Ring of Honor
Date: January 12, 2022
Host: Quinn McKay

We’re continuing on the road to the relaunch, which means we get to continue our look through the video vault. So far that has only meant the best of 2021, which I can understand, but it would be nice to mix it up a bit with some of the older stuff. That is the foundation (not to be confused with The Foundation) of the company and a look back at it would be nice. Let’s get to it.

As usual, these will be the full versions rather than the clipped editions that air.

Opening sequence.

Quinn McKay gives us the usual welcome but this week we have something special: the Best of 2021 Awards!

From Death Before Dishonor, and one of the top five matches of the year as voted by the fans, with Rok-C named the Women’s Wrestler of the Year.

Women’s Title: Miranda Alize vs. Rok-C

For the vacant title so we get the Big Match Intros. Feeling out process to start as they head to the mat, with Rok-C grabbing a headlock….and let’s look at commentary for a bit for some reason. Rok-C cranks on a hammerlock before switching over to the leg. That doesn’t last long either but Alize escapes the Fujiwara armbar, giving us a standoff. Rok-C flips out of a headscissors and takes a quick bow, followed by a cartwheel to escape again, meaning it’s another bow.

Alize pulls her out of the corner for a crash though, allowing her to chop away in another corner. Some running kicks in the corner rock Rok-C for two and we hit the chinlock (with Alize mocking some LET’S GO ROK-C chants). Back up and a hurricanrana gives Alize a slightly delayed two and it’s time for a double arm crank. Rok-C fights up and hits a middle rope Thesz press (with an actual press for a change).

Alize knees her down for two more, setting up a Go To Sleep for the same. A hanging DDT out of the corner gets another near fall and it’s off to something like a Crossface in the middle of the ring. The feet on the ropes get Rok-C out of trouble so they head outside with Rok-C hitting a suicide dive. Back up and Alize hits a running dropkick off the apron and another suicide dive leaves them both laying.

They dive in to beat the count and Rok-C wins a slugout, only to walk into a cutter. Rok-C is right back with a running shot to the face, leaving both of them down. The Crossface goes on again but this time Rok-C reverses into one of his own. That’s broken up as well so Alize hits back to back superkicks but Rok-C kicks her right back, setting up Code Red for the pin and the title at 18:15.

Rating: B. This started slowly but they did an amazing job of turning a match with virtually no story into a heck of a back and forth fight. I was into this by the end with the young prodigy getting the big win. Good stuff here and one of the better matches of the night. The division has a LONG way to go but at least they had a heck of a match to crown the first champion.

Maria Kanellis-Bennett presents Rok-C the title and her parents come in for the celebration.

More of the top five matches of the year:

4. Kenny King vs. Shane Taylor – Final Battle
3. Mark Briscoe vs. Jay Briscoe – Fight On The Farm

From Ring Of Honor TV, September 15, 2021, this is another match of the year, featuring the Briscoes as the Tag Team of the Year.

Briscoes vs. Bandido/Rey Horus

This could be good. Honor is shown before the match as we hear about the Briscoes’ history of troubles against luchadors. Bandido and Jay circle each other to start with Jay fireman’s carrying him to the mat for an armbar. That’s broken up and Bandido shows Jay the finger gun and starts flipping around to send us to a standoff/break.

We come back with Mark bringing Jay back in to elbow Rey in the face. A trip to the outside goes badly for the luchadors but Bandido comes back in with a springboard high crossbody to the Briscoes. Rey’s basement dropkick into a running shooting star press gives Bandido two on Mark but Jay is back in to run Bandido over. Mark kicks Bandido in the mask for two and then plants him down for a bonus. Bandido gets away for the tag to Horus though and the pace picks up.

A double chop into a double superkick gives Horus two with Jay having to make the save. Everything breaks down and we get a four way knockdown for a quadruple breather. Mark grabs an Iconoclasm for two on Horus but gets caught with a pop up cutter from Bandido. A Fosbury Flop takes Jay down and Horus flips Mark off the top for two. Back up and Jay sends Bandido outside, leaving Horus to get Doomsday Deviced for the pin at 12:10.

Rating: B-. Take two teams and let them get in there for a fun match. That’s what you should be doing on a show like this and they made it work here. If nothing else, it is nice to see the Briscoes finally getting somewhere against some luchadors. The match itself was a good power vs. speed match and it was a rather nice TV outing all around.

More matches of the year:

Matt Taven vs. Vincent – Glory By Honor
Briscoes vs. OGK – Final Battle

I’m not sure if counting is Ring of Honor’s forte.

Jonathan Gresham is the Male Wrestler of the Year and here he is in action.

From Best In The World.

Pure Rules Title: Mike Bennett vs. Jonathan Gresham

Gresham is defending and this is under Pure Rules, with an extended pay per view time limit. Cary Silkin of all people joins commentary as the fans seem split to start. An early lockup goes nowhere as they seem to be taking their time here. Gresham grabs a waistlock to start the grappling but gets taken to the mat without much effort. They pop back up with Bennett shouldering him down to make things seem a bit more serious.

The threat of a London Dungeon (seated armbar) sends Gresham going straight to the rope for the first break. Gresham pulls him down and starts cranking on the arm for some unnatural angles. An armdrag sets up a hammerlock and Gresham cranks on the other arm at the same time. Now it’s time to twist the ankle at the same time as Gresham’s confidence is going up. Back up and Gresham’s running shoulder hurts Bennett’s arm again.

The Kimura goes on so Bennett uses his first rope break in a smart move. Gresham is sent outside so Bennett tries a dive, only to get pulled back into the Kimura. Bennett taps to no avail before going back inside for another rope break for a bit of a weird sequence. Back up and Bennett goes for the arm as well, meaning Gresham needs his second break. Bennett uses the good arm to hit a Death Valley Driver for two and the seated armbar goes on again.

With that broken up, Bennett clotheslines him down but the arm gives out on a piledriver attempt. Another clothesline gets two on Gresham but the arm is banged up. Gresham is smart enough to use his feet to pop the arm and Bennett is in a lot of trouble. The Cobra Twist sends Bennett to the ropes for the third and final time so a pair of springboard standing moonsaults have Bennett knocked to the floor. Gresham adds a suicide dive but Bennett is right back up with a powerbomb for two.

That’s fine with Gresham, who pulls him into the Crossface. Somehow Bennett crawls out and rolls Gresham into the corner. The piledriver connects for three…but Gresham gets his foot on the ropes for his final break. Gresham switches it up and pops the knee this tine but Bennett stacks him up on a rollup attempt for two of his own. With the arm not working, Gresham ties him in a nasty looking kneebar for the tap to retain at 19:21.

Rating: B. There is something so fun about watching Gresham pick apart a limb like that as he turns it into a science. Bennett was trying hard here but got taken down piece by piece, with Gresham taking him apart to win in the end. This was a heck of a performance and it is great to see him do it every time. The problem is I’m not sure who is going to be able to beat him, as he is virtually unstoppable in this kind of a match. In other words, whoever takes the title from him is going to look awesome and get a heck of a rub.

Overall Rating: A-. Weird counting to give issues aside, this was another awesome collection of matches and it is great to see Ring of Honor mixing it up a bit. They have a long time to go to get to the new stuff and that could be a little bit of anything, so it is fun to be able to savor this stuff while we can. They showcased a lot of talent here, and hopefully they are still around when the promotion comes back.

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

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Ring Of Honor
Date: January 5, 2022
Host: Quinn McKay

We are officially in the Best Of era for Ring of Honor, as the company is on hiatus for the next three months. Therefore, it is time to crack open the video fault and that is not the worst news. Ring of Honor has a very deep library to pick from and now we can see what they have handpicked. Let’s get to it.

Note that I will be posting the full versions of each match (assuming I have them already) rather than any clips that might be in the broadcasts.

Opening sequence.

Quinn McKay welcomes us to the show and promises to show us the best of 2021.

From the 19th Anniversary Show.

Flamita vs. Rey Horus vs. Bandido

This is going to be fast. Bandido and Horus seem cool but Flamita isn’t interested in a handshake. Flamita takes them both down to start but Bandido drops him to the floor. That gives us the Bandido vs. Horus showdown, which might not have the impact that they were looking for twenty seconds in. They shake hands until Horus starts kicking away, only to get kneed in the face.

A spinning headscissors puts Bandido down and respect is shown. Flamita is back in to send them both into the corner for some running clotheslines. The tornado DDT plants Bandido to send him outside, with Horus hitting a dive. Flamita hits a bigger dive and throws Bandido back inside. Bandido reverses a headscissors into a faceplant as Horus comes back in and gets kicked straight into the corner.

Flamita gets Bandido in an electric chair….where Bandido manages to suplex Horus anyway (that’s a new one). That’s enough for Bandido to send Horus outside and now we get a bit more impactful showdown with Flamita. They slap it out until Flamita hits a heck of a superkick into a spiral bomb for two, with Horus diving in for the save. Flamita’s slingshot DDT plants Bandido and it’s a Muscle Buster into a gutbuster to Horus, with the two of them landing on Bandido to give Flamita two.

That leaves Flamita to talk trash to the two of them, saying there is no more Mexisquad. Flamita is sent to the apron so Bandido can hurricanrana him to the floor. Back in and Horus wins the slugout, only to charge into a pop up cutter. Flamita is back in though and a three way boot to the face puts everyone down. Horus is up first with a satellite DDT to Bandido and the super victory roll gets two on Flamita.

Horus is sat on top as Flamita electric chairs Bandido….who reverses Horus’ high crossbody into a belly to bell, sending Flamita flying with a poisonrana at the same time (at least I think, as that was nuts). Bandido sends Horus outside for the big running flip dive, followed by a springboard hurricanrana for two on Horus. The 21 Plex gives Bandido the pin on Flamita at 10:48.

Rating: B+. This was exactly what you would have expected from these three and that is where they shine. These guys know how to do some completely insane stuff that worked amazingly well, as I was trying to figure out what the heck they were doing. You could run these guys in any combination for a LONG time and it was very fun here, as it should have been.

Post match respect is offered but Flamita walks away again.

From Honor For All.

Brody King vs. Jonathan Gresham

The winner is all but guaranteed the Final Battle World Title shot. King hits a Ganso Bomb in the first ten seconds for a near fall and Gresham is knocked outside early. There’s a suplex on the floor as this is dominance so far. Gresham manages to avoid a punch against the post and goes back inside as we take a break.

Back with Gresham hitting some suicide dives, with the last one sending King over the barricade. King does the big dramatic roll back in to beat the count, where he tells Gresham to hit him. That’s fine with Gresham, who strikes away at the leg and then scores with an enziguri. King knocks him HARD into the corner though, only to miss a Cannonball. The second attempt works a lot better though and Gresham is in trouble again.

A Ganso Bomb gives King two (despite his possibly broken hand) but Gresham is right back with a sleeper. Driving him into the corner isn’t enough for the break so King goes to the ropes in a much more logical move. Gresham gets smart by going to the hand and some rapid fire elbows to the head knock King silly. The sleeper goes on again but King powers out again, earning himself a heck of a forearm to the back of the head to give Gresham the pin at 10:41.

Rating: B. This was the power vs. technical match and that is the kind of thing that is always going to work. Gresham is far smaller than even the average wrestler but he is so good with the submissions and grappling that he can make it work. I liked this a lot and I can’t say that is any kind of a surprise given who was in there.

Respect is shown post match.

From Death Before Dishonor.

OGK vs. Briscoes

It’s a brawl to start with Mark having to save Jay from the Climax. Things settle down to Taven taking Mark down but missing an elbow to the head. A discus forearm rocks Bennett and it’s time for some Briscoes double stomping in the corner. Mark adds a running forearm and it’s Jay coming in to chop Bennett down. Bennett gets in a shot to the face though and Taven comes in with a missile dropkick to the face. Jay sneaks in off a blind tag and scores with a running big boot as everything breaks down.

OGK loads up a Doomsday Device on the floor but Jay cuts Taven off in a fast save. Taven has to cut off the same thing and then moonsaults down onto Jay (and Bennett, while sticking the landing). Mark isn’t done and dives onto everyone, setting up a big boot for two on Taven back inside. Jay’s neckbreaker gets the same but Taven scores with a knee to the face. That means a seated armbar can keep Jay in trouble, at least until Mark comes in to clean house.

There’s a dropkick through the ropes to drop Taven and another does the same to Bennett. Back in and the Froggy Bow gives Mark two on Taven with Bennett making the save. A chair is thrown in but Bennett breaks up Redneck Boogie, which would have given Taven an extreme case of pain. Mark uses the chair for a springboard flip dive onto Bennett but Taven rolls Jay up for the pin at 13:21.

Rating: B. Ring of Honor knows how to do big tag team matches and the Briscoes are as good as anyone else going right now. That makes a win over them like this feel like such a big deal and OGK got something out of this. It was a hard hitting, back and forth match so well done on doing exactly what they should have done. I liked this and I’m not even a bit surprised.

We get some credits, with a thank you to the people who have worked here in the past, including various executives and employees. A final graphic thanks the wrestlers and fans.

Overall Rating: A-. It’s always hard to grade these things as they are a handpicked collection of good stuff. That can cover so many different options while guaranteeing nothing bad makes the show. That isn’t a bad thing, but it doesn’t exactly have the same feeling. Still though, more Ring of Honor is a good thing, and I had fun for a little while.

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

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Ring of Honor
Date: December 29, 2021
Location: UMBC Event Center, Baltimore, Maryland
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

We have finally arrived at what seems to be the last original content episode of the show. That causes some mixed feelings, as it is sad to see the show go but it also finally puts it out of its misery. That should not be the case with any wrestling show, but it has been around here for a long time. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Dalton Castle promises a Christmas surprise.

Quinn McKay gives us the opening welcome and rundown.

Josh Woods gets to draw his names for the Christmas Surprise twelve man tag team main event and seems rather pleased.

Brian Johnson draws his names and is less impressed, as is his custom.

Women’s Title: Holidead vs.Rok-C

Holidead is challenging and says it is time for the dark reign to begin. Rok-C is ready for whatever Holidead brings at her because Holidead doesn’t have heart or the title. She still isn’t great at this talking thing. Rok-C rolls away from her to start before grabbing a headlock. Holidead is back with a headlock takeover of her own, which is reversed in a hurry as well.

Rok-C’s headlock takeover puts Holidead down for a change before Rok-C starts striking away to send Holidead outside. The suicide dive is pulled out of the air though and Holidead posts her to send us to a break. Back with Holidead putting her in a fireman’s carry for some head first rams into the buckles.

Rok-C comes back with a Thesz press and right hands, followed by the Rok Knees for two. A swinging Downward Spiral gives Holidead the same but Rok-C is back with a Backstabber. The running knee to the face gets two on Holidead, who cuts her off with a spinebuster for a near fall of her own. Back up and Rok-C grabs a quick Code Rok to retain at 13:30.

Rating: C. Assuming this is the last time we see a match like this on Ring of Honor TV, it’s a perfectly fine way to wrap up the women’s division: a technically sound yet lifeless match as two women did moves to each other until one of them won. The women’s division never caught on and always felt like the most serious part of the show. It wasn’t awful, but it also wasn’t interesting and that made it a chore to watch at times.

Dalton Castle still has a surprise for us.

Post break, Castle seems to start a song and dance number with the Baby Chickens but one of them breaks something, sending Dak Draper into a rage.

Team Johnson vs. Team Woods

Brian Johnson, Rhett Titus, Kenny King, Rey Horus, Homicide, Flip Gordon
Josh Woods, Silas Young, Matt Taven, Bandido, Jay Briscoe, Mark Briscoe

Everyone gets their own entrance, complete with rather personalized Christmas wish lists for their graphics, such as:

Never to see Danhausen again – Johnson
Shane Taylor’s head on a platter – King
Timbaland Boots so I could kick my opponents’ heads off – Homicide
Get my memory back – Gordon
The internet to like me – Taven
Jet pack – Mark Briscoe
Lug wrench – Jay Briscoe

Johnson gets his big BAH HUMBUG entrance because he can’t stand any of his partners. Homicide drives Jay into the corner to start as we get some Ring of Honor history lessons from commentary. The lockup takes them over to the ropes so Woods can tag himself in. The rear naked choke has Homicide in trouble so he bites his way to freedom. They slug it out until Homicide yells at him and bails into the corner. Titus comes in and takes it to the mat with Woods, which doesn’t seem to be the best move. Woods counters a short armscissors in a hurry and we take a break.

Back with Taven dropkicking Gordon but getting taken down by a headscissors. Bandido comes in to face Gordon, with the latter walking on his hands. That’s fine with Bandido, who has an open shot for a superkick. Horus comes in and everyone drops off the apron because they know this is going to be good. They run the ropes but neither can go anywhere, with guest commentator Quinn McKay complimenting their hair. King and Mark come in with the latter taking him down by the leg.

Back up and some Red Neck Kung Fu staggers King, who hands it off to Titus instead. We get a Briscoes vs. King/Titus (the former All Night Express) showdown for another old times sake faceoff as everything breaks down. We take another break and come back with Horus forearming Castle and avoiding a charge into the corner. Horus hits a big dive onto Young as Gordon is watching from the commentary desk. Thankfully he comes back to his senses and dives onto a bunch of people in the aisle.

Back in and Homicide escapes Taven’s Climax but gets kneed in the face for two. Gordon Kinder Surprises Taven off the top, leaving Bandido to hit the X Knee on Horus. Back up and Horus hits a heck of a tornado DDT to plant Bandido but it’s time for the parade of finishers. Johnson rolls Mark up with tights for two so Mark strikes away against the ropes. The Cutthroat Driver sets up the Doomsday Device to finish Johnson at 20:45.

Rating: B. This is all it should have been as they didn’t try to have much of a match outside of everyone going nuts and having fun out there. That’s all you need to do in a situation like this, because not only is this a special, but it’s probably the last match from the original era. It was a lot of fun and it worked very well, especially with the Briscoes getting the win, as should be how things go out.

Everyone hugs and the Briscoes are lifted onto some shoulders as commentary talks about how this is pretty much it to wrap it up.

Overall Rating: B-. And that’s it, which makes me rather sad. Ring of Honor is still the most influential promotion of this generation but it ends in front of no fans with a show that means nothing. The show itself was pretty good, but this was all about the farewell, which seems to be a whimper rather than any kind of grand finale. I’m not sure what is next for Ring of Honor, but I’m almost scared to see what follows this under the same name.

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

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AND

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Ring of Honor
Date: December 22, 2021
Location: UMBC Event Center, Baltimore, Maryland
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

We continue the final shows of the original era of the promotion and that means we are in for a bunch of one off matches. Thankfully that is what Ring of Honor has a tendency to do time after time so it isn’t like this is going to be much different. I’m not sure what to expect here as usual and again, that’s kind of a nice feeling. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Quinn McKay gives us the welcome and opening rundown. This week even has a theme, in the form of the Top Prospect Special.

Eric Martin vs. Adrian Soriano vs. Rayo vs. Joe Keys

One fall to a finish, Martin has Will Ferrara with him and Soriano has the rest of Primal Fear with him. Keys gets kicked outside to start and it’s Soriano getting to clean house early on. Martin is sent outside as well but Keys is back in for some rolling German suplexes on Soriano. That’s broken up by Martin, who chops it out with Keys and then plants him with a powerbomb.

A sitout powerbomb gets two on Rayo but Soriano is back in with a neckbreaker for two on Keys. We take a break and come back with Rayo hitting a sitout bulldog on Soriano. Primal Fear offers a distraction though and Soriano takes Rayo off the top in the crash. Keys is back in with a spinning faceplant on Soriano as momentum changes again.

Rayo and Martin fight over a backslide but Keys breaks that up as well. Soriano comes back in but misses a frog splash. Everyone but Rayo is sent outside so he can dive onto them from the apron. Martin runs Rayo over and sends him back inside, where Rayo gets a knee up in the corner. The springboard tornado DDT plants Martin and a top rope elbow gives Rayo the pin at 7:57.

Rating: C+. This was one of those matches that had everyone flying around doing all kinds of big spots and getting in as many spots as possible. It was nice to get these guys some focus, but there was nothing that makes them stand out in any way. In other words, it felt like an independent match with everyone cramming in everything that they can as fast as they can with no one getting to stand out.

We look at various stars winning the Top Prospect Tournament over the years.

Dante Caballero vs. Matt Makowski

Makowski has a rather New York manager named Rocco, who has never been seen before but has an entrance video suggesting he has been around for a bit. Either way, Makowski is treated as a big deal due to his mixed martial arts days, with commentary freaking out over his mere presence. Makowski takes him down to start with Caballero not being able to get very far. A front facelock suplex drops Caballero and he has to block a cross armbreaker attempt.

We take a break and come back with Caballero hitting some shoulders for two. You don’t do that to Makowski, who kicks him down and busts out the Pentagon arm snap. Another cross armbreaker attempt is blocked so Makowski grabs an Omoplata. The rope is grabbed in a hurry and it’s a Falcon Arrow for two on Makowski. A spinebuster gets the same and Makowski is sent to the apron so Caballero can elbow away.

Back in and Makowski hammers away, setting up a springboard kick to the face for two. Rocco: “YOU CAN’T WIN TONIGHT! MAYBE TOMORROW OR MAYBE NEXT WEEK BUT NOT TONIGHT!” Caballero comes back with a running boot to the face but Rocco offers a distraction. Makowski is back up with a kick to the head and something like a Wasteland into a cross armbreaker to make Caballero tap at 12:06.

Rating: C+. This was a bit of a strange one as Makowski felt like a monster but took his time beating a dojo student. Makowski looked like a killer at times but there were parts where he looked like a prospect as well. The good thing is that the parts that worked worked very well and I could go for more Makowski down the line…whenever that is.

More people have won the Top Prospect Tournament.

Dak Draper vs. Josh Woods

Non-title and these are the two most recent Top Prospect Tournament winners. Hold on though as here is Dalton Castle with the Baby Chickens, but for some reason he is carrying hot dogs. Castle wants some risk involved here so Woods should put the Pure Title on the line. That isn’t happening so Castle calls it boring and Draper leaves. That’s enough to get the title match made.

Pure Title: Dak Draper vs. Josh Woods

Woods is defending and lists Draper up to start, sending him into the ropes for an early first break. They go with the grappling on the mat with Draper working on the ankle until Woods makes him spin out for a standoff. More grappling doesn’t go anywhere as they get up to strike it out. Draper hits a right hand to the face for the first illegal shot, setting up an apron superplex.

We take a break and come back with Woods in trouble in the corner and Draper down to one rope break. Draper hits a gutwrench suplex but Woods scores with a springboard kick to the face for a double knockdown. Woods hits the running strikes in the corner but Draper powerslams him for two.

Back up and Draper tries coming off the top, only to get kneed out of the air. Woods’ running knee connects, meaning Draper has to use his last rope break. A cross armbreaker goes on, with Draper powerbombing his way to freedom and a near fall. Draper gets up and gets caught in the Gorilla Slam out of nowhere to retain Woods’ title at 13:45.

Rating: B. These are guys who are tailor made for a match like this and they made it work as a result. The Castle stuff at the beginning was a big unnecessary but at least they turned the stakes up a bit. One of the best things about the show coming to an end is you don’t know what you’re going to see, and that was the case again here. Good match between two talented people.

Overall Rating: B. Another solid show, but they have to be running out of first run material. Odds are the Christmas show will be the big finale and that should be enough to carry us into the new year. That’s a shame as they have stayed on a roll for a long time now, but there is only so much that you can do with no fans and almost no income. Anyway, good stuff, as you should expect around here.

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

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

AND

Remember to check out Wrestlingrumors.net for all of your wrestling headline needs.

Ring Of Honor
Date: December 15, 2021
Location: UMBC Event Center, Baltimore, Maryland
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

We’re around Final Battle, with this show officially debuting before the show took place. At this point though, it isn’t like the date matters since there are only a few shows left in the first place. I’m not sure what to expect here, but odds are we’ll get some good wrestling to go with the rather limited storylines. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening recap.

Quinn McKay gives us the welcome and rundown.

Sledge vs. PCO

Falls Count Anywhere/no DQ, which is probably better than these two having a regular match. Before the match, Sledge teases attacking Brian Zane over (jokingly) calling him Steve. Business will be taken care of instead. PCO on the other hand shouts IT’S ALIVE. They slug it out with Sledge hitting a jumping back elbow to the face to take him down. It’s already time to put a trashcan on PCO’s head for a charge in the corner.

The fight heads to the floor (I’m surprised it took them this long) for the chop off until PCO Russian legsweeps him into the barricade. Commentary is nice enough to point out that the weapons were placed outside at the wrestlers’ requests, which is more than you usually get. A backdrop against a ladder gives Sledge two on the floor and we take a break.

Back with PCO hitting a top rope splash (after hitting a rope walk hurricanrana during the commercial) for two but the PCOsault hits raised knees. They chop it out on the floor again but this time PCO just yells at him and takes over again. A chair shot to the back lets PCO put him on a table for the big Swanton and the near fall (Caprice: “Why did he kick out of that?”).

Some chair shots to the head rock Sledge, giving us a “do not try this at home” graphic. Sledge puts him on the barricade for something like a spear down onto the concrete for his own two. Now it’s up to the stage for more chopping, setting up Sledge’s Detox DDT. PCO is back up so it’s another Detox DDT off the stage through a table (and apparently some pizza) to give Sledge the pin at 14:59.

Rating: B-. PCO was already leaving even before the shutdown so it makes a lot more sense to have Sledge go over. I know it doesn’t mean much in the short term, but at least they are trying to build someone up for the future. Sledge has been a good monster and having him beat someone like PCO means a little something. PCO was a solid addition to Ring of Honor, with perhaps the most improbably World Title run in modern history. It’s nice to see him get such a career renaissance, but you have to build up the future at some point.

Miranda Alize vs. Chelsea Green

The Allure is on commentary. Alize flips out of a wristlock to start and it’s an early standoff. A fireman’s carry takeover sets up an armbar on Green, which is broken up just as fast. Something like a running Hennig necksnap sends Alize outside so the chase is on in a bit more comedy than I was expecting. Alize sends her into the barricade a few times to take over and it’s a basement hurricanrana driver for two back inside.

We take a break and come back with Alize cranking on both arms until Green fights up for a Codebreaker. They slug it out from their knees until Green makes the clothesline comeback. A missile dropkick gives Green two and she grabs the half crab, only to have the Allure offer a distraction. Alize grabs a cutter into the Drive By for the pin at 9:54.

Rating: C. This was your normal women’s division match around here: technically fine, but not exactly the most interesting. There is only so much you can get with one cold match after another and that is what they had here. The Allure distracting Green doesn’t add much to it, and that left this as just another match in the division, as tends to be the case.

Eli Isom vs. EC3

Dalton Castle is on commentary. Before the match, EC3 talks about being free in more babbling that only he understands. Isom says he wants to prove to EC3 that honor is real in a pretty fired up promo. They go to the mat with EC3’s headlock countered into a headscissors without much effort.

Back up and Isom is powered into the corner but comes back with armdrags into an armbar. More armdrags out of the corner keep EC3 rocked but he breaks up a springboard to take over. Some forearms to the chest keep Isom in trouble as the Baby Chickens are here to kiss Castle’s hands. EC3 hits a hard whip into the corner and then does it again for a bonus. Isom needs a breather on the floor so EC3 follows him out for a hard kick to the ribs. Back in and that forward DDT plants Isom (still not sure how much that would hurt), setting up a powerbomb (that would hurt more) for no cover. Instead, EC3 hits another powerbomb and we take a break.

We come back with Isom forearming his way out of trouble, setting up an enziguri. Castle has to be held up as EC3 makes the comeback with a necksnap across the top. A dropkick sends EC3 outside again and there’s a moonsault to drop him again. Back in and a high crossbody gives Isom two but EC3 takes out the knee. An Angle Slam drops Isom so EC3 can crawl over to him for a chat. The knee is taken out again and it’s a double underhook faceplant to knock Isom silly. The Purpose makes Isom tap at 16:15.

Rating: B. This was a heck of a match and a tale of two of the more interesting people from the final year of Ring of Honor. Isom is one of those guys who has worked hard to get the fans behind him and you can tell that they see something in him. He never got that big win, but it felt like it was something you could see happen at any time. Then you have EC3, who looks great and can go in the ring, but I have no idea why this Control Your Narrative stuff is supposed to be interesting. That’s how wrestling works though, as annoying as it is.

Overall Rating: B+. Now that’s a good wrestling hour, with a pair of pretty awesome matches and a watchable women’s match in the middle. The lack of fans (or anything that matters) hurts it a lot though and that’s where Ring of Honor has fallen in recent months. The wrestling has been quite good, but you can only get so far when the stakes are non-existent. I’m not sure what the rest of their time is going to bring, but I’ll miss shows like this, because they’re very entertaining more often than not.

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Final Battle 2021
Date: December 11, 2021
Location: UMBC Events Center, Baltimore, Maryland
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

It’s the end of an era and quite possibly the end of a company, or at least the end of the company as we know it to be. Ring of Honor is going into hiatus after this show for about four months, leaving a pretty big cloud over their future. I’m not sure what that is going to mean, but hopefully they can have a great show on their way out. Let’s get to it.

Pre-Show: Six Man Tag Team Titles: Righteous vs. Shane Taylor Promotions

Promotions (Moses/Kaun/O’Shay Edwards, with Ron Hunt) are defending. Dutch and Moses fight over wrist control to start, which isn’t something you often see between hosses. Moses gets flipped into the corner, which is even more rare, so he knocks Dutch outside in a hurry. Everything breaks down in a hurry (you knew that was coming) and the three way brawl is on until it’s Vincent suplexing Kaun.

That doesn’t work for Kaun, who is back up with a running elbow to the face. Moses comes back in and gets caught with a Side Effect as commentary shouts out to Kyle O’Reilly and the Hardys. It’s off to Edwards, who gets a rather nice reaction as he beats on Bateman. Vincent tries his luck but can’t knock Edwards over the top. Instead he throws Edwards through the ropes as everything breaks down again.

Vita VonStarr gets on the apron for a distraction but Moses knocks her onto the pile and flip dives onto them. Not to be outdone, Dutch hits a BIG flip dive over the top onto everyone else. VonStarr hits a dive of her own, leaving Vincent to Redrum Kaun for two back inside. The elevated DDT plants Bateman and Edwards drops a good looking moonsault for two more, with the bell ringing by mistake. Edwards plants Dutch but walks into Orange Sunshine to give Vincent the pin and the titles at 10:42.

Rating: C+. That was a pretty wild six man tag to start and that’s often the best way to get the fans going. One of the cool things about tonight is that the title changes don’t mean anything, so we could be in for a bunch of title changes. Not exactly a classic, but it was fun and a good choice for an opener.

Pre-Show: Miranda Alize/Allure vs. Chelsea Green/The Hex

Allure is Mandy Leon/Angelina Love and the Hex is Allysin Kay/Marti Belle. Miranda kicks Belle in the head for a fast two but Marti is back with a running kick to the face of her own. Kay comes in and the threat of a powerbomb sends Alize over for the fast tag to Leon. Green gets her chance and rolls Leon up for two of her own so Leon dropkicks her down for two. A suplex into the corner gets another near fall on Green and there’s a running basement dropkick from Alize.

The villains take turns hitting some running splashes in the corner on Green, setting up Love’s Complete Shot for two more. Green fights out of the corner though and it’s a double missile dropkick for a much needed breather. The hot tag brings in Kay to clean house until Belle grabs Hex Marks The Spot for two more. Everything breaks down, including the parade of secondary finishers, capped off by Green hitting a huge dive onto the pile. Marti’s dive is cut off though and Mandy hits Astral Projection for the pin at 6:52.

Rating: C-. Kind of a messy match here and it’s a bit of an eye roll to see Leon get the pin on the last show. She has been one of the focal points of the women’s division for a long time now and has more or less stopped developing since the Allure deal started. The match wasn’t bad and had some good spots, but less than seven minutes for six women is a lot to cover in such a short amount of time.

Pre-Show: PJ Black/Flip Gordon/Bouncers/World Famous CB vs. LSG/Sledge/Max The Impaler/Demonic Flamita/Will Ferrara

Ferrara and CB trade wristlocks to start and the exchange of not being able to get an advantage gives us a standoff. Gordon and Flamita come in to trade clotheslines and armdrags for another standoff, which has commentary and the crowd equally pleased. LSG comes in and hits the Rocket Bye Baby for two on Black so it’s Milonas coming in for the showdown with Max.

That’s good for a cheap shot from Milonas so Bruiser can have a quick slugout. Max hands it off to Sledge for a slightly more fair slugout and it’s time for people to start coming in sans tags and hit each other in the face. Max hammers on Milonas and unloads on him in the corner, setting up a spear.

Bruiser pulls Max outside and takes her down and it’s time to set up the series of dives. Flamita teases a dive but opts to flip off the fans instead, leaving Bruiser to…not hit a powerbomb actually. Instead Flamita slips out and hits a superkick, setting up a big corkscrew dive to the floor. Back in and Gordon cutters LSG out of the air, setting up a Doomsday Canadian Destroyer to give Black the pin at 10:22.

Rating: C+. I can go with a match where there is nothing to suggest that it is anything more than a big mess. They weren’t trying anything else here and that’s how it should have gone. Let these ten people get on there and go nuts for a little while, which is a good way to go on the pre-show. Sometimes you need some insanity and that’s what you got here, so well done.

The opening video talks about the meaning of honor, even when you are looking into a future of nothing. It is the end of an era, but it is not the end of honor.

Dragon Lee vs. Rey Horus

They hug to start and fight over a lockup, setting up some rope running minus the contact. Horus can’t get a sunset flip so he rolls to the floor, where Lee hits a heck of a dive. Lee throws him over the barricade, allowing Lee to have a seat at ringside. Back in and Lee spinebusters Horus into a half crab, with Horus going straight to the rope.

The running knees in the corner are broken up by Horus’ raised boot though, with Lee bailing to the floor. Now it’s Horus hitting the big flip dive to take Lee down for a change, setting up the overhead belly to belly into the corner back inside. Lee is back up with a pair of tilt-a-whirl backbreakers to set up another half crab to put Horus back in trouble. It’s time to slug it out, including an exchange of kicks to the face.

A Spanish Fly plants Horus but Lee can’t follow up so it’s a double breather. Horus crotches him on top and it’s a super victory roll for a close two. Now it’s Horus going up but slipping, allowing Lee to get his knees up to block the splash. Lee rolls into a Falcon Arrow for two on Horus and the Incinerator gets a very close two. Another Incinerator finishes Horus at 11:19.

Rating: B-. This was the kind of all action match that you would expect from these two and it was an entertaining match as a result. These two have been excellent for a long time now and one of the better series that you’ll see. I’m glad they got a chance to tear it up again and it was a fun way for both of them to get on the card, while opening the show.

Former Ring of Honor Triple Crown Champion Eddie Edwards thanks Ring of Honor for the chance and for changing the business.

TV Title: Dalton Castle vs. Rhett Titus vs. Joe Hendry vs. Silas Young

Castle is defending and it’s one fall to a finish, with Castle bailing to the floor to walk into the crowd. Hendry (who is looking jacked compared to his old days) gets taken outside so Young can send him into the barricade. Back in and Castle t-bone suplexes Young, meaning it’s time for a lap around the ring. Titus comes in for a quick rollup but gets sent outside for an apron flip dive from Young.

Hendry blasts Titus with a clothesline but gets belly to belly suplexed into the corner. Castle is back in with the Bang A Rang to Titus, who reverses into a cradle for two. Titus sends Young outside but Hendry pulls Titus’ high crossbody out of the air, because he’s strong enough to do that.

A double fall away slam sends Young and Titus flying so it’s Castle coming back in with a big smile on his face. It’s Titus coming back in and getting planted by a heck of a Hendry powerbomb. There’s the Bang A Rang to plant Titus but Hendry belts Castle in the face. Cue Castle’s friend Dak Draper to take Hendry down though, leaving Titus to avoid Young’s moonsault. The dropkick gives Titus the pin and the title at 8:51.

Rating: C. They kept this fast and that’s probably the better idea. It was another one of those wild matches that was only there to be as exciting as possible and that is often better than letting things go long. Titus winning the title after trying for so long is a feel good moment and I liked what we got here. Granted that might have been Castle and his Dancing Chickens.

Hangman Page is going to miss Ring of Honor.

Pure Rules Title: Brian Johnson vs. Josh Woods

Pure Rules (of course) and Woods is defending. As usual, Johnson runs his mouth before the bell, talking about how it doesn’t matter if you’re a Punk, an American Dragon or a Peacock, because Johnson is better than you. Woods scares him into the ropes and Johnson has used his first break in about thirty seconds. The second break is used up less than a minute and ten seconds in but Johnson sends him into the corner for a chop.

That earns him a hard knee to the ribs though, allowing Woods to grab a choke over the ropes. Johnson Stuns his way to freedom and hits a heck of a dive to the floor (which doesn’t feel very Pure). Back in and Johnson has to break another choke, setting up some knee drops. A running splash sets up Spike Deskin (I think? It’s a hanging cutter to the floor.) and Woods is rocked.

They get back inside to fight over a suplex, with Woods finally taking him over the top for a double crash. The slugout on the floor almost gives us a double countout but they head back inside to slug it out there instead. Woods grabs another choke and Johnson has to use his third rope break.

A cheap shot lets Johnson hit the Process for two so he grabs the title. The referee takes that away so Johnson takes the turnbuckle pad off, only to get caught in a German suplex for two. Since the referee has to put the pad back on, Johnson gets a brass knuckles shot for two more. With nothing else working, Johnson puts him on top but gets caught in a choke. Since there are no rope breaks, Johnson has to tap at 12:58 to retain Woods’ title.

Rating: B-. The Pure Rules division has become a major focal point in the last year or so and it is great to see it getting this kind of a focus again on the last show. Woods is kind of perfect for the division and he deserves to be on this show in this spot. I could go for more of Johnson’s trash talk though, as it has made him a lot more memorable than anything he does in the ring.

Jimmy Jacobs loved his time in Ring of Honor. He certainly is a legend around here.

We recap Kenny King vs. Shane Taylor. They were friends, then King turned on him, meaning it’s time for a Fight Without Honor.

Kenny King vs. Shane Taylor

Fight Without Honor, meaning anything goes and weapons are provided. Riccaboni makes it more serious by talking about how these two are fighting to get their next paycheck elsewhere. A quick slugout takes things outside, with Shane sending him hard into the barricade a few times. The chair shot only hits post but Shane is fine enough to hit a backdrop on the floor.

Back in and King hits an enziguri but Shane hits him in the face over and over. Shane takes him up top, earning himself a super Blockbuster through a pair of tables at ringside. It’s already time for the required kendo sticks (you knew they were coming), with King cracking him over the back and choking away. King takes his sweet time bringing in a trashcan and charges into a Rock Bottom out of the corner onto said can.

Now it’s Taylor getting in his own stick shots, with Riccaboni rapid firing off some Cleveland Indians names. A heck of a splash puts King through another table at ringside so we need another table. Back in and King manages to drive him through the table in the corner for two in an impressive power display. Shane is right back up with the BIG ladder, but takes a bit too long and gets hit in the back with a kendo stick.

King gets in a few more shots and manages to build a rather ridiculous structure, with one ladder bridged between two more. Taylor is laid across the bridged ladder for a splash from the big one, which doesn’t look as impressive as it should. Taylor is right back up with Greetings From The Land for two of his own so King bridges a ladder between the apron and the barricade.

They stand on said ladder and slug it out until Taylor grabs the Marcus Garvey Driver….but the ladder slips, so King gets dropped HARD onto the floor. Well that was terrifying, and of course gets two back inside. Taylor grabs a chair so King tells him to “f****** do it”, meaning it’s a chair to the head. The Marcus Garvey Driver finishes for Shane at 18:01.

Rating: C-. I really couldn’t get into this one as it was longer than it needed to be and a lot of the spots felt rather contrived. You can only get so far with a match like this, with so many weapons set up in the right spots to make such a match work. Throw in that terrifying crash on the floor and this wasn’t exactly the most fun to watch.

Post match, the rest of Shane Taylor Promotions and some other wrestlers get in the ring as Taylor and King make up.

CM Punk talks about his time in Ring of Honor and how special it was. It was a spirit that he loved and he will continue to foster it in AEW.

Rok-C is ready to defend the Women’s Title against Willow Nightingale.

Women’s Title: Willow Nightingale vs. Rok-C

Rok-C is defending but gets taken down to start, allowing Willow to bust out a cartwheel. Willow blocks the running knees but Rok-C manages to snap off a running headscissors. Back up and Willow can’t quite hit Three Amigos, so she plants Rok-C for two instead. This time Rok-C fights up with a Russian legsweep but Willow plants her for two more. A Pounce rocks Rok-C, sending commentary into various Monty Brown impressions and Rok-C down for another near fall.

The fans are split here, but the Willow chants are a bit louder. The Code Rok is countered into a belly to back kneeling piledriver to give Willow two more. Willow still can’t hit her moonsault as Rok-C jumps her from behind, setting up a heck of a powerbomb for two on Willow for a change. Back up and Willow catches her on top, setting up a superplex. Now the moonsault can connect for two but Rok-C is right back with the Code Rok to retain at 9:42.

Rating: C. The match was fast paced but Willow absolutely came off like a bigger star here and I would have thought about changing the title. Rok-C is a young star but she doesn’t exactly have anything to her besides being young and talented. Willow might not be the next big thing, but she stood out way more than Rok-C.

Post match here is Deonna Purrazzo to challenge Rok-C for a title for title (AAA Reina de Reinas/Impact Knockouts whenever she gets it back vs. Ring of Honor) match. Rok-C is in.

Adam Cole loved his time in Ring of Honor because it is why he became the wrestler he is today.

Violence Unlimited/Rocky Romero vs. EC3/Eli Isom/Taylor Rust/Tracy Williams

Romero and Williams go technical to start (as you probably expected them to do) until Williams misses a charge into the corner. The Forever Clotheslines are countered into a kneebar, sending Rocky straight to the ropes. Tony Deppen and Taylor Rust come in, with Rust running him over in a hurry. It’s already back to Williams, who gets to Crossface Homicide (in the same jumpsuit he wore on the first Ring of Honor show in a great bonus) for a change.

With that broken up, EC3 comes in to lose a strike off with Homicide. Brody King gets to come in and t-bone suplex EC3, only to get forearmed by the blindly tagged Isom. The choking doesn’t do Isom much good as King takes him down for a heavy backsplash, allowing the Violent ones to take turns on Isom. That doesn’t last long as it’s back to EC3 as everything breaks down in a hurry. Isom hits a bit dive but King’s is broken up by Rust and Williams hitting Total Elimination.

Back up and King is fine enough to hit a dive anyway but everyone runs over everyone else anyway. Homicide busts out his fork to stab EC3 but King is back in to MuscleBust Isom. We hit the parade of tribute finishers, including a Brian Kendrick Sliced Bread and a Jerry Lynn piledriver. Cattle Mutilation is broken up though and Isom hits Deppen with a Helluva Kick. Homicide and Isom slug it out until the Cop Killer gives Homicide two. Homicide freaks out so King comes back in, only to miss a clothesline as Isom collapses. The Ganso Bomb finishes Isom at 14:43.

Rating: C+. The tributes sequence might have been a little corny but it’s the kind of thing that should be taking place on this show. The fact that it came from one of the old school stars around here made it better and I was smiling at some of those tributes. You don’t get to see something like that very often and it worked well here, though I could have gone for Isom FINALLY getting that big win.

Post match Violence Unlimited poses before leaving. That means EC3 can rant about how there is no honor in what they do because of three letter organizations. WHERE ARE OUR LEADERS??? Dak Draper and Brian Johnson are mentioned so they hit the ring, with EC3 telling them to control their narrative.

Cue Wesley Blake (from WWE/NXT) and someone else in the aisle as EC3 keeps going on about being free and controlling your narrative. EC3 says free the Titan….and here is Adam Scherr (Braun Strowman) to wreck Isom.. EC3 says this is an awakening as I try to figure out why they are bringing in an expensive wrestler for an invasion angle on a final show. Throw in that Strowman in ROH feels rather wrong and this is even weirder. Also the Control Your Narrative stuff continues to fail miserably as I still couldn’t tell you what the heck EC3 means.

The Young Bucks love ROH.

Tag Team Titles: Briscoes vs. OGK

OGK, with Maria Kanellis-Bennett, is defending. Mark powers Taven into the corner to start so Bennett comes in for the slugout. Taven is back in with a middle rope dropkick to put Mark down and the champs clear the ring in a hurry. Taven’s Flight of the Conqueror only hits Bennett though, allowing Mark to grab a chair. That means a big dive to take out both champs and it’s Taven in trouble back inside.

Bennett makes the save with an elbow to Jay for two as commentary even thanks Jim Cornette for his time around here. The tag brings Mark back in for Redneck Kung Fu, plus Redneck Boogie for two. Jay (already bleeding) can’t hit the Jay Driller as Bennett saves Taven and chops away. Bennett hangs Jay over the apron so Taven can hit a heck of a top rope splash for two back inside.

Taven Climaxes Mark but can’t cover, sending Maria into a half lap around the ring. The Briscoes send them outside for the big dives, setting up the Blockbuster off the apron to drop Bennett again. Back in and the Froggy Bow gets two on Taven, with Maria pulling the referee out. Maria gets dropped but it’s a Flight of the Conqueror Doomsday Device (dang) to drop Mark on the floor, setting up another near fall.

Hail Mary gets the same with Jay having to make the save. A quick Jay Driller sends Bennett rolling back to the floor but Taven hits Just The Tip on Jay. The top rope splash hits knees though and the Jay Driller gets two. The Doomsday Device gets the same as commentary is SCREAMING at these near falls. Another Jay Driller into the Froggy Bow gives the Briscoes the titles back at 15:36.

Rating: B. I know it’s a bit overdone but there is absolutely no one who should be the final ROH Tag Team Champions. The Briscoes are so far and away the greatest team in the company’s history that you could probably cut their careers in half and still have them at the top of the list. Heck of a match too, and that’s what you would have expected from these teams.

Post match respect is shown, with Jay thanking all of the fans. The Briscoes aren’t done and are ready to face any team in the world…so there go the lights. Back up and AEW’s FTR of all people are here for the big brawl. Referees break it up and a lot of swearing ensues. FTR holds up the titles and the next fight has to be broken up.

Bryan Danielson says he wouldn’t he be here without Ring of Honor, especially Final Battle. He thanks the fans for making the shows and hopes that Ring of Honor will stick around.

We get a cool look at all of the Ring of Honor World Champions.

Ring of Honor World Title: Jonathan Gresham vs. Jay Lethal

For the vacant title, as Bandido is out with Coronavirus. The fans are rather happy with this one as they trade wristlocks to start with no one getting anywhere. A headlock takeover doesn’t do much for Lethal either as they’re certainly starting technical. Gresham manages to send him outside and catches Lethal with a kick in the arm on the way back in. A headlock takeover with an armtrap keeps Lethal down but Lethal cartwheels into the basement dropkick to get a breather.

Lethal slams him down to work over the back a bit more but Gresham small packages him for two. A slap to the face drops Gresham and a flapjack does it again. It’s too early for the Lethal Injection and the Figure Four, as Gresham rolls him up for two more. Another kick to the arm cuts Lethal back down and Gresham needs a breather. They chop it out with Lethal getting the better of things but telling Gresham to chop him again.

A ripcord powerslam plants Gresham again but he catches Lethal on top. What looked to be a superplex is broken up so Lethal tries Hail to the King. Lethal is ready for Gresham’s raised knees but can’t get the Figure Four either. Instead it’s a reverse Regal Roll to set up Hail to the King to give Lethal two more.

Gresham is right back on the arm and grabs a crossface chickenwing. Lethal flips forward for a cutter and they’re both down again. That means it’s time for the locker room to come out and watch as Gresham hits some running forearms for two each. The arm gives out and Gresham hits another forearm for two. The Lethal Injection is countered into a rollup for two, setting up the Octopus to make Lethal tap at 15:35.

Rating: B. Gresham absolutely had to win here as that is the story that has been set up for months. I can imagine that this would have been the ending whether Bandido had been around or not and that is the right way to go. Gresham has been the workhorse of the company since its return and going with the Pure Rules wrestler as the final shot at the final show is a smart move.

The celebration is on, including Gresham’s wife, Jordynne Grace, getting in the ring. Commentary thanks the fans, with Coleman saying “see you in April” to end the night.

Overall Rating: B. This might not have been a great show, but it was something more important: it felt special. The show felt like it was a bunch of people saying goodbye to a company that meant a lot and that absolutely should have been the case. The good thing here is that there was no truly bad match (though some came close) and it felt like a fun way to go out rather than something dull and dry. It was nice to see something be more about the fans and the company’s legacy, which is how things should have gone. The last two matches are worth seeing and that’s not bad on a three hour show.

No matter what its fate may be, Ring of Honor is one of the most influential companies in modern wrestling history. You can see it style (and a lot of its wrestlers) everywhere from PWG to Impact to AEW to WWE and the style is even more prevalent. This place has meant a heck of a lot to the wrestling world and it is going to be sad to see Ring of Honor go away. I’m glad it went out on a pretty good show too, with the big ending and tributes making it all the sweeter.

Results
Righteous b. Shane Taylor Promotions – Orange Sunshine to Edwards
Allure/Miranda Alize b. Chelsea Green/The Hex – Astral Projection to Belle
PJ Black/Flip Gordon/Bouncers/World Famous CB b. LSG/Sledge/Max The Impaler/Demonic Flamita/Will Ferrara – Doomsday Canadian Destroyer to LSG
Dragon Lee b. Rey Horus – Incinerator
Rhett Titus b. Silas Young, Joe Hendry and Dalton Castle – Dropkick to Young
Josh Woods b. Brian Johnson – Choke
Shane Taylor b. Kenny King – Marcus Garvey Driver
Rok-C b. Willow Nightingale – Code Rok
Violence Unlimited/Rocky Romero b. EC3/Eli Isom/Tracy Williams/Taylor Rust – Ganso Bomb to Isom
Briscoes b. OGK – Froggy Bow to Taven
Jonathan Gresham b. Jay Lethal – Octopus

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

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AND

Remember to check out Wrestlingrumors.net for all of your wrestling headline needs.

Ring of Honor
Date: December 1, 2021
Location: 2300 Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Caprice Coleman, Ian Riccaboni

We are on the way to Final Battle and this time around we have a big time showdown between Jay Lethal and EC3. That’s the kind of a match that could go in a few different ways and it could be an interesting showdown. Now just build up something else for Final Battle and we should have a good week. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Quinn McKay welcomes us to the show and runs down the card.

Briscoes vs. PCO/Danhausen

This should be….uh, something. Danhausen has some teeth questions to start and gets punched in the face for his efforts. PCO comes in to chop/scream it out with Mark, who seems to enjoy this. A big shot puts Mark down and it’s Danhausen tagging himself back in. Jay comes in as well but Danhausen shouts that he isn’t ready, even as Jay knocks him down.

We take a break and come back with Jay unloading on Danhausen in the corner but Danhausen is back up with a surprise German suplex. PCO comes back in to clean house in a hurry but Mark hits him in the ears, triggering a malfunction. He’s fine enough to clothesline the Briscoes down though and Danhausen pours teeth in Mark’s mouth. A double chokeslam plants Mark, though Danhausen doesn’t seem to notice that PCO helps him. Cue Sledge to brawl with PCO over the barricade, leaving the Briscoes to send Danhausen flying. The Jay Driller gives Jay the pin at 8:54.

Rating: C-. Not exactly a masterpiece but that’s not exactly what you would have expected here. This was another nice performance from Danhausen, even though he almost never has a chance of winning a big match. It’s always nice to see the Briscoes get in a good win too, though I’m curious to see where they go next.

Post match, Mark takes some teeth back.

Matt Taven talks about how he has always wanted to be in Ring of Honor. You’ll see Ring of Honor again. That’s the first official mention of the changes.

Maria Kanellis-Bennett refuses to believe that the Ring of Honor spirit will ever die.

Women’s Title: Gia Scott vs. Rok-C

Scott is challenging and says she should have already been the champion. Rok-C talks about being a fighting champion in a fairly generic promo. The much bigger Scott shoves her away to start and then crouches down for the test of strength. A wristlock works for Scott and she pulls Rok-C into a bodyscissors to keep her in trouble. They run the ropes and Rok-C bounces off of her in a shoulder attempt. Instead Rok-C tries some armdrags to no avail but she does manage to knock Scott outside.

Back in and Rok-C can’t get a wristdrag out of the corner, allowing Scott to blast her with a clothesline as we take a break. Back with Rok-C being whipped hard into the corner and getting taken down with a Russian legsweep for two. Rok-C grabs a quick guillotine, which is broken up just as fast. Back up and a Thesz press lets Scott hammer away and the Rok Knees get two. The Crossface is broken up and Scott spears her in half, as tends to be the case in a lot of matches today. Rok-C isn’t having any more of this and knees her down, setting up the Crossface for the tap at 9:05.

Rating: C. This was a good example of the same problems that the women’s division has had before: no story coming into the match and no detailed characters to be seen. Rok-C is the plucky champion and Scott is a generic villain. There was nothing here that made then feel special and while the match was fine, it’s nothing that left any kind of impact. That’s on the setup of the match rather than the wrestlers, but it is the same problem that has always been around.

Shane Taylor talks about how much Ring of Honor means to him.

Josh Woods talks about how Ring of Honor made him a star.

EC3 vs. Jay Lethal

EC3 talks about how need leaders and that is not going to be Lethal, especially with a phony speech like he gave at Death Before Dishonor. On the other hand, Lethal says he hasn’t heard anything from the Foundation in a few days. Now he needs to find this footage of him, but his mind isn’t on EC3. Lethal circles him to start and works on a wristlock for a bit. A hard shoulder puts Lethal on the floor and commentary thinks he isn’t all there.

EC3 is nice enough to hold the ropes open for him and Lethal uses the distraction to hit a quick dropkick to knock EC3 outside for a change. Lethal sends him into the barricade a few times but EC3 is right back with a clothesline back inside. The Thesz press lets EC3 hammer away with right hands, setting up a snap suplex for two. EC3 knocks him outside in a hurry and shouts about how Lethal has no fight in him.

Back in and stereo crossbodies put both of them down but EC3 drives him into the corner for some shoulders. EC3 chops away in the corner and keeps talking about the same control your narrative stuff that I still don’t quite get. Lethal breaks up a superplex attempt and they both crash hard to the floor. Back in and a slugout goes to Lethal, who scores with an enziguri.

There’s the Lethal Combination to drop EC3 again so he tells Lethal to drop Hail To The King. Said elbow connects for two but the 1%er only gives EC3 two. EC3 asks when Lethal is going to give back to himself so Lethal hits a jumping cutter. Then the video of Lethal saying “I don’t even like the Foundation” pops up on screen, with the distraction breaking up the Lethal Injection. The cobra clutch stretch finishes Lethal at 15:11.

Rating: C. This was a storyline match and that’s not often the most interesting thing. Above all else, EC3 talking about controlling your narrative is one of those things that doesn’t make a ton of sense in the first place and is more effort than it’s worth to understand. Lethal being screwed up about that footage is interesting, though the context seems to be a rather likely major component.

EC3 tells Lethal to think about himself and they shake hands, leaving Lethal confused to end the show.

Overall Rating: C. You can feel a lot of the energy being gone around here and that is a hard feeling to shake. Above all else, it feels like you’re never going to see the end of a lot of these stories and that makes you wonder why it’s worth seeing. Final Battle could be interesting, but it isn’t like the show has been built up very well on TV. The wrestling was fine, but it was missing the feeling and that’s a bad way to go.

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Ring of Honor
Date: November 24, 2021
Location: 2300 Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

We’re rapidly approaching Final Battle and the final battles of note from the promotion. That doesn’t exactly make things feel that important around here and I’m not sure what that is going to mean going forward. At least the action should be good and that’s about all we can ask for around here. Let’s get to it.

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

Quinn McKay gives us the welcome and the rundown.

Brian Johnson vs. John Walters

Pure Rules. Johnson runs his mouth about how awesome he is and how he you spell Pure M-E-C-C-A. They go with the grappling to start until Walters nips out of a headscissors to send us to a break. Back with Johnson hitting a shoulder to the ribs in the corner but getting armdragged into an armbar. It works so well that Walters does it again, with Johnson not being able to monkey flip his way to freedom.

Johnson tries to escape but gets pulled back over the top by the barred arm. Walters gets caught on top though and a hanging cutter brings him back down for two. Some knees to the back set up a quickly broken cobra clutch but Johnson kicks him in the head to cut off a comeback. We take another break and come back again with Johnson dropping a fist, which counts as the first closed fist. Johnson doesn’t seem to mind but Walters is back up with a middle rope legdrop on the arm.

Something like an abdominal stretch on the mat forces Johnson to use his first rope break and they trade rollups for two each. Walters grabs a Sharpshooter, meaning that’s the second rope break from Johnson. Another Sharpshooter attempt burns the last rope break but Johnson gets in a shot to the eye. Johnson kicks out Walters’ knee, sending him face first into Johnson’s knee (that’s a new one), setting up Trust The Process to finish Walters at 11:30.

Rating: C+. The knee thing at the end was more than enough to make this work and I was surprised by how they got to the finish. Other than that, this was a nice back and forth match with Johnson being so annoying with the trash talking that you want to see him lose at the end. Beating Walters still feels like a big enough deal so good choice for an opener here.

Post match Johnson makes the still out of it Walters shake his hand.

Mandy Leon vs. Trish Adora vs. Allysin Kay

The winner moves on to a #1 contenders match for the Women’s Title shot at Final Battle. Angelina Love and Marti Belle are here with Leon and Kay respectively. Leon bails to the floor to start so the other two trade wristlocks inside. Kay’s headlock takes her to the mat but it’s broken up in a hurry. Neither can get a takeover until Adora hits a belly to back for two.

Now Leon comes back in and sends Adora into Kay as we take a break. Back with Leon getting caught in a double submission, which is broken up so Kay and Adora can slug it out. Kay takes Adora up top for a superplex but Leon turns it into a Tower of Doom for the big crash. That means a pair of near falls each so Leon throws Adora outside. Astral Projection is enough to finish Kay at 6:58.

Rating: C-. Leon winning wasn’t exactly a surprise as it was the structure of two women doing their thing while Leon was there too, followed by the win. The women’s division still has a long way to go and while there is talent here, there is only so much that you can get out of a match like this. You could have gone with any of these three, but Leon was kind of telegraphed here.

Dalton Castle is ready to bring pizzazz to the TV Title. He also compares himself to Picasso and Jackson Pollock.

TV Title: Dalton Castle vs. Dragon Lee

Castle, with the Baby Chickens, is challenging and Lee’s entrance is cut out for some reason. They go with the grappling to start as neither can get very far on the mat. It’s way too early for the Bang A Rang so Lee sends him outside, leaving Lee to hit the Tranquilo pose. Castle is sent back first into the barricade so Lee is back in with a Falcon Arrow for two. Back up and Castle takes him outside for a whip over the barricade for a crash. They come back in with Castle grabbing a waistlock as we take a break.

We come back with Castle kicking Lee in the face and standing on his chest. Lee fights that off in a hurry and hits the running corner dropkick. Castle blasts him with a clothesline for two of his own and they’re on the floor again. Lee sends him over the barricade and loads up the dive but has to dive onto the Chickens instead.

Back in and a clothesline gets two on Lee instead but here are Shane Taylor Promotions and La Faccion Ingobernable to brawl. The Bang A Rang is countered into a cradle for two on Castle and Lee hits the running knee. Cue Dak Draper though and a cheap shot sets up the Bang A Rang to give Castle the pin and the title at 11:34.

Rating: C+. Now that was an actual surprise and that is the kind of thing that can often be good. What mattered here was they made me care about the ending as Castle’s comeback trail is an interesting story and now he has some gold to validate a lot of what he has been saying. The fact that it came via cheating makes it even better for him and now we get to move forward to…well not much actually but at least Castle won here.

Video on EC3 vs. Jay Lethal, which is up next week.

Overall Rating: B-. I really do like this show most of the time but there is only so much reason to care when Final Battle is wrapping up almost everything of note in less than a month. This is a great case of enjoying it while it lasts and having almost no pressure, which is not a bad situation to have. Now just keep up some good TV on the way to the end and we should be in for some rather fun times.

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Ring of Honor
Date: November 17, 2021
Location: 2300 Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Silas Young

The long march to Final Battle continues as we are still in the post-Death Before Dishonor TV tapings. In other words, these are still matches from before all of the company’s future went away, so there might still be a little something here. Then again, I’m not sure how much hope that really is. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Quinn McKay welcomes us to the show and gives us the rundown.

Caprice Coleman vs. Beer City Bruiser

This is Coleman’s first singles match in a long time and Bruiser has Brian Milonas and Ken Dixon with him. Before the match, Bruiser says Coleman wasn’t an official entrant in the Honor Rumble so he was never eliminated and should be #1 contender. Coleman comes to the ring and Bruiser laughs at the idea of Coleman getting back in the ring….so he can face Dixon instead.

Caprice Coleman vs. Ken Dixon

Dixon is in jeans and the Bouncers are at ringside. Feeling out process to start as they go to the mat with Dixon not being able to get very far. We take a break and come back with Coleman hitting a basement shoulder, setting up a legdrop for two. Milonas offers a distraction so Bruiser can add a clothesline to give Dixon control for a change.

A fall away slam gives Dixon two and we hit the chinlock. Backup and the clothesline comeback is on but Father Time (cobra clutch Russian legsweep) is broken up. Dixon sends him outside but Coleman flips backwards into a headscissors to drop Dixon on the floor. Back in and Father Time sets up the cobra clutch but the Bruiser comes in for the DQ at 8:01.

Rating: C. Coleman getting back in the ring is somewhat interesting, but it’s not like he was the biggest star in Ring of Honor history. The good thing is that he can still get in the ring and look just fine, which was the case here. Odds are he can get in a big match with Bruiser down the line, which should work well for a TV main event.

We recap Flip Gordon losing his memory and taking potions to get his memory back. If ANY of this has been mentioned on TV since it happened, I haven’t been paying close enough attention.

PJ Black is taking care of Gordon’s memory troubles.

PJ Black/Flip Gordon vs. OGK

Taven and Gordon start things off as Gordon doesn’t seem impressed. Gordon grabs a headlock but Taven talks his way out of it, allowing the tag to Black. OGK gets together for a double dropkick but Black grabs a wristlock. A tag (with the foot) brings in Gordon, who has to be told to come in off the top to work on the arm. Back from a break with Gordon and Bennett trading chops but Black breaks up a spike piledriver attempt. Black comes back in for a springboard moonsault into a double reverse layout DDT.

Bennett’s spear gives Taven two and a running kick to the face gives Bennett two of his own. A backbreaker/top rope elbow combination gives Taven two more and Bennett’s brainbuster gets the same. Black is fine enough to roll over for the hot tag off to Gordon, who springboards in to take OGK down. House is cleaned but Gordon has to bail out of the 450. Instead, he puts Taven on his shoulders for a Doomsday Canadian Destroyer but Bennett makes the save. Black gets sent outside though and it’s a spike piledriver to finish Gordon at 9:43.

Rating: C+. The match was good, though this Gordon thing is straight out of nowhere, at least on this show. It’s also not exactly like Ring of Honor, which rarely does the wacky stipulations like this one. OGK continues their roll though and it’s great to see a good team like them getting their chance to shine.

Honor For All rundown.

Righteous vs. Foundation

Vincent/Bateman/Dutch vs. Jonathan Gresham/Tracy Williams/Rhett Titus. Vincent and Titus start but Gresham comes in before anything happens. Hold on though as Vincent grabs the mic and tells Jay Lethal, on the floor, to come stand in the right corner. That’s a no, so Vincent shows a clip of Lethal saying he doesn’t even like the Foundation.

Tracy walks Lethal to the back as Lethal protests, allowing the Righteous to jump the other two. The beating takes us to a break and we come back with Gresham being sent into the corner for a stomping, followed by some choking to make it worse. Gresham rolls over and brings in Williams to clean house, including a discus lariat to Vincent, who isn’t legal. Dutch comes in and cleans house, allowing Vincent to hit some running forearms in the corner. Redrum gets two, with Gresham needing a double save.

We take a break and come back with Vincent hitting a basement Downward Spiral for two on Gresham, including another save. The hot tag brings in Titus for a half crab on Bateman but Dutch drives Gresham into them for the save. Dutch Jackhammers Titus and Bateman adds Orange Sunshine. A ripcord Boss Man Slam finishes Titus at 12:25.

Rating: B-. Pretty good stuff here, with the Righteous being the latest group to get a bunch of TV time. That’s not a bad thing either as the team is just off enough that it makes you want to see more of them. I liked the match a good bit, as the Foundation continues to be the kind of team that does not have a bad match no matter what happens.

Overall Rating: C+. Pretty nice hour of TV here, but the lack of a future is really dragging it down. It’s hard to get excited about much of this, even if this is still the television taping from before the big news broke. I’m not sure how long the next cycle is going to go on for, but it could make for a pretty lifeless time if everything is just a bunch of cold matches.

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Ring of Honor
Date: November 10, 2021
Location: 2300 Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman 

It’s the Championship Edition of the show and that means we are in for a special main event. Bandido is going to be defending the World Title against Alex Zayne, in a title shot Zayne won back at Death Before Dishonor. Other than that, we continue down the path towards what seems to be the end of the company, though they might not have known that when the show was taped. Let’s get to it.

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

The opening video talks about what it means to be a champion while running down the card.

Opening sequence.

Quinn McKay welcomes us to the show and runs down the card.

Pure Wrestling Title: LSG vs. Josh Woods

LSG is challenging and we hear him explain just how important all of this is for him. We get the Big Match Intros and even the referee gets a name graphic. LSG grabs a rollup to start and Woods smiles at him a bit. A headlock slows Woods down and a crucifix gives LSG two. An armbar sends LSG over to the ropes for the first break and we stop for a look at the commentary team.

Woods cranks on a cravate to put LSG down but he powers up into something like an F5 (albeit from a slam position instead of a fireman’s carry). Something like a Muta Lock with the arm trapped sends Woods bailing to the ropes for his first break and it’s time to slug it out on the floor. Woods counters the tornado DDT into an overhead belly to belly and the cravate goes on again back inside.

We take a break and come back with both of them down until LSG is up with a handspring clothesline. The Explosion gives LSG two and frustration is setting in. Rocket Bye Baby gets the same but Woods counters a springboard into another cravate (he really like that). Woods hits an uppercut and loads him up for a Tombstone, only to flip him backwards into a suplex. The kneebar makes LSG tap at 10:37.

Rating: C+. Woods is someone who could be a heck of a beast while he holds the title as he can make this torturing people with a variety of holds look easy. LSG was using the faster pace here but eventually got pulled into a hold to keep the title on Woods. It was a nice little story with the action to back it up.

Respect is shown post match.

We look at some highlights of last week’s Halloween special. This eats up the better part of ten minutes, which makes me wonder if they had to cut something. Or maybe they just had nothing else to put in on the show. Or maybe it’s something about how it couldn’t air on TV so we’re seeing it here instead?

Josh Woods says that’s 1-0. Quinn McKay: “Succinct. I like it.”

Commentary previews the main event but the Bouncers and Ken Dixon interrupt. They don’t like Caprice Coleman jumping into the Honor Rumble. Coleman stands up for himself and a fight almost breaks out. A match seems to have been made to wrap it up.

Alex Zayne talks about being Bandido before and he knows he can do it again.

Bandido doesn’t think that’s happening again.

Ring of Honor World Title: Bandido vs. Alex Zayne

Bandido is defending and Jonathan Gresham is on commentary. Zayne flips out of a wristlock to start and grabs some rollups for some early twos. Back up and Bandido gets two off of a Code Red but Zayne hits a gutwrench faceplant. We take a break and come back with Bandido countering a charge into a one handed gorilla press. A standing shooting star press gives Bandido two but Zayne grabs a running super hurricanrana.

That’s countered into a powerbomb faceplant and they’re both down. They chop it out until Zayne takes him up top, where Bandido hits a super Samoan driver for two. Zayne is right back up with a super gutwrench faceplant for two more, only to miss….something off the top. The X Knee into the 21 Plex rolled into a bridging German suplex retains Bandido’s title at 10:15.

Rating: B-. This was all it needed to be, as there wasn’t a great reason to believe that the title change was taking place, but they had a pretty good TV match anyway. Sometimes that’s all you need to do and it fit in well here. It’s nice to see a showcase of the World Champion and both guys looked good here.

Respect is shown post match. Bandido stares Gresham down to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. It felt like a showcase of the champions around here and that is what they were going for, long highlight package from last week in the middle aside. It’s nice to see the titles being treated as important, which doesn’t happen enough in a lot of modern wrestling today. Good stuff here, as Ring of Honor continues to be a solid TV show, even as it is winding down.

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