Ricochet two but the Spirit Gun misses.

Ricochet escapes the Bang A Rang and grabs a standing Sliced Bread #2 for two. Some kind of big flip off the top misses for Ricochet and they fight over suplexes onto and back off of the apron. Castle manages to drop him onto the apron and it’s the Bang A Rang back inside for the near fall. Ricochet is sent outside again and this time he throws one of the Boys at Castle. That’s enough of a distraction for the Spirit Gun to retain the title at 14:57.

Rating: B. Once you saw Castle messing with the Demand, you knew the match was going to be good due to the talent involved. That was exactly what happened here and it made for a solid match. While calling Ring Of Honor an outside promotion, at least it’s a first step in the title actually feeling different.

We recap the World Title match. Rush is injured so Bandido is defending against five people in an elimination match. End of build.

Ring Of Honor World Title: Bandido vs. Blake Christian vs. Sammy Guevara vs. The Beast Mortos vs. Hechicero vs. Komander

Bandido is defending in Survival Of The Fittest (elimination rules). There are no tags so we have Guevara and Mortos getting boos/cheers for a bit before everyone fights to the floor. Christian is fine enough to stand back and watch as Komander is sent into the corner by Guevara and Mortos. Hechicero and Mortos want Christian inside so Christian goes after Mortos to limited success.

Back in and Christian takes Guevara down but walks into a gutbuster. Mortos spears Hechicero down to end their brief alliance but Hechicero fights out of the corner. A tilt-a-whirl backbreaker drops Guevara, only for Christian to send Hechicero outside for a heck of a dive.

Back in and Christian gets beaten up by Komander and Bandido, with Bandido’s corkscrew high crossbody hitting Christian and Guevara. Bandido isn’t done as he kind of powerbombs Komander onto the villains on the floor. Christian is brought back in and flipped into a backbreaker for two but Guevara breaks up Bandido vs. Komander. Guevara gets X Kneed into the Cielito Lindo for the first elimination at 11:25.

Mortos is back in to clean house but Komander cuts him off with a springboard poisonrana (dang). Bandido grabs a German suplex on Mortos and Hechicero’s hurricanrana driver finishes Mortos at 13:01. Hechicero isn’t done as he cross armbreakers Bandido but Komander makes a kind of questionable save. Bandido and Komander go up top, where Christian’s springboard hurricanrana brings them down, with Komander giving Bandido a super Spanish Fly. Well that was a mess, albeit an awesome one. Christian cutters Komander for the elimination at 15:28 and we’re down to Christian vs. Bandido vs. Hechicero.

Bandido’s leg gets tied up in the ropes with Hechicero cranking away before everyone gets two off a rollup. Christian superkicks Hechicero by mistake, allowing Bandido to hit a running hurricanrana to the floor. Back in and a frog splash gives Bandido two on Christian, whose Lethal Injection gets the same on Bandido. An X Knee staggers Christian and Hechicero is back in with the spinning hammerlock backbreaker for a rather near fall. Hechicero chokes Bandido, who jumps up and sunset flips Christian for the elimination at 20:36.

That leaves us with Bandido vs. Hechicero for the title (again) so Christian jumps Bandido and reinjures his shoulder. We pause for the medics to check on him before Hechicero sends the shoulder into the corner. A backdrop sends Bandido onto the apron and he lands on the steps, with Hechicero’s slingshot dive only hitting said steps. Bandido’s running suicide dive takes Hechicero out again but he’s back up with a rather spinning rollup for two. Hechicero’s electric chair is countered into a poisonrana and a small package retains Bandido’s title at 27:55.

Rating: B+. They did a very nice job here with the fast paced action, which is quite impressive given how thrown together the whole thing felt. I’m not sure on Bandido retaining here, but they’re doing a good job of making him feel like THE star. Hechicero continues to look good and Christian is still someone who could make for a great annoying champion. Solid stuff here, though I’m not sure how great of a choice it was for the World Title match on the biggest show of the year.

A rather psychotic looking Mercedes Mone is upset but Leila Grey comes in to say she might be the next TBS Champion. Mone freaks out and the match is set for Collision this week.

Here’s what’s coming on Dynamite.

We recap Athena defending the Women’s Title against Persephone. Athena has been champion for years and Persephone has indeed wrestled in Ring Of Honor before.

Women’s Title: Athena vs. Persephone

Athena, with Diamante, is defending and does not seem impressed to start. The tease of a test of strength lets Athena dance a bit so Persephone slaps her in the face. Another shot knocks Athena outside for a meeting with Diamante. Athena tells the fans that this is her show before heading back inside, where Persephone hits her in the face. This time Athena heads outside again, where Persephone gets hit in the face for a change.

A Codebreaker off the steps drops Persephone again but Athena seems to hurt her back. They get back inside, where Athena manages a belly to back suplex for two, though her back is giving her trouble. Diamante gets in a quick cheap shot and Athena hits a faceplant onto the apron. Persephone manages a swinging Irish Curse for two as she has quite the target. A rollup gives Athena two but Persephone is right back to the injured back. They head outside again, where Athena gets slammed HARD onto the announcers’ table, sending her bailing to the ropes.

Stereo clotheslines leave them both down before a big boot drops Athena for two more. Athena manages to catch her in a handstand, with a dropkick sending Persephone outside. Persephone is fine enough to counter a suicide dive into a fall away slam on the floor. Diamante tries to interfere and gets kicked in the face for her efforts. A missile dropkick gives Persephone two and it’s off to something like a modified Sharpshooter.

That’s enough to send Athena to the ropes and she’s back up with a springboard moonsault for two. Athena can’t get an Alabama Slam but she can get a Koji Clutch. Persephone gets out so Athena grabs it again, with Persephone getting a foot on the rope. Athena yells at her a lot, earning herself a northern lights suplex. The Razor’s Edge gives Persephone two the shock is real. Persephone takes too long loading up a moonsault and gets German superplexed back down. The O Face retains the title at 27:09.

Rating: B+. These two beat the living daylights out of each other and Athena’s insane reign continues. I’m not sure who is going to take the title from her (please no on the Billie Starkz stuff, as we’ve been there TWICE) but it’s going to be quite the moment. Persephone felt like a star as well, and it would have been even better if she had done anything of note in ROH just yet.

Athena celebrates with Diamante and Billie Starkz to end the show.

Overall Rating: B+. It’s a really good show with some outstanding action, but sweet goodness it’s the third Ring Of Honor show of the week and the whole thing breaks five hours. While I was enjoying the matches, I was sick of hearing the same commentary and seeing the same logos after so much of them this week.

As is so often the case with something from Tony Khan, the wrestling is enough to make the show work, but the illogical (or in ROH, the almost non-existing) booking holds it back. Figure those things out and make the weekly show worth anything and this stuff could be great, because the wrestling is more than good enough to be worth a look.

Results
Outrunners b. Premiere Athletes – Total Recall to Daivari
Leila Grey b. Zayda Steel – Angel’s Wings
Ace Austin b. Lee Johnson – The Fold
Death Riders b. Grizzled Young Veterans – Running knee to Gibson
Deonna Purrazzo b. Billie Starkz – Venus de Milo
Lee Moriarty b. Nigel McGuinness 5-4
Red Velvet b. Mercedes Mone – Cradle
La Faccion Ingobernable b. Adam Priest/Tommy Billington – Corkscrew moonsault to Billington
Eddie Kingston b. Josh Woods – DDT
Shane Taylor Promotions b. SkyFlight – Right hand to Darius
Ricochet b. Dalton Castle – Spirit Gun
Bandido won Survival Of The Fittest last eliminating Hechicero
Athena b. Persephone – O Face

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 25, 2025
Location: 2300 Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

We’re a few months away from Final Battle but before we start the build towards the biggest show of the year, we actually have a title match with some build this week. The Tag Team Titles are on the line, as Sammy Guevara and Rush are going to be defending against the Von Erichs. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

We run down the card.

At All Out, Bandido and Brody King talked about how much they’re willing to do to defend their titles. Their AEW titles.

Bandido vs. Dralistico

Non-title Proving Ground match, meaning if Dralistico (with Rush) wins or lasts the ten minute time limit, he gets a future title shot. Dralistico flips him off to start and bails out to the floor, with Bandido following but getting sent into the barricade. Back in and a superkick cuts Bandido down again and Dralistico hammers away in the corner. Bandido slugs back and snaps off a running hurricanrana, followed by the gorilla press for two. Rush trips Bandido and gets tossed as a result. Well that was done quickly. Rushed even. Bandido grabs a rollup for two, followed by the X Knee for the pin at 5:20.

Rating: C+. They got in a decent amount of stuff in their limited time, but there is only so much that can be done with this kind of a match. Bandido is turning into a pretty big star in AEW as well as ROH and it’s nice to see him treated as something important on both shows. It makes this feel a bit more important, and it worked fine enough here.

Post match a masked man runs in to jump Bandido and it’s…Blake Christian, who is joined by Lee Johnson to beat him down. Hologram, with the returning Kommander, run in for the save.

Premiere Athletes vs. JD Ink/El Magnifico/Rebecca Scott

Nese wrestles Ink down to start and grabs a headlock. A legsweep and legdrop have Ink in more trouble but he flips out of a belly to back suplex. Magnifico comes in and is quickly clotheslines into the corner by Daivari. It’s off to the rather tall Denali so Scott jumps on her back for a choke. Denali kicks her down and hits a spinning kick in the corner. A chokeslam finishes Scott at 3:38.

Rating: C. This was about Denali getting to clean house and that worked well enough. The key thing here was to have Denali get in there, do her dominant stuff and then leave without being exposed. That’s exactly what they did so they couldn’t have done it much better. It’s the first interesting thing that has happened with the Athletes in probably years, likely because it has nothing to do with the two of them.

The Blue Meanie joins the Frat House by doing various frat style things. Sweet goodness can we get away from ECW country already? And the Frat House for that matter?

Viva Van vs. Deonna Purrazzo

Pure Rules, but still not a tournament match because we need to keep waiting. They go technical to start as the fans seem split. Purrazzo goes for the Fujiwara armbar and Van goes to the ropes for her first break. Back up and a rolling kick to the head lets Van take over but Purrazzo drops her in the corner with ease. Purrazzo snaps the arm and a cross armbreaker makes Van burn off her second break. A spinning backfist takes Purrazzo down but she hits Van in the face. The short cradle piledriver gives Purrazzo the pin at 3:49.

Rating: C. It’s another match that means pretty much nothing when it comes to the tournament and could have been under regular rules with no change. Once again, they felt like they are trying to put together a division after establishing a tournament and title. You know, assuming we ever actually have a champion crowned.

We look at Mina Shirakawa winning the Interim Women’s TV Title about four and a half months ago. It’s time for her first title defense.

Interim Women’s TV Title: Mina Shirakawa vs. Lacey Lane

Lane, better known as Kayden Carter in WWE, is challenging in her ROH debut (just go with it). Lane actually takes her down to start and does a bit of dancing. That’s reversed into a double leg stomp, with Shirakawa dancing as well. Back up and a kick to the head gives Lane two but Shirakawa fires off even more kicks to take over. A Russian legsweep sets up the Figure Four on Lane, who makes the rope.

Lane pops back up with more dancing into a springboard spinning legdrop. The Glamorous Driver is broken up and Lane hits a hammerlock Downward Spiral for two. Lane goes up top but gets dragon screw legwhipped back down. A top rope Sling Blade gives Shirakawa two so she strikes Lane down again. The Figure Four makes Lane give up at 6:33.

Rating: B-. Nice match as tends to be the case with Shirakawa, with Lane more than holding up her side. At the same time, there is pretty much zero reason for this title to exist. Red Velvet hasn’t defended the title since May 1 and this was the first defense of the Interim Title two and a half months into the reign. There’s another title on the way (eventually) so why does this thing need to be around?

Tag Team Titles: Rush/Sammy Guevara vs. Von Erichs

The Von Erichs are challenging and get jumped to start the brawl fast. They get inside with the Von Erichs getting splashed in the corner but Marshall manages a suplex on Guevara. Ross comes in for a Falcon Arrow but a Rush distraction lets Guevara dropkicks him out of the air.

Rush’s cocky kick connects in the corner but he misses a charge in the corner. Marshall comes in to clean house, including on the cowboy hat wearing Guevara. The Claw has Rush in trouble and the belly to back suplex gives Marshall two as Guevara makes the save. That means the Bull’s Horns can hit Marshall and Guevara’s Swanton connects to retain at 8:30.

Rating: C+. Thank goodness. The Von Erichs have become some of the weakest parts of the AEW/ROH roster, with that promo they gave a few weeks ago making them feel so pathetic. Guevara and Rush aren’t much of a tag team but they’re miles better than the Von Erichs, who have been around for years and barely improved in the slightest.

Deonna Purrazzo is proud of her win but Shane Taylor Promotions offer a distraction. Cue Trish Adora to jump her from behind. Adora promises to win the Pure Rules Title.

Women’s Pure Rules Title Tournament First Round: Olympia vs. Billie Starkz

They go with the grappling to start and fight over wrist control. That’s broken up and Olympia kicks her in the leg and goes with the top wristlock on the mat. Olympia rolls her around but Starkz grabs the rope, which counts as a break. She has to go to the ropes again to escape some forearms on the mat before things reset a bit.

Starkz knocks her to the floor but misses a dive, allowing Olympia to hit a springboard. Starkz’s leglock sends Olympia to the ropes for a break and then outside, meaning Starkz can hit a suicide dive. Olympia’s leg is wrapped around the post and Starkz cranks away back inside. A snapmare out of the corner gets two but Olympia reverses a suplex into a small package for the same.

Olympia sends her into the corner for a handstand Bronco Buster and another near fall. That works so well that she puts Starkz against the ropes for a skin the cat Bronco Buster (that looked great). Olympia ties up the legs for a standing leglock so Starkz hits her in the face for the official warning. Starkz hits a Last Shot for two and a crucifix gives her the pin at 10:46.

Rating: C+. Gah I’m not surprised by the result, but I’m not exactly thrilled. Olympia was a lot more impressive than Starkz, but Starkz is the star so she needs to advance. At the same time, this tournament was announced about five and a half months ago and we’ve had two matches. Yeah there were injury issues, but either drop the whole thing or just find some different people. It’s not that hard, but somehow we’re probably going until Final Battle in December to get the first champion. Because of course.

Overall Rating: C. This Pure Rules stuff is so uninteresting and could not feel much less important. Rather than just getting to the point with the title tournament, we have to have what are basically preview matches for the people involved. It’s stretching the whole thing out even longer and my goodness just get on with the stupid tournament already. Other than that, the Von Erichs getting beaten up is nice to see, but that’s only so helpful. Another frustrating show, as Ring Of Honor continues to feel like the least important show around.

Results
Bandido b. Dralistico – X Knee
Premiere Athletes b. JD Ink/El Magnifico/Rebecca Scott – Chokeslam to Scott
Deonna Purrazzo b. Viva Van – Short cradle piledriver
Mina Shirakawa b. Lacey Lane – Figure Four
Rush/Sammy Guevara b. Von Erichs – Swanton to Marshall
Billie Starkz b. Olympia – Crucifix

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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