Ring Of Honor
Date: November 14, 2024
Location: Amica Mutual Pavilion, Providence, Rhode Island
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

We’re closing in on Final Battle but since there is probably more than a month to go before the show, nothing has been announced just yet. Odds are we’ll be seeing some seeds being planted soon though and that might start this week. Last week’s show was a bit more structured than usual so hopefully the trend continues here. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Card rundown.

Gates Of Agony vs. Undisputed Kingdom vs. Dark Order vs. Grizzled Young Veterans

Kaun takes Taven down to start and hammers away but Taven is back up with a dropkick and the shout of his name. Bennett comes in and gets chopped down before some rapid fire chops let the Order knock Gibson down. It’s off to Drake for a step up dropkick to send Reynolds to the floor. Back in and Taven gets the tag to clean house, with Bennett’s Death Valley Driver setting up Just The Tip for two on Gibson. The Gates are back in with Open The Gates to Bennett before Silver gets to take over for a change. A quick Hail Mary gives Bennett the pin on Silver at 5:37.

Rating: C+. What are you supposed to get out of an eight man match that doesn’t even last six minutes? The Kingdom was the last team to go on a big run of offense and got the win as a result. As usual, this would have been better as a regular tag match, but it’s not like any of these teams are likely to get near the title situation anytime soon.

Post match respect is shown between the Gates and the Kingdom.

Dustin Rhodes/Sammy Guevara vs. Shot Through The Heart

Non-title. Rhodes and Doug (as in Love Doug, because his name is Love Doug) with Rhodes shrugging off some early right hands to take over on Crawford. Guevara comes in and flips over him before hitting a dropkick to send Crawford outside. There’s the big flip dive, followed by the middle rope cutter back inside. Rhodes kicks Crawford in the face and the GTH finishes him off at 2:43. As usual, Rhodes and Guevara show absolutely nothing that makes them feel important or better than any average team.

Post match the Righteous come in and beat down Guevara and Rhodes. We get extra serious as the cowbell is used, as well as STOLEN.

We get Chris Jericho and the Learning Tree’s promo from Dynamite accepting a challenge from Tomohiro Ishii.

Preston Vance/Griff Garrison vs. Waves And Curls

Vance shoulders Jordan (of Traevon Jordan/Jaylen Brandyn) down to start and gets in another knockdown for a bonus. Brandyn comes in and lays down rather than get chopped in what might be a smart move. It’s off to Garrison to stomp away and before Vance adds a delayed vertical suplex, allowing commentary to make a Power And Glory comparison (because Power And Glory has become a great team over the years….somehow). Jordan is sent into the barricade, followed by a discus forearm into a discus lariat to give Vance the pin at 4:19.

Rating: C. Vance and Garrison aren’t exactly a great team but it’s not like either of them have anything going at the moment. I’m assuming Cole Karter is gone or something, as Vance was just thrown in there as Garrison’s new partner. It’s not a great move, but they did well enough in their first match together.

Video on the Infantry joining Shane Taylor Promotions.

Katsuyori Shibata vs. Aaron Solo

Solo, Shibata’s student, jumps him before the bell and seems rather pleased as he suplexes Shibata on the floor. Shibata comes up favoring his ankle but it’s fine enough to kick Solo in the face. Shibata’s suplex drops Solo and they head inside with Shibata striking away. Some chops in the corner and a butterfly suplex drop Solo but he’s back with an exploder for two of his own. That’s not going to work for Shibata, who grabs an Octopus for the win at 4:01.

Rating: C+. They started fast here and had a physical match until Shibata crushed Solo, which is how this should have gone in the end. It’s also a match where they didn’t waste time, as there was no reason to believe that Solo was going to be able to hang in there long term. Shibata doesn’t have much going on at the moment, but he’s still far ahead of Solo.

Komander vs. Josh Woods

Mark Sterling is here with Woods and says the same thing he says every week (if not twice). Woods wrestles him to the mat to start but Komander is back up with a whip to the floor, setting up the flip dive. Another dive seems to hurt Komander’s knee so Sterling gets in some stomping of his own like a good villain is supposed to do.

Some Sterling choking (with Alex Abrahantes chasing him off) sets up a quickly broken chinlock as Komander kicks him in the head. A springboard crossbody gives Komander two but Woods knees him out of the air for two. They head outside again with Komander hitting a hurricanrana into the post. Sterling offers a distraction so Abrahantes spears him own, leaving Komander to grab a tornado DDT. Cielito Lindo finishes for Komander at 6:37.

Rating: C+. That’s your required Komander match of the week, though it’s not a great sign when the fans are reacting to the managers fighting more than the people in the match. Other than that, neither of them did anything out of their usual, which didn’t make for the most thrilling match. At least it didn’t go on far longer than it needed to, as is Komander’s custom.

MxM Collection has merch.

Abadon vs. Viva Van

Van goes with a slap rather than a handshake to start before snapping off a spinwheel kick for two. Abadon gets annoyed at the hair pull though and hits a knee to the face. An RKO plants Van and the Black Dahlia finishes Van at 3:06.

Rating: C. Not much to see here as they kept it short again, though this was longer than most of what Abadon tends to do. Abadon continues to feel like a star, though that doesn’t mean guaranteed future gold. For now, I’ll take a fairly hard hitting match which was a step more competitive than a normal squash.

Athena and Lexi Nair are waiting for Billie Starkz to apologize but she doesn’t want to do it. Leila Grey interrupts and challenges Athena, who laughs her off. A Proving Ground match is set for next week. Starkz is still in trouble though.

From March 16, 2023 and from a previous review.

Athena vs. Hyan

Another non-title Proving Ground match. Athena drops her to start and mocks the fans a bit, only to get kicked in the face for her rudeness. A swinging chokeslam cuts Hyan down again but she fights out of a chinlock. Athena catches her on top and spins into a powerbomb to the floor (ouch). Back in and the Crossface makes Hyan tap at 4:41.

Rating: C. They didn’t have time to do much here and a lot of that was spent on Athena playing to the fans. That powerbomb looked good though and Athena ran through an opponent who shouldn’t have caused her much trouble. This was little more than a showcase for Athena and in that regard, it went well.

Righteous vs. Matt Raymond/Sammy Diaz

Dutch has the cowbell from earlier. Diaz slugs away to start but gets elbowed in the face for his efforts. A Russian legsweep allows the tag off to Dutch for a Side Effect. Dutch suplexes Diaz down and it’s a Boss Man Slam into Orange Sunshine into an assisted Death Valley Driver to pin Diaz at 2:55.

Post match Vincent says they should have been the Tag Team Champions a long time ago and they’re coming for the belts. Dig what he is saying? Dutch mocks Dustin Rhodes with the cowbell because it used to belong to Dusty Rhodes. Apparently Dutch and Dusty were close and Dusty say potential in him. Everyone knows that Dustin is the weakest link in “our” family. Maniacal laughing ensues.

Women’s TV Title: Diamante vs. Red Velvet

Diamante is challenging in a street fight. The fight starts on the floor, where Diamante gets in some kendo stick shots to the back and then chokes on the ropes. The belt is hung on the ropes but Diamante misses a charge and goes head first instead. Diamante is fine enough to tie her in the Tree of Woe, and a trashcan, for a running dropkick and a near fall. Velvet is rammed head first into a chair a few times and it’s time to choke with a chain. That’s broken up and Diamante is sent into the corner as the fans want tables.

Instead they get a ladder from Velvet, which takes long enough that Diamante suplexes her onto the ladder for the crash. Diamante loads up the table but again it takes too long, allowing Velvet to get in some chair shots. Velvet takes too long (a pattern emerges) going up and a superplex sends her through the table for the big crash. The delayed cover gives Diamante two but Velvet is back with a flipping faceplant onto the belt to retain at 10:57.

Rating: B-. They beat each other up rather well here and it felt like a match that was built up over time. Velvet gets a win to make her seem like a more serious champion and that is good to see. At the same time, Diamante put in quite a nice performance of her own and it was a nice enough brawl. It wasn’t perfect though, as they spent too much time setting things up and it was a bunch of stuff that feels like it has been done a million or so times.

Overall Rating: C+. Overall, the show was a bit better as they trimmed the time down again (just shy of an hour and a half this week) but there is still a lot on here that feels like it could be trimmed of. I’m not sure why we needed to see Shibata beat Solo or a random non-title match from Athena from a year and a half ago. What matters the most is that it feels like they’re building some things up and that could help in the long run, assuming they stick with that style for a change.

Results
Undisputed Era b. Dark Order, Gates Of Agony and the Grizzled Young Veterans – Hail Mary to Silver
Dustin Rhodes/Sammy Guevara b. Shot Through The Heart – GTH to Crawford
Preston Vance/Griff Garrison b. Waves And Curls – Discus lariat to Jordan
Katsuyori Shibata b. Aaron Solo – Octopus
Komander b. Josh Woods – Cielito Lindo
Abadon b. Viva Van – Black Dahlia
Righteous b. Matt Raymond/Sammy Diaz – Assisted Death Valley Driver to Diaz
Red Velvet b. Diamante – Flipping faceplant onto the title belt

 

 

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Collision
Date: October 26, 2024
Location: Alliant Energy PowerHouse, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness

We’re live for the first time in a bit for this show and that could change things in a better way. It’s not the best of times for AEW, as the Blackpool Combat Club is running roughshod over everything and someone needs to step up. That might be Orange Cassidy, whose friend Chuck Taylor was attacked by the Club to end Dynamite. Let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

We open with a recap of the Blackpool Combat Club attacking Chuck Taylor. In exclusive footage from after the show, Orange Cassidy says he’s taking care of this next week.

Jay White vs. Shane Taylor

Juice Robinson and Lee Moriarty are here too. The much bigger Taylor powers him into the corner to start and White needs a breather on the floor. Back in and White goes after the knee but Moriarty offers a distraction, allowing Taylor to choke on the ropes. A splash on the apron crushes White and we take an early break.

Back with Taylor missing a legdrop, allowing White to chop away. White snaps off the dragon screw legwhip and a DDT gets two. Taylor is back up with his release Rock Bottom for two but White elbows him in the corner and gets two off a swinging Rock Bottom. Robinson takes Moriarty out as Taylor knees White in the face. That just bans up the bad knee though and the Blade Runner gives White the pin at 9:37.

Rating: C+. This was a good way to make White look strong as he figures out and beats a monster like Taylor. I’m a bit surprised that White is getting such a strong push after coming back but AEW could certainly use some help on top. Maybe White can become a big player around here, and this is at least a starting point.

Post match White talks about how Hangman Page hits harder than he does and maybe that’s why he gets under Page’s skin. Maybe that’s why White has always always been a step ahead o him. Page can try to hang him again but Page better not miss. White is willing to give Page one more chance at Full Gear.

Ricochet is here to prove something when Lio Rush comes in. Rush has his own card from MVP so he’s nothing special. Don’t overlook Rush.

Kyle Fletcher is here to keep an eye on Ricochet but also to say he’s ready to face Will Ospreay on Dynamite.

Penelope Ford vs. Robyn Renegade

This is Ford’s first AEW match in about two years. Ford backs her into the corner to start, setting up a not great handspring elbow. Robyn blocks a kick and hits a swinging faceplant for two, only for Ford to come back with a cutter. We hit the neck crank for a bit before Renegade fights up…for all of a few seconds as Ford pulls her into a Muta Lock for the tap at 3:02.

Rating: C. Well Ford’s back and as usual, she looked perfectly acceptable in the ring. I’m not sure how much higher she’ll be going, but it’s good to have her back in the ring as there are far worse options to present. This was just a quick way to get back at it and the Muta Lock should work out well enough for her as a nasty looking finisher.

Post match Jamie Hayter pops up to say she’ll be waiting on Ford on the November 6 Dynamite.

FTR want the Outrunners to get the Tag Team Titles and it starts tonight.

Outrunners vs. MxM Collection

Floyd and Mansoor start things off and they waste no time in going to the posedown. A running shoulder takes Mansoor down and it’s off to Magnum for a quickly broken headlock. For some reason Magnum tries to slam Madden, who wins a test of strength instead. Some dropkicks stagger Madden though and we take a break.

Back with Magnum fighting out of the corner but getting caught with a Hart Attack for two. The Collection’s posing double elbow drop doesn’t work and the tag brings in Floyd to clean house. Madden blocks a suplex but the Outrunners escape a double suplex and an assisted slam puts Madden down. The Collection wind up on top of each other and the posing elbow connects. Madden is back with a Boss Man Slam but gets sent outside, setting up Total Recall to finish Mansoor at 11:11.

Rating: C+. Take two goofy teams, let them do their things for awhile, then have the popular ones win. This isn’t complicated and there is no reason to do anything more than keep it simple. The Outrunners aren’t likely to win the Tag Team Titles, but AEW would be wise to see what they can get out of them, even if it is just in fun stuff like this.

Nigel McGuinness sat down with Wheeler Yuta for an interview, asking why Yuta tried to murder Bryan Danielson. Yuta thought Nigel would get it more than anyone else, but Nigel says he wanted to prove he was a better wrestler. Yuta: “How’d that work out for you?” Nigel: “Not great you smug bastard.” Yuta says the Blackpool Combat Club gave Danielson a warrior’s death because Danielson was long past the point he should have left and it was time to get rid of him. If they’ll do that to Danielson, what will they do to someone they hate?

Back in the arena, Nigel isn’t sure if Yuta was trying to convince Nigel or himself.

Jake Roberts says La Faccion Ingobernable is ready to hurt FTR.

Ricochet vs. Lio Rush

Rush hits him in the face to start and fires off some shots in the corner. Back up and Ricochet flips over the ropes, earning a kick to the head to send him outside. Ricochet gets in a shot of his own and a running elbow drop gets two. Ricochet’s knee knocks him silly, to the point where Ricochet offers to help him back in. The suckering out to the floor lets Rush hit a dive and we take a break.

Back with Rush missing something of the top and getting caught in a northern lights suplex into a brainbuster into the running shooting star press for two. A Blue Thunder Bomb gives Ricochet two but Vertigo is broken up. Rush’s spinning kick to the head gets two so he goes for a chair, only to get taken out with a quick dive. Back in and Ricochet’s running elbow finishes Rush at 11:24.

Rating: B-. This was an entertaining match and Rush got to go every step of the way with Ricochet. It felt like a match meant to be a showcase of two high fliers, which made the back and forth side fit better. In other words, it was a better use of Rush than having him go about the same distance with Shelton Benjamin last week, which still didn’t feel right. For this spot though, another entertaining match from Ricochet, who is likely next in line for the International Title.

Harley Cameron, now as THUNDER HARLEY, throws her hair around a lot and says Thunder Rosa isn’t the only one who can paint her face. Rosa comes in to say she’s ready to show her what the paint is really about next week. We’ll make it a Dia de los Muertos match. Rosa leaves and Cameron, with the squeak, threatens Rosa with her wrath but realizes it isn’t working. As usual, Cameron is on another planet in a great way.

The Kingdom gives The Beast Mortos candy and offer to take him trick or treating.

Anna Jay vs. Viva Van

Feeling out process to start with Nigel starting in on the violent things Mariah May will do to Jay. An armdrag doesn’t work for Van, as Jay hip attacks her back down. Jay’s swinging neckbreaker gets two but Van is back up with a running spinwheel kick. We take a break and come back with Jay (who Schiavone describes as “red hot”) hitting a Sling Blade into an Iconoclasm for two.

Van kicks her into the corner and a spinning backfist drops Jay for two more. A Backstabber gives Jay two of her own and they trade rams into the corner. Van’s high crossbody gets two more but Jay is right back with the Gory Bomb (dubbed the Widow’s Peak, which is traditionally a different move but oh well) for the pin at 9:47.

Rating: C. Jay continues to build up momentum on the way to the title shot and that’s the right way to go. That being said, absolutely none of this matters if Jay doesn’t get a big win at some point. I’m not sure if that’s going to be the win against May, but if AEW wants Jay to move up after all these years, she needs to actually pick up some kind of hardware.

Mariah May is in the back and gets to the point: “Anna Jay, if you left this business tomorrow, do you think anyone would give a s***? Or would we just find another fat*** blonde, teach her to do an armdrag and watch her waste five years of her life?” Jay isn’t some kind of inspiration, because instead of sink or swim, she’s going to drown.

Video on Adam Cole vs. Buddy Matthews.

Here’s what’s coming up on various shows.

Kyle O’Reilly and Tomohiro Ishii want revenge.

La Faccion Ingobernable vs. FTR

Jake Roberts is here with the villains. Dralistico takes Harwood down to start and then does it again, earning him some hard chops. Wheeler comes in for a gordbusters and it’s immediately off to Rush. Some right hands have Wheeler in trouble as everything breaks down. FTR suplexes both of them down hard but Harwood misses a charge into the post as we take a break. Back with Rush sending Harwood outside and then whipping him into the barricade.

Rush does the tranquilo pose and gets punched down by Harwood, who drops Dralistico as well. Wheeler comes in with a neckbreaker but Dralistico knocks him out to the corner, setting up a springboard spinning crucifix bomb. Everything breaks down again and Harwood has to escape a Fujiwara armbar. Harwood hits the superplex but the Shatter Machine is countered. The Bull’s Horns are broken up as well so Rush and Harwood slap it out. Harwood’s Sharpshooter is blocked and cue the Beast Mortos with a cheap shot, only for Dralistico to walk into the Shatter Machine for the pin at 16:33.

Rating: B. This was very much in the FTR playbook of being able to work well with any opponent. They were all moving well out there and while Rush is still treated as a good bit more of a star than he seems to be, he wasn’t too bad here with running over everyone in front of him. Other than that, it’s still not the best start for La Faccion after coming under Roberts’ leadership, but it could be worse.

Post match La Faccion beats down FTR but the Outrunners run in for the save to end the show. If/when FTR turns on them, the heat is going to be off the charts.

Overall Rating: C+. There was the usual good stuff on here, but the feeling of importance between this show and Dynamite couldn’t be much more different. This show still feels like it is just boosting things up that either isn’t important enough for Dynamite or that AEW doesn’t have time to put on that show. While it’s still good, this show regularly feels like something you could read a recap of rather than watching with the occasional match worth seeing. With so many things going on in AEW, they might want to find a bit better balance.

Results
Jay White b. Shane Taylor – Blade Runner
Penelope Ford b. Robyn Renegade – Muta Lock
Outrunners b. MxM Collection – Total Recall to Mansoor
Ricochet b. Lio Rush – Running elbow
Anna Jay b. Viva Van – Widow’s Peak

 

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Ring Of Honor
Date: October 24, 2024
Location: Adventist Health Arena, Stockton, California
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

So once again we have a new champion and once again it came on an AEW show. In this case, Chris Jericho has regained the World Title from Mark Briscoe in a ladder war, thanks to the interference of the Learning Tree. While I can’t imagine that we’ll be seeing the new champ around here in any significant role, we’re in a new era. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a quick look at Chris Jericho regaining the World Title last night on Dynamite.

We run down the card.

Gates Of Agony vs. The Infantry

Bravo works on Kaun’s wrist to start before grinding away on a headlock. Kaun powers out and it’s off to Toa for a hard clothesline. Bravo fights up and hands it off to Dean, who is promptly dropped with a superkick. Dean pops back up and takes Kaun into the corner for some choking, setting up the chinlock.

That’s broken up in short order but a neckbreaker gives Bravo two. Kaun DDTs his way to freedom though and it’s Toa coming back in to clean house. The Samoan drop/fall away slam at the same time sends the Infantry flying and everything breaks down. Open The Gates finishes Dean at 8:18.

Rating: C. So the Gates are now good guys, or at least they were wrestling like it here, as they did a comeback and then finished the Infantry off. That’s kind of a random turn, but it’s not like there is any reason to believe that this will matter in the title scene. I’m sure we’ll hear about it, but until I actually see it happen, it’s the usual ROH noise that goes nowhere.

Reyna Isis vs. Viva Van

Isis is from CMLL. Feeling out process to start with Van ducking a clothesline and dancing a bit. Isis’ running hurricanrana brings Van down and Isis hits some running knees in the corner. Back up and Van hits a running spinwheel kick before grabbing a rocking horse. Isis kicks her way out of the corner and hits a high crossbody, setting up a springboard dive to the floor. Back in and they trade rollups for two each until Van hits another spinwheel kick for two. Van misses a charge though and gets caught in the ropes, where Isis hits a middle rope legdrop for the pin at 6:38.

Rating: C+. This was the latest “here’s someone from another promotion and she’s a champion there so she must be awesome” match and as usual, it was up to the incoming star to prove themselves. That’s only going to get so far in a match that doesn’t even last seven minutes, but Isis did what she could here. I’m not sure if she’ll be sticking around, but another match or two wouldn’t be a bad thing.

Leyla Hirsch is back from injury and ready to go.

Brandon Cutler vs. Rocky Romero

Romero has the mascot of the Stockton NBA G-League team with him. Cutler says Romero can’t do anything until they shake hands, so Romero shakes his hand and grabs a headlock. Romero shoulders him down and his a middle rope springboard crossbody to start fast. A middle rope spinning crossbody connects but Cutler rakes the eyes for a needed breather.

Cutler drops a dancing elbow for two and we hit the chinlock. That’s broken up and Cutler misses a high crossbody to fall outside, allowing Romero to hit the dive. Back in and Cutler’s rollup with feet on the ropes is caught thanks to the mascot, allowing Romero to hit a tornado DDT. The standing Sliced Bread finishes for Romero at 4:52.

Rating: C. So the mascot for the villains (well, one of the many villain stables in AEW that is) just lost to the lackey of the stable comprised of people with no stable of their own. With a basketball mascot involved. This is a match that someone felt needed to be on a show behind a paywall. I think it’s safe to say that sums up this show as well as anything else right now.

EJ Nduka/Lee Johnson vs. Bret Haskins/Jiah Jewell

Haskins and Johnson start things off with Johnson headlocking him down as commentary talks about Jerry Lynn still being a member of the Board Of Directors. Along with Stokely Hathaway and Paul Wight (I guess?), none of whom have been around here in months. Nduka comes in and drops Jewell so it’s back to Johnson, who gets taken into the corner. A splash is shrugged off though and Nduka comes in to clean house. That includes a spinebuster/neckbreaker combination to finish Jewell at 4:40.

Rating: C. Nduka is a beast and someone who could go somewhere. Johnson feels like someone who could have been a thing but never actually won anything important, which kind of limits his impact. I’m not sure why these two are a team unless it’s meant as a way to hide Nduka while giving him something to do, but it’s better than him sitting on the sidelines even longer.

From Final Battle 2022 (and from a previous review).

Women’s Title: Mercedes Martinez vs. Athena

Martinez is defending and takes her into the corner for some early forearms to the head. Athena gets fired up and hammers Martinez down, including a backhand to the jaw. Back up and Martinez hits a spinebuster (the fans do not approve) to start the rather early comeback. That doesn’t last long as Athena shoves her off, setting up a basement superkick for two.

Martinez is right back up with some suplexes into a brainbuster for two more. A Prism Trap is broken up though and Athena plants her hard on the apron. They head outside with Athena missing some running knees into the barricade so Martinez can grab a hanging neckbreaker off the barricade. Back in and the Brass City Sleeper is broken up so Athena gets to pull the turnbuckle pad off. A shotgun dropkick sends Martinez into the exposed buckle and the O Face gives Athena the pin and the title at 12:55.

Rating: C. That was the only way to go, as Martinez has been away for a long time but while Athena is in the middle of a rather nice heel turn. Also, Athena had to win something outside of NXT at some point to make her feel more important and this is as good as anything else. Decent match, but the right call is much more important.

Here is Billie Starkz to introduce Athena, still chained to Lexi Nair for protection, for a special celebration. Nair introduces the Minions In Training dance team but Athena sends them out. Athena isn’t happy that her parents aren’t here, with her mother option to have surgery rather than come here. Where is the women’s division? She lifted them all up but can’t get any kind of attention from them?

She hasn’t lost in almost two years (in ROH at least) so where are her flowers? This party sucks and it’s ALL Starkz’s fault for being all jealous. Starkz finally snatches the microphone away and says she’s done before storming off. Nair has a surprise though: the original Women’s Title, but now IT SPINS! Abadon’s music plays and suddenly Abadon is chained to Athena instead of Nair. The Black Dahlia drops Athena and it’s a cake to the champ’s face.

After losing the World Title last night, Mark Briscoe had nothing to say.

TV Title: Komander vs. Brian Cage

Cage is defending and shrugs off Komander’s chops to start. A toss sends Komander down and Cage fires off the shoulders in the corner. The clotheslines in the corner keep Komander in trouble and Cage sends him crashing out to the floor, with Komander coming up holding his leg. Cage throws him (Atlantis according to Riccaboni) back inside where Komander flips out of a German suplex.

A hurricanrana out of the corner sends Cage outside for the running flip dive but Cage is fine enough to hit the apron superplex for two. Komander is back with a top rope Fameasser, followed by Cielito Lindo. Cage kicks out and rolls through into four straight powerbombs and the F10 to retain at 10:17.

Rating: C+. Fine enough power vs. speed match here, though there was only so much they could do to get around the idea that Komander wasn’t going to win the title. He’s one of the most prominent designated losers around here and while Cage is only a step ahead, he wasn’t going to lose the title here. Cage’s finishing sequence did look good though, as he went into beast mode to put Komander away.

Overall Rating: C-. This was another case where the wrestling wasn’t the point, but rather this show did not feel important in the slightest. What did we have here? The suddenly good Gates beating the Infantry as part of the never ending merry go round of tag matches around here, a showcase for a CMLL star, two low level people in a match involving a mascot, a tag squash, and Komander getting a title shot. Oh and a setup for the Halloween match, because we needed to spend six weeks or whatever getting that ready. This was bottom of the barrel even for this show, which doesn’t have much room to spare in the first place.

Results
Gates Of Agony b. The Infantry – Open The Gates to Dean
Reyna Isis b. Viva Van – Middle rope legdrop
Rocky Romero b. Brandon Cutler – Standing Sliced Bread
EJ Nduka/Lee Johnson b. Jiah Jewell/Bret Haskins – Spinebuster/neckbreaker combination to Jewell
Brian Cage b. Komander – F10

 

 

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

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Ring Of Honor
Date: August 15, 2024
Location: Esports Stadium Arlington, Arlington, Texas
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

We’re getting closer to the end of the Texas engagement and odds are that means more from some combination of Dustin Rhodes/Sammy Guevara/the Von Erichs. In theory that is designed to cater to the local crowd, but as usual, it’s a case of the same people being on the show a good bit too often. Let’s get to it.

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

Earlier today, Paul Wight talked about how Ring Of Honor is on fire. Taya Valkyrie and Johnny TV come in, with the latter asking for a World Title shot against Mark Briscoe. Sure.

Opening sequence.

We run down the card.

Ring Of Honor World Title: Mark Briscoe vs. Johnny TV

TV, with Taya Valkyrie, is challenging. Briscoe grabs the arm to start and the ensuing armbar sends TV straight over to the ropes. TV’s headlock works a bit better but Briscoe enziguris his way out of trouble. Back up and TV knocks him down into the corner before taking it outside to keep up the beating. TV grabs the chinlock back inside before switching to a Shining Wizard for two.

Some kicks to the face put Briscoe down again but he fights up and hits a quick missile dropkick. TV is knocked outside for a running dropkick through the ropes, leaving Taya to block the Blockbuster. That’s enough for an ejection, setting up the Blockbuster to give Briscoe two back inside. TV’s flipping neckbreaker sets up Starship Pain for two and they both need a breather. A double clothesline leaves both of them down again before they slug it out. Briscoe gets the better of things and hits the Jay Driller to retain at 9:05.

Rating: C+. What is there to say here? The match came and went with no story or build and Briscoe won. It’s nice to have the champion around and actually defending the title, but there is only so much you’re going to get out of a match being made with the backstory of “hey I want a title shot”. TV hasn’t exactly been on a roll around here (he beat Fuego del Sol and…that’s it) but he gets a title shot anyway. That’s how ROH works though and it explains a lot of why the show is kind of a mess.

We look at Robbie Eagles beating Darien Bengston last week. Now he wants a TV Title match. The title match is on tonight, marking the second title match with a one match winning streak earning a title shot with the challenger just asking for a shot. That’s….something.

Blake Christian vs. Lio Rush

Christian rolls him up for two to start and cuts off Rush’s signature misdirection. Rush knocks him outside instead for a bottom rope Asai moonsault, only for Christian to kick him in the head back inside. They’re already back on the floor, with Christian driving Rush’s arm into various hard things.

Back in and Christian plants him down on the arm for two but Rush slips out of the armbar. A spinning kick to the head rocks Christian but he’s right back with a superkick. The springboard 450 misses so Rush kicks him down again, only to come up holding his arm. Christian sends him outside for a Tombstone on the floor, followed by a springboard 450 back inside….for two, because of course. Rush is right back up with the springboard Stunner for the fast pin at 9:47.

Rating: C+. The action was fun but my goodness that near fall off the Tombstone and 450 took me out of everything. If you’re going to do that, have it finish Rush off. If Rush is going to win, don’t do those spots back to back. Why a Tombstone on the floor isn’t the finish in the second match on the show (or even taking place whatsoever) is beyond me, but logic doesn’t often have a lot of room in some of these matches.

We look at Athena and Billie Starkz stealing last week’s main event over Queen Aminata and Red Velvet.

Here are Athena and Starkz (the latter who seems to be limping) for a chat. Athena introduces herself and tells Starkz to do some situps before saying Lexi Nair is her Minion Bestie. Nair isn’t here training because she didn’t lost Athena’s Women’s TV Title. She is on her way to becoming the longest reigning champion in ROH history…and here is Abadon to scare Athena and Starkz off.

Mark Briscoe, with Tomohiro Ishii, isn’t happy with his loss to the Beast Mortos. That means Mortos is getting a title shot because the word of the day is recapitulation. He’s getting the match made.

Katsuyori Shibata vs. Ariya Daivari

Before the match, Daivari says Shibata is only good at wrestling but he’s good at every sport, including dressage! Shibata wastes no time in pulling him down into the Figure Four, which is quickly broken up. Instead Shibata knocks him outside, where Daivari gets in a posting to take over.

Back in and Daivari stomps away in the corner, setting up the chinlock. That’s broken up and Shibata fights out of the corner, setting up a half butterfly suplex for two. Daivari drops him for a change and hits the Magic carpet Splash for two. Shibata gets in the headbutt but Tony Nese trips him up, earning the big boot back down. A claw into the cross armbreaker makes Daivari tap at 6:34.

Rating: C. This was a way to get Shibata out there and have him beat up a lower level guy. That’s something we’ve seen a few times now and it wasn’t anything special, but there is something to be said about seeing the Premiere Athletes get beaten down. Not a bad match, but nothing that you really needed to see.

The MxM Collection is happy to be here when Maria Kanellis and Griff Garrison interrupt. Maria wants to turn them into a trio but Garrison grabs their fingers rather than doing the tip touch. Panicking ensues.

Harley Cameron vs. Viva Van

Cameron knees away at the ribs to start but misses a running basement version. Van takes her down by the leg but gets reversed into a bodyscissors. That’s reversed as well with Van grabbing a Rocking Horse, only to get taken down and punched in the face. Back up and Van strikes away but Eat Defeat into a Backstabber gives Cameron two. Van is sweeps the leg but gets knocked down again, setting up a running knee to give Cameron the win at 5:10.

Rating: C. Cameron feels like one of the next projects around here and it’s only kind of working. She’s not someone who is standing out for the most part and while she has some star power, it’s not like she’s really doing anything above the rest. This was a perfectly decent match, but Cameron is going to need more.

Serpentico vs. Griff Garrison

For Serpentico’s mask and Maria Kanellis is here with Garrison. Serpentico dives on him to start and whips Garrison into the barricade over and over. Some chops have Garrison in more trouble but Maria cuts off a charge, allowing Garrison to drop Serpentico onto the steps. Another whip into the steps has Serpentico down again before they go inside for the first time. Serpentico gets whipped into the corner for two and a torture rack powerbomb gets two. Garrison picks him up but Serpentico collapses, only to beg the referee to not stop it.

A spinning forearm drops the referee by mistake and Maria sends Garrison a chair. Said chair is wedged in the corner and here is Angelico to yell at Maria. Serpentico is back up and sends Garrison into the chair, setting up a low blow with another chair. There’s still no referee so the rather delayed cover gets two. They slug it out from their knees until Garrison kicks him in the face. Garrison rips off the mask, revealing ANOTHER MASK. A jumping Downward Spiral sends Garrison into a downward spiral, setting up a frog splash to give Serpentico the pin at 7:31.

Rating: C+. And it’s over right? The feud has been going on for months and running around in a huge circle so this has to be it yes? Serpentico got his win and his mask back and the feud should be over. It’s been a feud built around low level tag teams that kept going months after it should have ended and this is as perfect of an ending as it can have so let it be over.

Athena is NOT happy with the implication that she is scared of Abadon.

Anthony Henry/Beef vs. Dante Leon/Vinnie Massaro

Henry and Leon start things off with Henry working on the arm and hitting a running shoulder. Massaro comes in so it’s off to Beef, because of course his name is Beef. Massaro gets knocked outside and Leon is run over, setting up some running crossbodies. Henry’s bridging German suplex finishes Leon at 2:33.

Lee Moriarty vs. Action Andretti

Non-title Proving Ground match under Pure Rules, meaning if Andretti wins or lasts the ten minute time limit, he gets a future title shot. Moriarty takes him down for an armbar and Andretti uses his first rope break in less than thirty seconds. The Border City Stretch makes Andretti use his second break in just over a minute but Andretti is back up with a knockdown. A springboard spinning moonsault gets two on Moriarty, who fires off some knees to the ribs.

Moriarty stays on the arm, including an abdominal stretch with a wristlock at the same time. That’s enough to burn off Andretti’s final rope break but he does start the comeback with a backbreaker into a neckbreaker. Moriarty sends him to the apron for a right hand, only to miss a charge and get taken down with an Arabian press. A springboard clothesline gives Andretti two back inside and he grabs a half crab. Moriarty uses his first rope break and puts on the Border City Stretch. The ropes don’t help Andretti and he taps at 6:23.

Rating: B-. They didn’t have a lot of time here but it told a story of Moriarty knowing the rules better than Andretti, who burned through the rope breaks so fast and then didn’t have one when he needed it. That’s more than you usually get in a match like this and it kept things more interesting. Nice match here and one of the better things on the show thus far.

Post match Moriarty offers a handshake but walks away rather than give one.

We look at Leyla Hirsch beating Diamante at Death Before Dishonor.

Hirsch is proud of being such a great fighter and is ready to show everyone how legit she is.

TV Title: Atlantis Jr. vs. Robbie Eagles

Eagles is challenging and flips over him to start. A hard shot to the face gives Atlantis two but Eagles is back up to knock him to the floor for a running flip dive. Back in and a basement dropkick gives Eagles two, followed by a spinwheel kick. Eagles goes for the mask (as is required in every match with a masked man around here) but Atlantis hits a superkick. A modified Tombstone into a wheelbarrow suplex gives Atlantis two but a frog splash misses.

Eagles pulls him into the Ron Miller Special (that wacky leglock), sending Atlantis over to the ropes. Back up and a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker plants Atlantis but the knee is damaged again. They trade rollups for two each until Eagles puts him down, only to miss a 450. Atlantis’ knee is fine enough to pull him up into something like a torture rack to retain at 9:34.

Rating: B-. This is a perfect example of why I have trouble getting into this show. Counting this one, Eagles has had two matches in ROH (in this run) and Atlantis has had four. With a handful of matches between the two of them, I’m going to need a bit more of a reason to be interested besides “here are two cool people, they’re fighting over a title”. The match had practically no build and the wrestlers are just a step above being strangers around here. That doesn’t make things interesting for me and the wrestling wasn’t exactly blowing the roof off the place. If ROH can get away from that style, it would be a lot better show.

Paul Wight announces that Beast Mortos is getting his World Title shot next week. Tony Nese interrupts and says the Premiere Athletes should get a title shot. Wight says if Nese can beat Lio Rush, they’ll talk about title shots.

Six Man Tag Team Titles: Dustin Rhodes/Von Erichs vs. Cage Of Agony

Rhodes and the Von Erichs are defending. Kaun grabs Ross’ arm to start and they trade some takedowns. It’s off to Marshall so the Von Erichs can dropkick the Gates out to the floor. Back in and Kaun hits a hard clothesline to drop Marshall and take over, with Cage coming in to fire off the chops.

That doesn’t last long as Marshall gets over for the tag off to Ross, who is tripped down by Cage. The double powerbomb puts Ross down again and Liona grabs the nerve hold. Ross is back up to send him into the corner and it’s off to Dustin to pick up the pace. Cross Rhodes gets two on Cage with Liona making the save as everything breaks down. Dustin reverses an F5 into a Canadian Destroyer on Cage…and the Dark Order and Undisputed Kingdom runs in to jump the champs for the DQ at 9:01.

Rating: C. Of course they did. Of course that’s the way this show ends because WE’RE IN TEXAS so Dustin and the Von Erichs are suddenly the most important people on the show. We have to have the Dark Order in there too because we have to have Six Man Titles and even though the Dark Order is a bunch of losers, they keep getting involved with the champions because WE’RE IN TEXAS and the Texas wrestlers have to be on every single show. I’m sick of seeing these same people on the show every week and now we’re going to see it even more because these titles just have to exist.

Post match the beatdown is on and Sammy Guevara runs in for the failed save. Angelico and Serpentico run in and get beaten down as well as the villains wreck everything to end the show.

Overall Rating: C-. And this is what I was afraid of with Ring Of Honor getting its own shows during the residency. The show was back to the old style of “here’s a bunch of stuff, there’s no important reason for a lot of it but here is more, more, more”. The wrestling wasn’t particularly good in a lot of places and while I do like some vague attempts at continuity, so much of this show felt like it was put together on a napkin from a list of people available that weekend.

As usual, it could have been cut in half and made far better, but why do that when you can just cram in more matches with the same people we see every week? Including Dustin and the Von Erichs, because in case it wasn’t made clear, they’re from TEXAS and that means they need to be on every show in TEXAS. This show wasn’t horrible, but dang it was one of the least fun watches I’ve had in a good while.

Results
Mark Briscoe b. Johnny TV – Jay Driller
Lio Rush b. Blake Christian – Springboard Stunner
Katsuyori Shibata b. Ariya Daivari – Cross armbreaker
Harley Cameron b. Viva Van – Running knee
Serpentico b. Griff Garrison – Frog splash
Anthony Henry/Beef b. Dante Leon/Vinnie Massaro – German suplex to Leon
Lee Moriarty b. Action Andretti – Border City Stretch
Dustin Rhodes/Von Erichs b. Cage Of Agony via DQ when Dark Order interfered

 

 

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TJPW Live In Philly
Date: April 5, 2024
Location: Penns Landing Caterers, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Dave Prazak, Veda Scott

This is Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling, a women’s promotion based in Japan. As you might be able to guess, we’re in Philadelphia over Wrestlemania Weekend and that means we’re probably in for a bunch of guest stars. I remember liking the show from last year’s Wrestlemania Weekend so hopefully they can do it again here. Let’s get to it.

Note that I do not follow TJPW whatsoever so I apologize in advance for missing any plot or character points.

As is customary for the promotion, some of the wrestlers come out to welcome us to the show and do a song and dance routine. With that over, they seem to say a promotion catchphrase and we’re ready to go.

Arisu Endo/Suzume vs. Yuki Aino/Zara Zakher

Endo and Suzume’s Princess Tag Team Titles aren’t on the line. Suzume and Aino start things off with Suzume’s dropkick not working. A shoulder drops Aino and it’s off to Endo vs. Zara. Aino hits the ropes and charges right into a pop up right hand. Everything breaks down and Endo/Suzume take them both down for stereo basement dropkicks. We settle down to Aino taking over on Endo and dropping a backsplash for two.

Zara comes back in for her own basement dropkick but Endo is up with a regular version for the double knockdown. Suzume comes in to pick up the pace…for all of five seconds before Zara drops her with a clothesline. A rope walk bulldog puts Zara down though and it’s Endo coming back in for a knee to the back of Aino’s head.

Everything breaks down and Endo knocks Aino to the floor, only to have Aino grab an apron suplex to bring them back inside. They switch off again and Suzume grabs a sleeper on Zara, followed by a facebuster. Zara is fine enough to pull her out of the air for a toss, followed by a spinebuster to give Aino two.

Suzume is back up with a high crossbody for two of her own before locking hands with Aino for a slugout. Endo is back in but gets caught with a reverse DDT to send her right back to the floor. Zara loads up what looks to be a fisherman’s buster but Suzume reverses into a rollup for the pin (on the third attempt) at 11:19.

Rating: B-. Starting a show with a tag match is often a good idea as you can get something fast paced like this to fire the crowd up early. I’m not sure why the champs weren’t defending if they were going to win anyway but that’s a minor issue at best. What matters is getting the show off to a good start and they managed to do so rather well.

Hyper Misao vs. Billie Starkz

Starkz has Athena with her and Misao looks like a superhero. She then says she is a superhero, so at least I can recognize a costume. Misao offers her a gift (looks like a stuffed animal) but then hammers Starkz down with it to start fast. They trade rollups for two each until Misao elbows her in the face. Misao ties up the limbs and swings her head first into the bottom buckle in the corner a few times.

Back up and Starkz grabs a German suplex for two but a big kick to the head is cut off. Misao hits a running knee to the back and then plants her on the apron for two. We get a bit wacky as Misao grabs the mascot head that Starkz wore to the ring, which allows Athena to hit her with the stuffed animal that Misao brought. Kind of serves her right for cheating.

The distraction lets Starkz hit a fireman’s carry backbreaker into a Swanton for two, giving us the surprised kickout face. A Nightmare On Helm Street gives Misao two, with Athena putting the foot on the ropes. Misao sprays….something in Athena’s eyes, allowing Starkz to hit a suicide dive. Another Swanton gives Starkz the pin at 6:07.

Rating: C+. Misao was someone who stood out to me the last time I watched this company and she did so again here. Having her as a superhero who cheats is something that worked well enough and made her a bit more interesting, which is the point of such an over the top gimmick. Starkz and Athena are the far bigger names though and it makes sense for them to win, even in a short match like this.

Viva Van/Yuki Kamifuki vs. Trish Adora/Raku

Adora is apparently a substitute. Raku is one of the women who sang to start the show and is carrying a pillow. Van and Raku start things off with Van hitting a clothesline and posing a bit. Raku instead hits her with a pillow, which would seem to be some kind of rule violation. Van and Yuki are put on the pillow for a quiet two but Van gets up and throws the pillow into the crowd.

We settle down to Yuki sending Raku throat first into the rope, allowing Van to grab a Tarantula. A running facebuster gets Raku out of trouble though and Adora comes in to clean house. Van and Adora trade the big forearms until Van grabs a hurricanrana. A running boot in the corner gives Yuki two but Adora plants her with a Samoan drop. Yuki is back with an Octopus, which Adora breaks up and hits a Rough Ryder. Raku comes back in and is quickly kicked in the face but manages to grab a guillotine. Everything breaks down again and Yuki hits a Fameasser to pin Raku at 8:55.

Rating: B-. They kept this one energetic in the not overly long run time and that made for a nice sprint. Yuki and Van seem to be a regular team who work well together while Adora and Raku made for a nice makeshift team. Adora continues to feel like she could be a big deal somewhere but that isn’t going to happen when she keeps losing over and over, even on a show like this.

Mizuki/Vertvixen vs. Aja Kong/Pom Harajuku

Kong gets the big legend entrance and reception, which is more impressive since she’s a replacement for Max the Impaler. Pom and Vertvixen start things off with the latter grabbing a headlock. That’s broken up and we have a standoff before it’s off to Mizuki vs. the much larger Kong. Mizuki bites the arm to limited success so Kong misses an elbow, allowing Mizuki to hit a basement dropkick.

Back up and Kong picks up Pom to throw her at Mizuki for two, which I guess is the same as a tag. Vertvixen slugs away in the corner and the villains (I think?) stomp Pom down. Mizuki steals Pom’s shoe and throws it into the crowd, leaving Vertvixen to hit a hard forearm in the corner. The one shoed Pom manages an anklescissors for a breather and the tag brings Kong back in to wreck the mortals.

The spinning backfist misses and Vertvixen gets in a kick to the head, only for Kong to knock Mizuki out of the air. Pom comes back in for a wristdrag out of the corner but misses a backsplash. Kong seems rather gassed on the apron as Mizuki hits a running shot to Pom’s back, only to miss a top rope double stomp. Mizuki is fine enough to put pom over the middle rope and now the double stomp connects. Kong makes the save but gets Stunnered by Vertvixen. That leaves Mizuki to hit Pom with a shoe, setting up the Beauty Special (kind of a tabletop suplex) for the pin at 10:31.

Rating: C+. The action was fast paced, but this felt more like a way to have Kong in a match, which is more important than anything else. The fans seemed way into what they were seeing (as has been the case all show) and it was cool to see a legend in the ring. Odd name aside, Vertvixen feels like someone who could be a star somewhere, but she has been treated as such a jobber whenever she is in AEW or ROH that she has an even longer way to go.

Shoko Nakajima vs. Rhio

Nakajima stands about 4’10 and is billed as a Big Kaiju (a Japanese monster). The much larger Rhino throws her down to start but Nakajima takes over on the arm. That’s reversed into a headscissors on the mat but Nakajima flips over into a headlock in a nice display. Nakajima flips away from her and hits a dropkick, only to get planted with a high angle spinebuster.

A full nelson goes on to keep Nakajima in trouble and a backbreaker makes it even worse. Rhio goes up but gets caught with a super hurricanrana, allowing Nakajima to hit a slingshot hilo for two. Nakajima sends her outside for the suicide dive, followed by a running flip dive to make it worse. They trade forearms on the floor and then keep it going inside, where Rhio drops her with a headbutt.

A top rope superplex plants Nakajima hard but she’s able to block the package piledriver. Nakajima strikes away until a superkick into a torture rack slam gives Rhio two. Rhio goes up but gets kicked down, setting up a 619 despite being back on her feet. A double arm DDT sets up a top rope backsplash to give Nakajima the pin at 13:24.

Rating: B. This was straight out of the little vs. big playbook and believe it or not, the story still works. Nakajima is a ball of energy who never stops moving and throws everything she has at you to stay in there. Rhio is someone who feels like she could be a star somewhere on the bigger stage after a bit more seasoning, but the talent is pretty clearly there.

Maki Itoh/Miyu Yamashita vs. Miu Watanabe/Rika Tatsumi

Itoh gets a heck of a reception during her entrance. Yamashita and Watanabe start things off and apparently they have been feuding over the company’s top singles title. Yamashita powers her back up against the ropes to start but has to avoids some kicks for a standoff. Tatsumi and Itoh come in for an exchange of headlocks takeovers and a cute-off. Itoh knocks her down and loads up her falling headbutt, only to have Yamashita stand her in place (with Itoh standing there like a board) and roll Tatsumi into place so the headbutt can connect.

Itoh’s right hands in the corner are broken up and Tatsumi takes it to the floor as everything breaks down. Tatsumi chokes Yamashita with a belt as we have to go split screen, much to the surprise of commentary. They tease going back to ringside but head over to the bar, with commentary saying this is a great way to showcase the building if you can’t be here in person. Watanabe buys some beers (and leaves a tip) but Yamashita and Itoh steal the drinks and raise a quick toast.

That’s broken up and the drinks are spilled, much to a variety of chagrins. Back in and Watanabe elbows Itoh down for two before Tatsumi starts in on the knee. The Figure Four has Itoh in trouble but she makes the rope rather quickly. Watanabe tries a reverse Alabama Slam to send Tatsumi onto Itoh but only hits mat. That’s enough to bring Yamashita back in but Watanabe powers her into the corner.

A powerslam puts Yamashita down again and the giant swinging into Tatsumi’s dropkick gets two. Yamashita blocks a Twist of Fate and kicks Tatsumi in the head before Itoh low bridges her to the floor. Back in and Yamashita hits a delayed AA with Tatsumi having to make a save. Everyone is knocked down until Tatsumi and Yamashita strike it out. Itoh is back in and a top rope Codebreaker into a German suplex (not the smoothest of transitions) knocks Tatsumi silly. A Skull Kick gives Yamashita the pin at 19:07.

Rating: B. This felt like a mixture of a fun brawl and a regular match which made for a good back and forth fight. The fans were WAY into Itoh here and it makes sense given her incredible charisma. I had a good time with this and it wound up being probably the best thing on a solid show.

Overall Rating: B+. Rather solid effort up and down here, with the worst match being completely decent. Shows like this are meant to be something of a sampler for fans and they got a good result here, with the whole thing working. I’ve liked everything I’ve seen from this promotion before and while some of it might not be for everyone, there should be something worth seeing here if you’re looking for something different.

 

 

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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