Ring Of Honor Coverage
ROH Glory By Honor Review: 10/12/19
Matt Davis presents your look at Saturday’s ROH Glory By Honor event, featuring Marty Scurll, PCO, World Champion RUSH and more!
Matt Davis presents your look at Saturday’s ROH Glory By Honor event, featuring Marty Scurll, PCO, World Champion RUSH and more!
Ian Riccaboni welcomes us to Glory by Honor as we start off with a battle royal and the winner will face Rush later tonight, Colt Cabana and Caprice Coleman also doing commentary for this show.
1) 15 Man Battle Royal
Winner Receives ROH World Championship match later tonight
As the bell sounds everyone brawls, and Kenny King slips under the bottom rope and rolls under the ring. We are told he did the same thing at the Honor Rumble in Madison Square Garden which he won. About 10 seconds in, Matt Lancey goes over the top rope, followed by Chase Valor. Quickly, Booku is tossed and the crowd boos. After about a minute, Beer City Bruiser yells “I can’t bite, I aint got no teeth”. Everyone brawling, as Brian Johnson tries for his third elimination but Joe Hendry tosses him as the crowd cheers. Josh Wood airplane spins Cheeseburger over the top rope, and Woods and Young bump into each other and they knock Cheeseburger out. Announcers keep putting over Big Daddy Yum Yum as a bonafied main eventer in CMLL and mentioned he wrestled in New Japan as well. Rhett Titus skins the cat ad comes back in, and gets caught in a belly to belly by Josh Woods. Silas Young tosses Rhett Titus! Silas tells his protege the point is to throw them out!
Rhett Titus paces around the ring after he was thrown out and grabs Kenny King from under the ring. The former All Night Express partners argue, as Joe Hendry buckets Kenny King from behind and tosses the former ROH TV Champion to the floor! Silas Young tucks Joe Hendry as he hits the floor. We are told that Silas Young and Josh Woods are the first announced competitors in the first ever Tag Team Survival of the Fittest in Texas in November. Coast 2 Coast eliminates Beer City Bruiser with a double dropkick. They’re splashing Brian Milonas in the corner, and Milonas eliminates both men at the same time as he drives them over the top rope. Yum Yum and Milonas goes face to face and they begin to brawl. Nigel Lariat from Yum Yum staggers the big Milonas. Yum YUm tries a springboard crossbody and gets caught, Milonas tosses the CMLL main eveters as we are down to three men. Silas Young, Josh Woods, and Brian Milonas. Milonas crushes Josh Woods with a crossbody off the ropes! Silas saves his studet as they double team Brian Milonas and Silas Young tosses the giant man. Silas Young asks for a hug from his partner,and he suckers in the oblivious Josh Woods and chucks him for the win in about 8 minutes.
Winner: Silas Young
Grade: *
Thoughts: Too short, not enough star power to interest me in the least bit. The fact they made a announcement that Young and Woods were the first team announced for the first ever Tag Team SOTF made me realize they were reaching the finals. Young with good heel tactics tossing his student for the win made sense as he tries to make Josh Woods more of a man. I have to say, Young “teaching him the ropes” has provided some excellent inadvertent comedy between the two.
2) PCO vs Dalton Castle
Second Round – “#1 Contender At Final Battle Tournament”
The Peacock, the former ROH World Champion Dalton Castle, makes his entrance first. One third of the ROH Six Man Tag Team Championships, and a former ROH Tag Team Champion has made a huge impact since debuting in ROH under a year ago. Jim Johnston produced his entrance theme music tonight, the first time the famous composer did a theme song for a wrestler outside WWE in three decades. Dalton Castle seems terrified outside the ring as the smoke and fog clears. Castle says “If I shake your hand you aren’t going to eat it will you?” Castle quickly shakes.
Castle cirles around as PCO stalks the former champion. The fans are split cheering and chanting for both men. They’re feeling each other out early on. Castle tries to cheap shot PCO, and PCO openly invites Castle to hit him. Castle tries, it doesn’t phase him. PCO yells ” HIT ME”, Castle jumps on him and drops him with a german suplex. PCO is stunned for just a second but gets to his feet and plants the Peacock with a hard clothesliene! Hard spiking DDT by the 52 year old redemption project, followed by a dropkick to the spine! PCO in control as the fans love it.
Castle with a fast back elbow. Castle sprints to the apron, and PCO levels Castle with a hard clothesline dropping Castle back first on the apron and to the outside. They exchange hard chops and chest slaps outside as PCO bludgeons his opponent. Castle reverses and posts him! PCO is down. PCO suckers him in and chokeslams Castle spine first onto the ring apron! PCO pulls the padding up exposing the concrete. Caprice Coleman says “We often wonder what PCO thinks, but we’ve realized he doesn’t, he just does.” They’re brawling on the top rope above the exposed concrete.. Fans chanting “Please dont die”. PCO starts grabbing his face as he tweaks and stumbles. PCO falls to the floor and Castle with a running knee and he rolls inside to regroup. Castle dropkicks PCO through the ropes. Castle with a belly to belly on the outside, keeping PCO down. Referee begins to count, as PCO rolls in at 10, being reminded ROH uses a 20 count.
Back in the ring, Castle tries to win it with a quick DDT but PCO kicks out at one. Knee to the side of the head! Castle with a quick t-bone pop suplex head over heels! PCO struggles to his feet, PCO misses a swing, and another inside out suplex by Castle dropping the bigger man. Castle dumps PCO to the outside to the exposed concrete. Colt Cabana remarks if this was a battle royal, we’d have a winner, but it is not. Snark! Referee begins to count again, PCO up at 12, looking around and rolls inside at 14. Castle on the attack right away. Hiptoss by Castle who remains in control. Running Knee by Castle against the barricade. Fans chant “One more time” and Castle gets a chair and sits it open arguing with the referee. PCO tries to attack but Castle CRUSHES PCO THROUGH THE CHAIR WITH A SPINEBUSTER! Referee counting PCO down again, referee reaches 17 as PCO up and stumbling and rolls in at 19. Double DDTs by Dalton Castle, a third one, off the ropes, running knee, and hooks the leg and PCO kicks out! PCO Up, grabs the throat and Castle blocks the chokeslam. Big Boot to Castle and both men spill outside. PCO rolls inside as the fans cheer the oncoming assault. Diving headbutt through the ropes! He’s insane! 52 year old diving headbutt through the ropes. Chokeslam inside the ring, and PCO climbs to the top rope. PCO gets the PCO-Sault and wins at 12:30!
Winner: PCO
Grade: **1/2
Thoughts: PCO is one away from main eventing Final Battle after pinning former ROH TV and Tag Champion Kenny King in the first round, and former ROH World Champion here and now. This match was a great highlight for both men. That spinebuster into the chair looked great. PCO doing what he does at 52, flips, dives, brawling, incredible.
3) Jay Lethal vs Marty Scurll
Second Round – “#1 Contender at Final Battle Tournament”
We are told these two have only met one one other time, at Final Battle 2017. Jay Lethal has held the ROH World Championship and ROH TV Championships longer than any one else in company history, labeling him the Franchise of ROH! He’s out first to a great reaction. Colt Cabana compares Jay Lethal to Bruno Sammartino as The Villain makes his entrance next. Hoot hoot’s by the crowd, Colt Cabana tells us he’s ever wrestled anyone like Scurll, having bested Colt in the first round. Also one third of the ROH World Six Man Tag Team Championships, he comes in here looking for one more opportunity at the ROH World Championship which he has had at Supercard of Honor in 2017 and the G1 Supercard in 2018, losing both matches. If he wins here, he will be one win away from another opportunity.
Marty Scurll adheres to the code of honor as the bell sounds and Lethal with a boot to the face! Lethal charges and dives outside, not once but twice! He rolls Scurll inside, Scurll fast, misses the superkick, dropkick knocks Scurll to the floor, third time is the charm for Lethal as he dives to the outside and connects again! Scurll blocks Hail to the King, booting Lethal to the apron, Lethal sweeps Scurll and climbs to the top again. Hail to the King reversed into a crucifix pin roll-up…two! Caprice Coleman with the best line I’ve heard in quite some time, Corey Graves needs to step his game up. After Lethal missed, CC says “That was more like Hell to the Nah”. Memes for the win! Big boot by Lethal, and calls for the Injection countered into the Chickenwing, reversed into a cutter! Cabana tells us the difference between a cutter and the Injection is the momentum. Lethal with a stalling vertical suplex, crashing Scurll to the mat, press pin and gets two! Lethal tries a figure four but Scurll scrambles to the ropes. They exchange blocks, Scurll tosses Lethal outside, and superkicks him from the apron! Boom! Hoot hoot!
Knife edge chop ad a punch to the throat from The Villain! Throat first across the apron as Scurll tries a pin and gets two. Scurll targeting the neck with chops. They have a chop fest as the crowd woos! Backbreaker across the knee, pin and Lethal kicks out at one. Scurll works over Lethal, kicking the elbow with the fingers pinned backwards. Scurll now with his ow vertical suplex, sending the former champion crashing to the mat. Pin and Lethal kicks out. Chops from both men in the corner, Lethal sent back first into the opposite corner and he collapses. Scurll sends him into the corner two more times buit Lethal with a desperation clothesline. Lethal misses the missile dropkick, Lethal ducks a clothesline into the buzzsaw powerslam! Hail to the King connects flush! He can’t get all the leverage on the pin due to landing awkward on his elbow and Scurll kicks out. Bicycle boot by Lethal drops Scurll. Scurll fakes the superkick, and kicks out the knee. He calls for the CHICKEN WING as the crowd is on their feet. Lethal reverses the chicken wing into a sweep into a fast Figure four in the middle of the ring! Awesome transition! Riccaboni questions if you can tip your hand as the fans chant what’s going to happen against such an experienced veteran like Lethal. Scurll trying to reverse the figure four but can’t get the leverage to turn it. He tries the other way and flips it! Lethal shouts in pain and releases the hold. Both men limping around, striking on dead legs in the middle of the ring.
Spinning forearm by Scrull, half dragon suplex, into a LARIAT OFF THE ROPES WHICH SPINS LETHAL UPSIDE DOWN! Is that enough? Lethal kicks out at two and a half! Lethal reverses the Chickenwing into a victory roll and gets two. Lethal blocks Black Plague, Scurll into the British bridge pin and gets two! Transitions into the chickenwing, no Lethal blocks with a pin and gets two! Scurll tries another Chickenwing, trying to reach for the ropes, but Scurll finally breaks the Franchise as Lethal’s body gives out and Scurll drops the hooks in as The Villain moves on to the finals in 13 minutes.
Winner: Marty Scurll
Grade: ***1/2
Thoughts: Excellent match, but as an undercard semi-final match, it certainly didn’t go as long as it should, but it was a fast paced match with everything in it, great counters, technical wrestling, multiple finishing sequences. Scurll felt like someone who arguably could be the next ROH World Champion if he could have a match like this against Rush at Final Battle, but his faction partner stands in between that later on tonight. I liked the story being told now after both of these matches, with the top finalists defeating two former ROH World Champions to reach the finals. That is an old school ROH approach, and I like to see that type of storytelling.
4) ROH TV Champion Shane Taylor vs (???)
ROH TV CHAMPIONSHIP
Open Challenge
Shane Taylor beign escorted by Shane Taylor Productions, we are told Shane Taylor does not have a contract with ROH, only agreeing to show up because the price was right. That is an awful thing for your company to be endorsing. Before the match, some fans chant “You’re trash” and Taylor grabs a microphone and goes Ric Flair-esque calling out the fan and saying “we aren’t talking about your mother!”. What a heel! Shane Taylor cuts a promo about how he started to wrestle 12 years ago and he decided he didn’t want to be the regular cookie cutter hugging good guy. We are told J. Spade who is from New Orleans is the challenger for this Open Challenge tonight. Shane Taylor asks Spade if he’s ready to get knocked out.
Spade starts quick and early with a dropkick sending the champion to the corner. Taylor blocks a toss, but Spade with a superkick. Running uppercut knocking Taylor to the outside. We are told Spade and Taylor go way back, having a rivalry on the independants before Taylor came to Ring of Honor. Diving splash drops the champion as Spade celebrates with the hometown crowd. Back in, Spade tries a springboard splash, but Taylor counters into a sitout bomb! Huge hard open palm strike from the champion echoes across the arena. Taylor with hard right jabs, dropping Spade flat in the corner. Taylor tells the referee to count him down, referee gets to 6, and Taylor crushes Spade with a huge hiptoss, and a hard lariat. Gets two!
Caprice Coleman says Shane Taylor compares to Larry Holmes and Muhammad Ali because both men talked a lot of trash to his opponents but earned their names and the respect as great champions because they backed it up as fighting champions. Spade with some running strikes, spinning kick, springboard crossbody gets two by Spade! Taylor grounds the challenge with a headlock, Spade reverses a lariat into a Blue Thunder Bomb for two and a half!! Almost a new champion there! Taylor catches a boot, and drops Spade with a uranagi and running splash off the ropes. Spade kicks out! Spade tries a powerslam, Spade out with a forearm, but Taylor gives him the Greeting from the 216 piledriver out of no where to retain in about 6 minutes.
Winner AND STILL ROH TV CHAMPION: Shane Taylor
Grade: *1/2
Thoughts: Hard to grade this. Spade looks good in the limited time we got to see him here. They made a big deal about these two rivalry outside of the company, but the crowd didn’t seem to care even though he was a hometown talent. Taylor had everything going for him in what was basically an athletic squash. The comparisons between Taylor and Holmes and Ali was great to build Taylor’s character.
5) Kelly Klein (w/ ???) vs ROH Women of Honor Champion Angelina Love (w/ Mandy Leon)
ROH WOMEN OF HONOR CHAMPIONSHIP
This match is a rematch from Death Before Dishonor when Angelina Love took the championship from Kelly Klein. She comes out and is introduced as the only two time Women of Honor Champion. We are told Klein has won it at Final Battle and at G1 Supercard in Madison Square Garden. We are told she has a mystery friend here tonight to help protect from interference from The Allure. Angelina Love makes her entrance next, being escorted by Mandy Leon.
Bell rings and Klein spears Love! We are told Love has pinned Klein twice, Klein with a clothesline in the corner and charges in the opposite corner. We are told Kelly Klein went undefeated i ROH for over two years. Belly to belly bridge gets two from the challenger. Klein gets distracted by Mandy Leon and Love dropkicks Klein to the floor. Diving Thesz Press from the apron from Love, pummeling Klein on the ground. Love in control, throwing Klein face first into everything around the ring. They’re questioning who Kelly Klein’s enforcer is, as she hasn’t showed up yet. Love stomps a mudhole in Klein in the corner before standing on her chest, pin, and two! Off the middle rope, clothesline by the champion and gets a two count. Klein blocks a suplex and turns it inside cradle for two. Roll up for two! Love with a flatliner into the Koji clutch! Klein slaps the mat, commentators question if she just submitted, Klein has no where to go, Love has it in deep in the middle of the ring. Klein tries to escape, but Love locks it in deeper. Klein leverages up and flips her leg across the bottom rope but the damage has been done.
Kelly Klein blocks the Botox Injection and counters into a sitout DDT as both women are down! They’re exchanging blows in the middle of the ring now. Champion and challenger face to face, flying forearms send the champion to the mat. Klein with a fallaway slam, and follows up with a second one! Saito suplex by the challenger has her in full control! K-Power connects, hooks the leg with high leverage and Love kicks out at two! Botox Injection connects and Klein kicks out! Klein uses her experience and rolls outside. Love climbs to the top turnbuckle, diving crossbody to the outside crushing Kelly Klein! Love rolls in the ring and referee begins to count Kelly Klein down. Klein rolls in at 18, and Angelina Love is waiting, Botox Injection blocked, Klein with another K-Power but Love knocked out the referee during the move with her feet. Mandy Rose in with a chair and smacks Klein. Lights are out……
Standing in the ring is The Maneater Maria Manic (I had to look that up), Manic takes out Mandy Rose with a Torture Rack Burning Hammer, Klein hits Angelina Love with a third K-Power and gets the pin and win in 12 minutes.
Winner AND NEW ROH WOMEN OF HONOR CHAMPION: Kelly Klein
Grade: *
Thoughts: I had to look up who that was, at first I thought it was ODB, which utterly disappointed me (after Love and ODB had a feud in TNA a long time ago), but once I looked it up and did some research I’m excited about this. But was peculiar, based on my research she actually debuted in June at Best in the World, also involving Love and Klein in a tag match, which makes me question why this was such a reveal with the lights going out. Did they really surprise debut her twice in the same year? Match itself was poor. Love is beyond her prime at this point, and it just didn’t click at all. Kelly Klein is now a three time Women of Honor Champion, as she’s won the championship from everyone else who has held it. Maybe she’ll come to WWE and run her championship total up like someone else….
6) Luke Hawx & Perry Hawx vs ROH World Tag Team Champions The Briscoe Brothers
ROH WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS
We are told that Luke Hawx has been around a long time in wrestling, and also has made his name known in Hollywood movies, including Fast and the Furious and Logan. He is partnering tonight with his son, Perry Hawx as they challenge the 11 time ROH Tag Team Champions tonight. #DemBoys ready for a fight.
Mark Briscoe and Perry Hawx start us off. We are reminded that Mark was once this young, even younger, at the first ROH show and he wasn’t legally able to compete in the first show. Mark Briscoe grappling with Perry, and Perry shoots the half into a inside cradle for two! Another roll up for two! Briscoe with a knee to the gut. Mark tagged Jay who went like a house of fire on the young boy, before Perry ducked a corner charge and tagged in his dad.
Luke Hawx in the former two time World Champion, and Jay pummels him! Crowd really into this match, making noise, and Luke Hawx powerslams Jay Briscoe hard! Perry tags ad tries a double leg takedown but Jay tags his brother Mark and the Briscoes stop the younger Hawx cold in his tracks, sending him to the outside, Jay with the attack on the outside. Mark Briscoe breaks down Luke Hawx who tried to save his son. Double boot by the Briscoes on Perry Hawx! Jay throws a chair in the ring. Mark uses the chair to step up somersault splash the Hawx’s! Mark Briscoe with a brainbuster to Perry, tags in Jay with the double stomp. Briscoes tag in and out abusing Perry Hawx, double shoulder tackle and the Briscoes taunt the crowd, Luke Hawx, and Perry. Jay Briscoe with a double underhook butterfly clutch draws Luke into the ring to stop the torture and breaks it. Mark in, hard chinlock trying to drain the life from the younger Hawx. Perry Hawx out of desperation with a spinning suplex! Hot tags to Luke Hawx and Jay Briscoe! Trading blows!
Luke Hawx with a spinning heel kick! Hawx with a double team backbreaker and Mark Briscoe saves the match and the titles. Perry Hawx sends Mark into the barricade, Luke grabs Jay off the top and Stun Gun’s him across the top rope. Perry Hawx with a diving splash onto the Briscoes as the fans are making noise with the Hawx in control! Innovated ASAI MOONSAULT from the outside from Luke, gets two on Jay Briscoe! Hard clothesline by Jay Briscoe is enough for a tag, and the Briscoes knock Perry down, double team, superplex into the Froggy Bow.. and Perry Hawx makes the save! Jay on top of the kid with closed fists! Briscoes set the Doomsday Device, Perry trips Mark Briscoe off the top, Jay fights back against both Briscoes, the Hawx with a Double Pop Up Powerslam! Luke hooks the legs….we have new champions…MARK BRISCOE MAKES THE SAVE! Mark with a uranagi to Luke Hawx! Perry face to face with Mark Briscoe who challenges Perry to hit him. Briscoe absorbs it and Mark rips his chest apart with karate chops! Perry with a high angle suplex out of no where! Mark with a hard lariat! Redneck Boogey connects! JAY DRILLER! Jay hooks the leg and Perry Hawx is done after 16 minutes.
Winners AND STILL ROH TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: The Briscoe Brothers
Grade: ***1/2
Thoughts: Wow, I really loved that match. I thought it was some gimmick attraction having a guy team with his son, but they looked like a well oiled machine up against the greatest team of all time in ROH history. The Briscoes tried to break Perry Hawx several different times and he kicked out. They almost won the championships on three different occasions but by the skin of their teeth, the Briscoes used their experience and did enough to win the match. I am firmly impressed with Perry Hawx, and I hope he goes through training some more, I’d love to see more. The comparisons between him and The Briscoes in 2002 is a great correlation. Perry Hawx actually looks alot like Jay Briscoe did in 2002. I think this could potentially be the Match of the Night.
7) Jonathan Gresham vs Alex Shelley
Two former tag team partners clash here as Gresham tries to prove he belongs in Ring of Honor. We are told that this match came about after the Dearborn event when Alex Shelley lost the World Championship match. Gresham out first, and we are reminded that Gresham defeated Jay Lethal at Death Before Dishonor. Shelley out next, and we are told that Shelley took both Jay White and Jonathan Gresham under his belt, and it paid dividends for both guys in their careers.
Amateur takedown by Gresham, and a counter takedown trip. They grapple back and forth with some great technical exchanges. They square away to cheers and Gresham tries a half nelson into a hammerlock as Shelley yells. Shelley reverses and gets Gresham in an abdonimable stretch into a hammerlock stretch. Gresham tries to escape but Shelley with a cravate. Gresham spins out as the fans cheer. Gresham with a hammerlock, Shelley with some aggressive manuevers in the corner and drives Gresham shoulder first into the buckle hard. Swing and misses from both, Gresham fakes a leapfrog, and kicks Shelley’s leg and dropkicks his face to cheers. Shelley with a knee to the gut and a hard kick to the spine. Snap suplex, jumping knee and a cover and Gresham kicks out.
Shelley with a spinebuster into the Billy Goats Curse and turned into the reverse wheelbarrow stretch, Shelley flash pins Gresham with a crucifix and gets two! Cabana says all the boys in the back are watching this match, and that they call it a locker room sell out. You gotta get sell outs where you can right? Gresham ducks the boot, springboard moonsault connects! Gresham targets the shoulder and twists and turns it into a stepover grounder hammerlock into a wristlock and tries to hyperextend Shelley’s shoulder. Gresham drops the knee trying to pop the joint and ties up Shelley into a half crab pin and gets two. Shelley scampers away. Gresham with a boot to the sternum and traps the arm. Pin gets two. Gresham bends Shelleys fingers and wrist back. Gresham with a crucifix now, into a snap armdrag and holds onto arm control. Shelley tries to whip Gresham but Gresham inverts and tries to rip Shelley’s arm out of its socket. Uppercut into the bicep/shoulder of Alex Shelley. Gresham tries another arm bar but Shelley bites Gresham’s ear out of desperation. Gresham back to the arm but Shelley with a headscissor, Gresham tries a dragonscrew, Shelley with an enzuguiri, and dropkicks the knee!
Shelley on the apron, enzuguri to the back of the head, diving crossbody gets turns inside out and both men roll around in pins, Gresham gets a small package and gets two! Gresham pops the elbow out, step around go behind, stomps on the arm, and gets a la magistral cradle for two and a half! A hold like that hurts the shoulder and potentially gets a pin. Shelley can’t get the whip due to pain. Gresham reverses an electric chair into an arm drag, Shelley tries a lateral press but Gresham escapes, Shelley escapes another la magistral, and Gresham with a bridge pin! Two count again! Gresham dropkicks the arm as Shelley was in the corner. Gresham grabs the wrist and tries to submit Shelley, Shelley with a Super inverted atomic drop to escape! Shelley tries Sliced Bread but Gresham with a backslide, two and a half! Shelley with a spinning fishermans buster! SUPERKICK! Gresham blocks a reverse DDT, Shelley blocks the Octopus Stretch, Shelley flips Gresham inside out with a crucifix and gets three at 15 minutes!
Winner: Alex Shelley
Grade: ***1/2
Thoughts: Just as I was thinking I was going to give this match four stars when it hit the next level, it gave a shock flash pin ending and sucked the momentum the match had established. That being said, I loved this match. It was an old school style ROH match with two great technicians. With Gresham targeting the arm in the second half, Gresham has established himself as one of the best technical wrestlers in the world, he really reminded me of Bryan Danielson circa 2005 here. Found a body part, worked it, targeted it, tried to get unique submissions, roll ups/bridge pins, etc. That really hearkened back for me and gave me an old classic feel. Wish it got five more minutes.
After the match, Gresham gets a chair and gets in the ring but Jay Lethal runs from the back and talks down Gresham. Lethal tells him to relax and calm down. Lethal tells Gresham he just wrestled one of the best matches he’s ever seen. Gresham gives Shelley a handshake as Lethal defuses the situation. Are we building to a Jonathan Gresham heel turn? Interesting little story being told there.
8) Mark Haskins & Tracy Williams vs Flip Gordon & Brody King
Well known feud here in ROH as Lifeblood tangles with Villain Enterprises. We are reminded that Tracy Williams and Mark Haskins are the origial Lifeblood tag team, and almost won Tag Wars earlier in the year. Tracy Williams beat Flip Gordon in a No DQ match at Death Before Dishonor after a piledriver through a table.
Flip Gordon starts off against Mark Haskins, bell sounds. Haskins with a back tie up into a slam, amateur takedow, Gordon with a roll up gets one. They roll around on the mat trying to get any advantage, break and square away even. Haskins tags in Tracy Williams, and Gordon immediately tags in Brody King! Collar and elbow against the ropes. Williams with a back tie up, King reverses and tosses Gordon across the ring like a rag doll.
They begin to exchange strikes and brawl back and forth. Brody King slaps Tracy silly with a hard open hand slap to the chest, dropping Hotsauce into the corner. King tries a running boot and Williams reverses into a leglock grapevine in the corner. Williams tries a springboard but Brody King with a Black Hole Slam for two! KIng tags in Gordon. Hard chop by Gordon and drives his rival into the corner. Roundhouse kick to the back of the ear, pins and Williams gets out. Coming up at ROH The Experience, fans get to pick the stipulation between these two! Gordon tags in Brody King and he drives a boot into Tracy in the corner, followed by a hard chop and slam. Standing Frog Splash gets two and a half as Tracy flips out of a pin. Gordon tags back in as VE double team Hotsauce. Grounded headlock as Williams fights back. VE tries a double team whip, but Williams fights back after Gordon misses. Tracy Williams exhausted couldnt make the tag, and Flip Gordon trips him up to stop him reaching for Haskins. Williams flips inside out and jumps for the tag! Mark Haskins in
Haskins disposes of Gordon, and a fast strike arsenal against King. King tries a chokeslam but Haskins escapes, dumping King to the outside, followed by running kick to the face on the apron! Haskins wants to fly, Gordon stops the dive into a pin, Tracy blocks Gordon, and throws him full speed off the apron with a powerbomb to the barricade from inside the ring! Double Lifeblood criss cross suicide dives onto VE! Double whip splashes by Lifeblood on Gordon. Atomic drop by Haskins, Spicolli Driver by Tracy Williams, a sitout powerbomb for pin and KIng breaks it up. Brody King destroys both members of Lifeblood now. King tries a Gonzo Bomb on Tracy Williams, but Haskins dropkicks the knee, Tracy drops into Flip Gordon ito a triangle choke! Haskins with an armbar on Brody King! Double submissions! Gordon powerbombs Williams onto Haskins to break both holds! All four men down.
King charges and crushes both of his opponents with double clotheslines. KIng throws Gordon into both men, and cannonballs both members of Lifeblood in the corner! Flip Gordon goes under the ring and grabs a kendo stick as Brody King sets Tracy Williams, Gordon swings and Tracy ducks and King gets a face full of cane! Haskins with a suicide dive onto King! Williams with a crushing lariat! Piledriver from Williams gets the three count on Gordon in 12 minutes.
Winners: Tracy Williams and Mark Haskins
Grade: **1/2
Thoughts: Tracy Williams is one of my favorite wrestlers, and I wish he had signed with NXT not ROH. I’m sure he wishes the same thing now in retrospect. Hotsauce is just extremely talented and is able to play this role so well, while bringing years of experience after learning from great technicians like Drew Gulak, Tony Nese, and Timothy Thatcher after his time in Evolve. This match was mostly control over Williams as Villain Enterprises dominated, but it was a miscue that led to the teams loss. Flip Gordon’s man bun makes him look like Marty Scurll if you didn’t know the difference. Mark Haskins also really looks like CM Punk with his long blonde hair. Tell me I’m wrong. From where these two factions began almost a year ago (much maligned with many questions), they have found themselves in great positions within the company. For what it was, it was fine.
After the match Bully Ray jumps both members of Lifeblood, and tosses Williams outside. Ray crushes Haskins with a tossing powerbomb. Flip Gordon in the ring with a cane, and drops Bully Ray back, no love loss between these two! He hands the cane to Bully Ray …who almost breaks it in half over Haskins’s back! Ray shouts “Do you know who I am?” as he stands on the apron looking at his destruction.
9) Silas Youg vs ROH World Champion Rush
ROH WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
“The Last Real Man In Wrestling” Silas Young makes his way out first, challenging for the championship here after winning the battle royal earlier in the night. The undefeated reigning ROH World Champion”El Toro Blanco” Rush makes his way out second. With Lanny Poffo on guest commentary, and Ian Riccaboni compares Rush to Poffo’s late brother, Randy Savage. Poffo says Rush is as unpredictable and savage as his brother. Riccaboni calls Rush a future Hall of Famer.
They reverse about five collar and elbow tie ups, Young tries a suplex but Rush jumps over him. Rush sweeps the leg in the corner, jumps on Young’s face, and Riccaboni tells us this is the set up for The Bulls Horn. Silas Young has it scouted as Young spears the champion! Poffo says for every move there is a counter. Young with a reverse suplex for a one count. Young trash talks Rush and throws him to the floor. Young with a diving double axe handle to the ribs and Silas Young tells Rush to get up and be a man. Silas Young sends Rush head first into the post! Young rolls the champion in the ring, and Young crushes Rush’s midsection with a twisting springboard double stomp! Young with a front face lock DDT! Rush kicks out at one.
Rush blocks a suplex and Young drives Rush hard into the corner and gets the snap suplex, pins and gets one. Silas Young grounds the champion with a chinlock, trying to cut the air flow out. Young drags Rush down by his hair driving his head into the mat hard. Young trash talking the fans. Rush spits at the challenger and Rush with a snap german suplex followed by a dropkick to the face! Rush now in control on the outside, driving the Real Last Man into a chair and then the apron. Rush continues the assault. Rush rolls Silas Young into the ring and tells the referee he understands the count but to tranquilo! Rush sets up for the Bulls Horns. Rush fakes Young out, flips backwards, and TRANQUILOOOO! Fireman carry slam and stomps Young’s ribs now. Misses the senton splash from the middle rope. Silas Young with the rolling slam into the headstand backflip plancha! Silas Young pins and gets two! Rush blocks a fireman carry, Anarchists suplex by Silas Young! Hooks the leg two and a half! Youg with a full nelson, knee to the face! Young charges and Rush flips him inside out into the turnbuckles! Running forearm knocks Young down, Bulls Horns! Rush gets the pin and win in 10 minutes
Winner AND STILL ROH WORLD CHAMPION: Rush
Grade: **
Thoughts: The ROH World Championship match on Glory By Honor should go longer than the main event match of your weekly television match the same weekend. But this did not. I didn’t need or want to see a squash match. The championship means more than that. How do you not give Taven a rematch or something? This is one of the biggest shows historically. I just didn’t like how this match came about, or how it was laid out or how it ended.
Before the main event begins, Matt Taven comes down to the ring with Vinny Marseglia, and challenges whoever has been following them around and attacking them from behind. A video package airs on the screen showing someone tape The Kingdom from behind all day. Taven exists the ring and heads backstage. What the hell was that?
10) PCO vs Marty Scurll
Final Round – “#1 Contender at Final Battle Tournament”
#1 contender ROH World Championship
Ian Riccaboni tells us that PCO has been wrestling as long as he’s been alive, and is called the Canadian Frankenstein, having wrestled in the main event of Madison Square Garden, and also wrestled in front of ten people in his small hometown. The former Pierre Carl Oulette gets in the ring to a good reaction, as The Villain Enterprises leader makes his entrance secod. Both of these men wearing two of the ROH World Six Man Tag Team Championships. Streamers fly over Marty Scurll as the crowd sings along with his entrance.
Before the match, Marty Scurll says this match was inevitable, an all Villain final. He says he doesn’t want this opportunity to come between them, so he wants to keep it clean, and may the best man win. Both men shake hands and Scurll cracks the umbrella across PCO’s face!
Quick pin and PCO kicks out! Scurll with three superkicks and all it does is power up PCO! Scurll charges into PCO and runs into a human wall. PCO smirks as the fans chant his name! On the top rope, PCO fends off Scurll, Scurll then with an enzuguiri into a double wristlock bomb from the top, formerly Oulette’s old finisher, getting a two count! Scurll throws the monster to the outside and drops him with a knee to the head. Scurll sends PCO back first ito the barricade! Back in the ring, Scurll in control, boot to the face! Scurll bends the fingers and stomps on the arm. Commentary question how much damage he wants to do to his own championship winning tag partner. They both exchange slaps and chops. Scurll gets caught in a pop up powerbomb followed by a shoulderblock by PCO! Dropkick sends Scurll into the corner, chokeslam! PCO climbs to the top rope to cheers, CANNONBALL! PCO hooks and gets two.
PCO tries a chokeslam, Scurll block and breaks two fingers on the hand! BIG BOOT by PCO sends Scurll to the outside! PCO grabs a table at ringside, drives a knee into Scurll and lays Scurll onto the table. PCO mumbles to himself and says “ON HIS BACK”. Scurll gets off the table and tosses PCO off the top rope through the table to the floor! Fans on their feet chanting “holy shit!” PCO stands though! Scurll rolls him inside and gets a two count! Fans behind PCO now, as Scurll sets for the chickenwing but PCO escapes but runs Scurll into the referee. French Canadian Slam, there’s no referee! Fans count to five! Brody King in the ring, Pump Kick! Black Hole Slam! King throws Scurll on top of PCO. PCO tosses Scurll in the air for two! King holds PCO on the apron, Scurll off the ropes, PCO ducks and Scurll crashes into Brody King! Man, King needs some stick’em, that’s the second time someone has slipped from his grip tonight! Sidewalk slam by PCO! Scurll is out. PCO climbs the top rope. Scurll from behind, tripping him up. PCO with back elbows, and Scrull falls into the referee again! PCO climbs to the top rope again, Flip Gordon with a jumping kick to the face, knocking PCOZ off the top, Scurll with the Six Man title belt to the face! Pin, and Scurll gets the shoulder up at two and three fourths!! PCO ducks a clothesline, dives through the ropes with a hilo into Gordon and King at ringside! Chokebomb to Scurll! PCO climbs up top again, PCO SAULT! Scurll kicks out at two! All the fans on their feet!! It is gut check time for both of them. Fans chanting “Lets Go Marty- PCO!” PCO sets Marty for a cannonball across the apron, but Scurll moves out of the way the Canadian Frankenstein crashes across the apron. Scurll rolls him inside, LARIAT!!!!! Scurll hooks the leg and gets a two count! PCO with his own lariat! PCO climbs to the top one more time. PCO SAULT! PCO gets the win! He’s going to Final Battle! I don’t think the fans thought it would happen, as they were silent during the pinfall.
Winner: PCO
Grade: ***1/2
Thoughts: An entertaining main event here between two veterans giving it their all. Intriguing story as Villain Enterprises had to fight among themselves, with Gordon and King siding with Scurll. It was a fun match, with a table spot, some top rope splashes, and a lot of good near falls. PCO is headed to Final Battle against Rush!
After the match, all four men square away, with King and Gordon flanking their leader. Scurll says in three long years, he’s never been ROH Champion. He says this tournament was his opportunity to finally do that, and PCO took that chance away from him. He says, “congratulations” as the fans stand and cheer for that. He says “Let’s be honest, I’m 31, in the prime of my career, you’re at the end of your career and you just beat The Villain!” Fans chanting and cheering for PCO. Scurll says “Like me, you’ve also never been world champion, but this is your last opportunity, and no one deserves the championship more than you!” All four members of Villain Enterprises stand united in the ring as we head for Final Battle!
Overall Show Grade: 7/10
There was some definite cause for concern with this show. There was poor build after Death Before Dishonor in their weekly programming, with several matches announced in the couple days before the event. The use of local talent kind of disappointed me, as no one is buying the show or buying tickets to see champions face local talent in one of the biggest shows of the year. In fact, none of the men’s championships were defended in a pre-announced match or consisted of any rivalry at all. The only thing built before this show was the Tournament. To that, this show delivered, with three great tournament matches. The match with Gresham and Shelley was fantastic and was my Match of the Night!
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It’s a big time return or whatever!
Right before the AEW World Tag Team Championship Tournament begins, Best Friends’ Orange Cassidy & Trent Beretta return to ROH!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- ROH Women’s World Television Championship Tournament: Billie Starkz VS Diamante; Billie wins and advances.
- Lee Johnson VS Aaron Solo; Johnson wins.
- Four Corner Survival: Kiera Hogan VS Lady Frost VS Leyla Hirsch VS Robyn Renegade; Kiera wins.
- ROH Women’s World Championship Proving Ground: Athena VS Aisha; Athena wins and retains the title.
- Six Man Tag: Top Flight VS The Iron Savages; Top Flight wins.
- The Workhorsemen VS Nick Comoroto & Jacoby Watts; The Workhorsemen win.
- Lance Archer w/ Jake “The Snake” Roberts VS Darian Bengston; Archer wins.
- ROH Women’s World Television Championship Tournament Quarterfinals: Abadon VS Mercedes Martinez; Martinez wins and advances.
- Four Corner Survival: AR Fox VS Jack Cartwheel VS Komander VS Slim J; Komander wins.
- Orange Cassidy & Trent Beretta w/ Chuck Taylor VS Griff Garrisson & Cole Karter w/ Maria Kanellis; Cassidy & Trent win.
PLAY BY PLAY
ROH Women’s World Television Championship Tournament Quarterfinals: Billie Starkz VS Diamante!
Minion 400,237 and three-quarters said herself that no one is better than Athena, and she’s better than everyone else in the field! Will she continue to be one step behind the Fallen Goddess and one step ahead of the rest? Or will she be crushed by the Cuban Diamond?
The Code of Honor is upheld, the bell rings, and then Billie takes a swing! Diamante ducks, waistlocks and O’Conner Rolls, TWO! Things speed up, Diamante ducks ‘n’ dodges then rolls, but Billie leaps over! Billie sunset flips on the return, ONE! Diamante sits on it, ONE! Billie sunset flips again, ONE and Diamante rains down fists! The ref reprimands, Billie pushes Diamante away, and then she runs up, but into an OVERHEAD- OH, well, it ends up more like a flapjack than Belly2Belly throw but that hurts either way. Diamante runs corner to corner to HYDRAULIC DROPKICK! Cover, TWO!
The fans rally up as Billie stays in this, and she bails out to the apron. Diamante pursues and RAMS Billie into the LED barrier! The fans boo but Diamante flexes as she soaks up the heat. Diamante storms back up on Billie, and whips her hard into railing! Billie clutches her side and Diamante tells Billie to be humble. Diamante CHOPS Billie, Billie sputters, and then Diamante headlocks. Diamante brings Billie along, headlock punches her, then whips her at steel steps! Billie goes up and up to FLYING RANA! Not the cleanest but the fans fire up with Billie all the same! Billie stands, storms after Diamante, and puts her in the ring.
The fans rally behind Billie and she hurries to the apron. But Diamante ROCKS her! Diamante puts Billie in the ropes for a NECKBREAKER HOTSHOT! Diamante dumps Billie into a cover, TWO! Diamante is annoyed but she stomps Billie around. Diamante eggs Billie on, has her in a corner and RAMS into her! Then RAMS her again! Billie CLUBS Diamante but Diamante RAMS in again! The ref counts, Diamante lets off and CHOPS! Diamante then digs her boot in! The ref counts, Diamante lets off at 4, but Billie grits her teeth. The fans rally as Diamante stands Billie up and Billie fires body shots!
Diamante throws Billie down by her hair! The fans boo and the ref reprimands but Diamante soaks it up. Diamante sits Billie up, steps over an arm and has the neck wrench! Diamante adds a cording hold to stretch Billie out. The fans rally as Billie endures, but Diamante CLUBS away on Billie’s chest! Diamante goes back to the neck wrench and even grinds her forearms into Billie’s face. Billie fights up, throws body shots, and then ROCKS Diamante with a forearm! Billie runs, Diamante follows and tilt-o-whirls, into a RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! The fans do cheer that ability, and Diamante runs to PLANKING SPLASH! Cover, TWO!
Diamante argues the count but the ref defends it. Diamante eggs Billie on again, then CLUBS her down. Billie grabs at Diamante but Diamante scuffs her. Billie still rises up, and she ROCKS Diamante with a forearm! Diamante snarls and UPPERCUTS Billie down! Diamante pushes Billie to a cover, TWO! Diamante clamps onto Billie with a facelock, then stands her up. Diamante whips Billie to a corner, runs up, but Billie ELBOWS her away! Then BOOTS her away! Diamante tries again, blocks the boot, but not the REBOUND KICK! Billie hurries to dump Diamante out and builds speed, to DIVE! Direct hit at the ramp!
The fans fire up and Billie keeps moving! Billie builds speed again to DIVE again! Another hit, but Billie wants the hattrick! Billie builds speed and DIVES! Direct hit again and the fans fire up! Billie points to the title belt, then drags Diamante up and puts her in the ring. Billie reels Diamante in, suplexes, GHOSTBUSTER! Cover, TWO?!? Diamante survives but Billie is fuming! The fans rally behind Billie as she goes up a corner. Diamante rise sup first to UPPERCUT! Diamante then drags Billie off the top, but Billie ELBOWS her, sweeps the legs, and mule kicks! Billie goes right back up, but Diamante springs to her feet!
Billie leaps over Diamante, goes to the far corner, and Diamante runs in! Wheelbarrow, but Billie makes it a FACEBUSTER! Billie half nelsons to haul Diamante up, but Diamante throws elbows with the free arm! Billie holds on but Diamante snapmares! Billie BOOTS her for it! Billie then brings Diamante in, suplexes, but Diamante cradle counters! TWO!! Billie stands into an UPPERCUT! Diamante reels Billie in, O’Conner Roll and CHAOS THEORY!! Cover, TWO!! Billie survives and shocks Diamante! The fans are thunderous while Diamante thinks on what to do now. Diamante sits Billie up and ROCKS her with a forearm!
Diamante says this is over! She throws more forearms, then some SLAPS and CHOPS! Diamante then stands Billie up, but Billie powers out of the cravat to LARIAT! The fans fire up and Billie flounders to ropes. Billie crawls back to Diamante as the fans rally. Billie fires a forearm, but Diamante gives it back! They go back and forth, harder and harder! The fans rally behind Billie with every shot, but Diamante ROCKS Billie! Billie ROCKS Diamante! The forearms keep going, they pick up speed, and Billie gets the edge! The fans fire up, but Diamante shoves Billie! Billie rebounds to ROCK Diamante again!
Billie runs, ROCKS Diamante against ropes, then keeps going! But Diamante follows to ROCK Billie! Diamante runs, but Billie ROCKS her! Billie runs, Diamante blows past her and wheelbarrows, for the STUNNER! Then a cravat for SHIRANUI!! Cover, TWO?!?! Billie survives again and Diamante pulls at her hair! The fans are thunderous as Diamante drags Billie back up. Diamante whips, runs up, but Billie BOOTS her! And SPIN HEEL KICKS! The fans fire up as Billie goes up top! SWANTON BOMB!! Cover, TWO?!?! Diamante survives but Billie just drags her into the HALF NELSON CROSSFACE!! Diamante taps, Billie wins!!
Winner: Billie Starkz, by pinfall (advances to the semifinals)
Atlanta fires up as Billie is through to the next round! Will nothing stop her from grabbing the gold and standing beside Athena as her equal?
Cole Karter & Griff Garrison speak.
The Diamond in the Rough tells the Ivy League MVP, “This is it. This is the biggest match of our career. Maria set this up for us, and we’re gonna make her proud.” Griff says that’s right. The “Baby Boys” have Maria behind them, so Trent & Orange, this is the biggest match of their careers, so they’re gonna do their best. Maria walks in and says, “Your best? Your best? 23 years old (Cole), 26 years old (Griff). You guys are babies. My Baby Boys! I remember thinking that everyone else owned my career when I was your age. That ROH or the person I was in the ring with, they owned my career.
“But the truth is, you own your careers. Y’know, [Griff] had that match with Adam Copeland, and it was great! It was on Collision and everybody was talking about it, and I was so proud. Until you lost. And because you lost, we haven’t seen the inside of a Collision ring since.” Griff feels bad, but Maria says actions have consequences and they need to understand that. These types of opportunities don’t happen every day. Orange, Trent, they’re jealous of Griff & Karter and what they can accomplish! They are on the path to do great things, and the stolen mask of Serpentico is just the beginning. Maria wants to be proud of her baby boys.
They aren’t gonna disappoint her, right? No, of course not! They’re gonna make her proud, right? Right, absolutely! Then let’s go. Maria leads the way, but will her boys’ best be enough against the Best Friends?
ROH Women’s World Championship Proving Ground: Athena VS Aisha!
Standing at 46-0, the Fallen Goddess continues to raise the bar on what it is to be the most dominant champion, male or female, in ROH history! Will she keep on going even towards Supercard of Honor? Or is she going to get caught slipping one of these nights?
The Code of Honor is upheld, the bell rings, and the fans rally for Athena. Athena waves to her minions then circles with Aisha. They step up, then Athena DECKS Aisha! Athena HAMMERS away on Aisha, argues with the ref, and then reels Athena in. Athena suplexes for a GOURD BUSTER! Aisha sits up while Athena cheers herself on. Athena runs up, but Aisha gets around to Gory Especial! Aisha spins and spins, then HIP BUMPS Athena away! Aisha runs corner to corner, and BOOTS Athena down! Aisha then drags Athena up to whip corner to corner, and then HIP ATTACKS her down!
The fans are torn, but Aisha goes up the corner. But Athena SHOVES her down! Athena then runs side to side to baseball slide DROPKICK! Aisha falls right to the floor, but Athena goes out after her. Athena CLUBS away on Aisha, then clinches for a scoop and SWING into the railing! Aisha writhes, Athena drags her up and RAMS her into the LED barrier! The fans rally as Athena stalks Aisha, brings her around, and shoves her into the ring. Athena stalks Aisha, CLUBS her and snapmares, to then KICK her in the back! Athena shouts, “This is MY show!” as she SLAPS Aisha again and again! Aisha crawls but Athena storms up on her.
Athena whips Aisha to a corner, but Aisha stops herself! HIP ATTACK! And then a SPINEBUSTER! High stack, ONE!! Athena shocks Aisha, but Aisha fires herself back up. Aisha hauls Athena up, whips her to a corner, but Athena goes up and up, FLYING CODE BREAKER! Athena runs in at the corner to back body block! She goes side to side and ROCKS Aisha with a forearm! Athena then slips out to the apron, brings Aisha into the ropes, and Athena stands on Aisha’s head! The ref reprimands but Athena STOMPS and STOMPS and STOMPS! Aisha flops down while Athena snarls. Aisha crawls but Athena stalks her.
Aisha stands, Athena runs up and BOOTS her down! Athena isn’t done, she ties Aisha’s legs up in a figure four, then adds a STRETCH PLUM! Aisha endures, taps, Athena wins!
Winner: Athena, by submission (denies Aisha a title opportunity)
The Fallen Goddess adds something new to the arsenal, but then she still follows her usual bad habits. She goes out, sits Aisha against steel steps, and then lines up a shot. Athena runs in to KNEE Aisha into the steel! The ref reprimands but some fans want that “One More Time!” Athena paces, gets more space, and runs in again, for another KNEE!! Athena stands tall with her title but she also gets a mic. “That. That is what you have to offer, Atlanta? This hot garbage is what you have to offer me!?” The fans chant for “A T L! A T L!” and Athena frowns. “ATL isn’t even good enough to wipe my ass.”
Fans boo but Athena says since they forgot who she is, she is the FOREVER ROH Women’s Champion, the Fallen Goddess, the Minion Overlord, the ROH Gatekeeper, the American Joshi, the person that is the inspiration to every women’s division, and the main event of ROH! “Match after match, I come to this ring, I put my heart and soul and defend my championship! I give Suzy from down the street an opportunity, I give Rebecca from down the block opportunities! And what do I get in return!? Nothing. And quite frankly, I am bored! I need more! I deserve more! SHUT UP, I’M TALKING!”
Fans boo but Athena says she needs more than “these porcelain princesses, this hot trash!” SHE is the one who has put ROH on the map, put it on her back, and carried it to new levels! And the funny thing is, Supercard is only weeks away! But no one is lining up to face the Forever Champion. Hell, the entire locker room is so afraid of facing Athena, that they lined up for a second-place title tournament! And even then, Nyla Rose, a former AEW Women’s World Champion, after Athena threw her through tables, she could’ve stepped back up. But no, she stepped right out of ROH, tucked tail and ran.
The fans are torn between boos and another “ATL!” chant, but Athena says here we are. She is dying for competition! She needs it to solidify the most epic reign in all of pro-wrestling! Who is it gonna be? Hell, it isn’t anyone in ROH! So she will open every door around the world, anyone is welcome to step inside, because she NEEDS someone to take her to her limit! Athena NEEDS real competition! So who is it gonna be to take her the limit? Wait, that music… HIKARU SHIDA!! The Full Metal Warrior, the former THREE-TIME AEW Women’s World Champion, on top of other titles back home in Japan, is now in ROH!
Shida steps right into the ring with the fans cheering her on. Shida points her kendo stick at Athena and the title, so the challenge is clearly made. Athena holds up the belt, and Tony Khan already sends word that this is happening! Supercard of Honor, April 5th, Philadelphia! Will the Fallen Goddess soon learn that nothing lasts forever?
Backstage interview with Lee Johnson.
Lexi Nair congratulates Big Shotty over his big win over Aaron Solo, adding to his 2024 win streak. What is the secret to this success? Johnson says he has said it before and he’ll proudly say it again, he is not just here to take part. He is here to take over! 2024 has been looking really, really good, and he does not plan on slowing down any time soon. So welcome to the Shotty Show! Johnson is ready to stand at the very top of ROH, but what title will he take aim at first?
Backstage interview with Taya Valkyrie.
Lexi is with La Wera Loca and says it’s been a couple weeks since they’ve talked. But Lexi does have to ask, what’s it like being a “Boy Mom in Slam Town?” Oh, they’re just so cute! She wants to but the Tate Twins matching outfits and dress them up, they’re so adorable! But then Dalton Castle shouts as he clings to a wall. Taya says he is embarrassing himself, he should leave. Castle asks where Taya’s keeping The Boys but she says she’s not telling them, they’re hers! Castle knows they’re here, he can smell them! Castle goes looking through some sort of hamper…? Taya asks Castle if he really knows The Boys. What’s their favorite animal? What’s they’re favorite color?
SPOILERS! It’s sharks, and blue! Taya keeps quizzing Castle with “Who’re their best friend?” Mommy Taya, that’s who! And what do they like for brunch? SCONES! He knows that! NO, it’s tater tots! And lots of ’em! They even like sashimi, they get it when she gets a California Roll. Castle isn’t even fit to have Boys! Castle laughs as he asks what. He’s not fit. Not fit? No, he is not fit to have Boys! “Look at me, you filth! Tell me where they are!” Taya calls security as Castle gets in her face! Security storms in, they carry Castle away and Taya says she will tell Castle where The Boys are! They’re with Daddy TV, on top of a mountain, learning how to be MEN! And how to be TV READY!
Lexi is almost in tears watching this drama unfold. Taya composes herself and asks if there are other questions. No, we’re good… Will The Peacock ever have his life back in order? Or will Mr. & Mrs. Taya continue to rub his Boys in his face?
ROH Women’s World Television Championship Tournament Quarterfinals: Abadon VS Mercedes Martinez!
The round of eight is almost over, and soon we will be left with the Final Four! The Living Dead Girl collides with the OG Badass, but who moves on to face Billie Starkz in the semifinals?
Martinez spits on her hand and the Code of Honor is upheld, then the bell rings. Abadon HEADBUTTS Martinez, then fires off forearms! Abadon whips Martinez to a corner, SPLASHES then fires off clotheslines! Abadon sits Martinez down tot hen STOMP her down! Abadon runs corner to corner to METEORA! Martinez flops out of the ring, Abadon CANNONBALLS her to the floor! The fans fire up and Abadon stalks Martinez. Abadon CLUBS Martinez, stalks her around the way, and then CLUBS her again! The fans rally behind Abadon, but Martinez BOOTS Abadon down! Martinez says the fans are sure quiet now!
Martinez refreshes the ring count, CLUBS Abadon, then pushes Abadon in the ring. Martinez talks trash then KICKS Abadon in the side. Martinez gets Abadon up, BUTTERFUL SUPLEX and a roll through, for another BUTTERFLY SUPLEX! Martinez drags Abadon up again, and then lifts her up for a BUTTERFLY STRETCH! Abadon endures, so Martinez SLAMS Abadon down! Cover, TWO! Martinez paces around Abadon, talks trash and slaps her around, and the fans rally. Martinez UPPERCUTS Abadon, whips her to ropes, but Abadon holds ropes while laughing!
Abadon ELBOWS Martinez, runs and tilt-o-whirls to RANA! Martinez gets up, wrenches, but Abadon ducks a lariat, but Martinez turns around to LARIAT after all! Cover, TWO! The fans rally as Abadon stays in this. Martinez drags Abadon up, steps over, and has a seated cobra twist! Abadon endures and the fans rally again. Abadon fights around, throws some elbows and shots from below, and then stands up. But Martinez UPPERCUTS her down! Martinez drags Abadon up, fireman’s carries, but Abadon fights free! Abadon BOOTS Martinez, runs up, but Martinez DECKS her! Martinez then lines up a shot, but is creeped out by Abadon laughing and singing as she sits up!
Martinez runs in, Abadon blocks a boot and trips her! Abadon runs to BASEMENT CODE BREAKER! Cover, TWO! Martinez is still in this but Abadon snarls. Abadon stalks Martinez to ropes, KNEES her low, then KNEES her again and again! The ref counts, Abadon lets off and whips, but Martinez reverses. Martinez gets around to SAIDO! The fans rally, Martinez takes aim, and runs in at the corner, to FOREARM SMASH! Martinez sits Abadon down, goes side to side, and BOOT WASHES! The fans fire up and Martinez YANKS Abadon for a SLAM, then high stacks! TWO, but Martinez gets a leg! Martinez sits on a HALF CRAB!
Abadon endures, crawls, reaches out, and the fans rally up again. Abadon drags Martinez back to get the ROPEBREAK! Martinez lets go in frustration and she runs corner to corner again. Abadon dodges, Martinez runs into buckles, and Abadon throws Martinez back. Abadon goes up to then reel Martinez in for a RANA! And a CUTTER! But Martinez flounders to the apron! Abadon crawls after Martinez, grabs at her, and then goes out to the apron with her. Abadon CLUBS away on Martinez, reels her in, APRON- NO, Martinez holds ropes to deny the DDT! Abadon sits up in a daze, and Martinez KNEES her right back down!
Martinez huffs and puffs, drags Abadon out along the apron, and KICKS, KICKS and KICKS Abadon in the back! Martinez then drapes Abadon out for the SWINGING NECKBREAKER to the floor! The fans fire up and the ring count starts. Abadon stirs at 5 of 10, claws at the floor mat, but Martinez is up first. Martinez puts Abadon in at 8 of 20, covers, TWO! Abadon survives and Martinez is frustrated. Martinez hears the fans rallying for Abadon but says she’s the one moving on! Martinez hauls Abadon up, but Abadon is deadweight! Martinez kicks Abadon around, drags Abadon back up, but Abadon SHRIEKS!
Abadon BITES Martinez’s arm! The fans fire up, the ref counts, and Abadon lets off at 4. Abadon “apologizes” then gets around Martinez, SWING-OUT DDT!! Cover, TWO!! Abadon can’t believe it and shrieks into the night! The fans fire up as Martinez crawls to a corner. Abadon rises, runs in at the corner, but Martinez dodges! Abadon ELBOWS back, hobbles along ropes, but wait is that Diamante!? Diamante CLUBS Abadon on the back, Martinez reels Abadon in, FISHERMAN BUSTER!! Cover, Martinez wins?!?
Winner: Mercedes Martinez, by pinfall
The fans boo because Abadon just got cheated! Martinez will face Billie in the next round, but will Diamante be her insurance policy even then? Is Abadon gonna haunt them until the end of time for this?
Eddie Kingston speaks.
“ROH has Supercard coming up. In the birthplace of ROH, in Philly. And there was someone almost about a year ago, very close to a year ago, who was supposed to have a title shot at Claudio but got injured, and never got his title shot. And that’s you, Mark. That’s you, Chicken, Mark Briscoe baby.” Eddie tells Mark that, as Mark knows, Mark wasn’t even allowed on the first ROH show because he was only 17! But he was there with his brother, Jay Briscoe, for Jay Briscoe VS Amazing Red. So why not now? It’s beautiful. It’s only two, three hours from home? Bring all your people, Mark. Not in a “I’m gonna beat you up” way, not like how Edde is going to scar Kazuchika Okada.
No, Eddie and Mark are going to show what the beautiful art of professional wrestling is. They won’t play around, they won’t dance. They will fight. They will fight for THE ROH World Championship, in Philadelphia, where this all started. Because Eddie respects Mark. And who cares who doesn’t like what Eddie’s about to say, they can talk to him about that. But Mark has been earning this shot for years, he deserves this shot, and Eddie wants to be the man who gives Mark that shot. It is happening, but will The Mad King make it through the Rainmaker with all the gold on his shoulders?
Orange Cassidy & Trent Beretta w/ Chuck Taylor VS Griff Garrisson & Cole Karter w/ Maria Kanellis!
The Freshly Squeezed combination for Best Friends is getting in the AEW World Tag Team Championship tournament, and they already won against the Superbad Squad. Will they keep things going against Maria’s Baby Boys? Or will the First Lady of Professional Wrestling be the proudest she’s ever been after tonight?
The Code of Honor is upheld by all four men, and Trent even shakes Maria’s hand. The fans chant for “Freshly Squeezed!” as the teams sort out, and Cassidy starts against Karter. Cassidy and Karter circle, the fans even chant for “Chuckie T! Chuckie T!” then for “Trent! Trent! Trent!” Cassidy raises his hands, but Karter rushes in! Cassidy gets around to headlock, but Karter powers up and out. Karter drops, hurdles, then arm-drags! But Cassidy arm-drags back! Then Cassidy avoids Karter’s arm-drag, and he has his hands up! Maria freaks out, Karter runs up, but Cassidy hurdles then MONKEY FLIPS Karter!
Cassidy kips up, keeps Karter from Griff, then bumps him off buckles. Tag to Trent and Trent whips Cassidy so Cassidy can whip Trent, and Trent ROCKS Karter! Trent feeds Karter to Cassidy, just so Cassidy can hold Karter up. Trent runs to CLOBBER Karter, then Cassidy SPLASHES down! Trent moves Cassidy aside so he can cover Karter, TWO! Karter scrambles away as Maria coaches him, and Karter tags Griff. Griff runs up but into a hip toss! Trent KICKS Griff in the back, kicks low then CHOPS him! Tag to Cassidy, he and Trent double whip Griff to double shoulder tackle! They shake hands, then sit Griff up to reel him in!
Trent & Cassidy double suplex high and hard! Maria protests, Cassidy covers, TWO! Griff stays in this and Cassidy discusses the count as opposed to arguing. The count was fair so Cassidy goes to Griff in a corner. Griff turns things around to then throw body shots and an UPPERCUT! Griff whips Cassidy corner to corner, but Cassidy tumbles up and out. Cassidy ducks the haymaker to dribble Griff off buckles! The fans count along and Cassidy goes all the way to TEN! Maria is upset and she gets up on the apron! Trent protests, the ref is busy with them all, and Griff BOOTS Cassidy down! Karter shoves Cassidy back in, Griff SPLASHES in a corner!
Griff snapmares to a cover, TWO! Griff stays on Cassidy with a facelock and grinds him down. Griff drags Cassidy over, tags Karter, and they mug Cassidy. Maria cheers as Karter rains down fists! The fans boo, the ref reprimands about closed fists, so Karter lets off. Karter snap suplexes, covers, TWO! Cassidy is frustrated but Karter knees him in the back! And again! Karter drags Cassidy up, bumps him off buckles, then tags Griff. Karter bumps Cassidy off buckles, Griff ROCKS Cassidy in the back! Griff brings Cassidy around, CLUBS him down, but the fans rally up. Griff brings Cassidy back for Karter to tag in.
Griff sends Karter in but Cassidy BOOTS! Maria freaks out as Cassidy dodges Griff’s splash! Karter grabs a leg but Cassidy BOOTS him away! Griff gets a leg, Cassidy BOOTS Griff away! Griff AND Karter get legs! They drag Cassidy back but he BOOTS them both away! Hot tag to Trent! Trent rallies on Griff & Karter with LARIAT after LARIAT! Trent drops down to then STANDING METEORA Karter! Griff swings, but into a GERMAN SUPLEX! Trent holds on to GERMAN SUPLEX again! Trent drags Griff up again, but Karter runs in. Trent shoves Griff away, gets around Karter, and he GERMAN SUPLEXES Karter!
The fans fire up and Trent aims at Griff on the outside. PLANCHA! Direct hit and down goes Griff! The fans fire up but Maria gets between Trent and Chuck! She denies the people what they want, and Karter CLOBBERS Trent! Fans boo but Karter gives Trent an APRON BACK SUPLEX! Karter soaks up the heat, pushes Trent into the ring, and Griff joins in. Karter fireman’s carries, Griff runs up, BOOT O’ DOOM! Karter hurries to cover, TWO!! Trent survives but Karter rains down fists! The ref reprimands again but Karter drags Trent up. Karter bumps Trent off buckles then tags in Griff. Griff rains down forearms!
Griff huffs ‘n’ puffs as he lets off, but the fans rally up for Trent. Griff drags Trent up, tags Karter, and Karter runs to CLOBBER Cassidy! Griff feeds Trent to Karter’s KNEE, then hits an atomic FACEBUSTER! Cover, Cassidy breaks it! Tag to Karter and he TOSSES Cassidy! Griff hauls Trent up, Karter climbs. Griff scoop SLAMS Trent, Karter 450 FLOPS as Trent moves!! The fans fire up as Trent crawls, but Griff hurries in to anchor him! Trent slips around to SAIDO Griff away! The fans fire up again as Trent staggers up and around, hot tag to Cassidy! Cassidy “storms” up to Griff & Karter, and “unleashes” those kicks!
Cassidy then stomps and stomps and stomps and stomps! The fans fire up, Cassidy runs, and he DOUBLE SHOTGUNS! Cassidy kips up, the fans fire up, and Cassidy powers up his arm! Cassidy runs in but Griff puts him on the apron! Cassidy ROCKS Griff, goes up, and CROSSBODIES! Cassidy keeps moving, he ducks ‘n’ dodges Karter to tilt-o-whirl and DDT! Cover, TWO!! Karter survives and Cassidy grits his teeth. Chuckie T and the fans rally up, and off comes the elbow pad! Cassidy aims, but Maria trips him up! The fans boo, Griff runs in, ROLLING ELBOW! Trent is back and he SUPERKICKS Griff!
Karter CALF KICKS Trent! Karter dodges the Orange Punch to DROPKICK! Karter soaks up the heat as he drags Cassidy back up. Maria applauds as Karter suplexes, but into STUN DOG MILLIONAIRE, that sends him into a HALF ‘N’ HALF from Trent! Cassidy DIVES onto Griff! Trent aims at Karter, but Maria distracts! She wants a hug?! The fans boo but Trent figures why not. Trent hugs Chuck! You GOT to give the people what they want! Trent reels Karter in for the PILEDRIVER!! Then feed to the ORANGE PUNCH!! Cassidy covers, Best Friends win!
Winners: Orange Cassidy & Trent Beretta, by pinfall
The biggest match of the Baby Boys’ career, and they fell hard! Best Friends will have to turn things right around because they’re going on a Rampage, will they keep the momentum going towards AEW’s own March Madness?
Wait! Spanish Annoucne Project sneaks in! They fire off hands on Griff & Karter! Maria panics, but she taunts Serpentico with the mask! She throws it down, he thinks about it, and so he grabs the mask! But Griff rises up! Griff turns Serpentico around, only to get punches from the mask hand! But Maria LOW BLOWS Serpentico! Karter LOW BLOWS Angelico! Maria shouts the mask is HERS, but then Best Friends return! They chase Maria off but she still has Serpentico’s property! When and where will #SNAKEMAN have his revenge? But for now, Best Friends stand with SAP, and they all HUG~! You definitely GOT to give the people what they want!
My Thoughts:
Another week of ROH needing to figure out its runtimes. The stream said 49 minutes, there were apparently technical difficulties and delays, and even then it ended up being a two hour episode instead. In many ways, this is just ROH reverting into AEW Dark. We still got good stuff, and as I skimmed through things, it seems there are some stories developing. Jacoby Watts has already been a parody of Christian evangelists that become self-important, and I do appreciate Caprice Coleman on commentary not being a fan of that given his own “man of the cloth” character. Jacoby is trying to lead Nick Comoroto to success but obviously in a misguided way, that might end up a good story to help Comoroto finally get something going again.
I did like in the Six Man Tag of Top Flight VS Iron Savages that they started with a “chug off,” and of course Action Andretti took that with his impressive speed chug technique. Archer of course dominated Bengston but fans had fun seeing Jake The Snake get a shot in first, and both Four Corner Survival matches were fast and fun. Great wins for Kiera Hogan and Komander through those, but Keira’s gonna be waiting on the Women’s TV title tournament to wrap up before she gets a title match, and Komander probably isn’t ever adding another title while he’s still AAA Cruiserweight Champion.
Really good match from Johnson and Solo because, as commentary made sure to note, they came up together through the Nightmare Factory and they know each other very well. Johnson’s win makes him 7-1 but that’s seven straight and really does deserve some kind of title match. It just doesn’t seem like that’ll happen until the other side of Supercard. Eddie had a great promo to officially establish an ROH World title match with Mark Briscoe, and Ethan Page is still waiting on Tony Khan to get Kyle Fletcher over here for an ROH World TV Championship match. Wheeler Yuta may still be recovering from minor injury, but it would be nice if the Pure Championship was back in action.
Athena of course won the Proving Ground match, but great promo from her to throw out an Open Challenge. And great choice for it to be Hikaru Shida, that will be an awesome match for Supercard. Now, as great as Athena beating Shida would be, part of her promo made me think that her time as champion has to be closer to the end. Athena can give the belt to Shida, making Shida a history-maker but then Athena can move on to AEW to get in on a title scene there. Even with Mercedes Mone now joining AEW, Shida in ROH and Athena in AEW freshens everything up to help both divisions move forward in to Spring and Summer.
Great stuff in the ROH Women’s TV Championship tournament. Billie of course won her match, she’s one of the main focuses in this tournament’s story. But then quite the surprise in Diamante helping Martinez screw Abadon over. At the same time, we weren’t getting Abadon VS Billie anyway, two fan favorites clashing and one has to win, that would be too hard of a call for anyone. Billie will surely beat Martinez, maybe with Abadon helping as revenge on Martinez, and then Billie is a finalist going to Supercard of Honor.
That promo segment from Taya and Cassidy was hilarious. It was a rather well-done take on a dramatic family situation, and I’m sure the next promo will be the debut of The TV Boys, where Brandon & Brent are “TV Ready.” And good stuff going into the main event. Good promo from Griff, Karter & Maria, really good match with Best Friends, but of course Best Friends won. I’m almost a little disappointed SAP didn’t get Serpentico’s mask back, but that again is a better moment to happen in like a “Mask on a Pole” match or a ladder match where the mask is hanging above the ring. That’s not a Supercard of Honor level match, but it can be a solid main event on the go-home episode in a few weeks.
My Score: 8.6/10
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ROH is ready to Stir It Up!
The ROH Women’s Television Championship Tournament continues as Leyla Hirsch and Red Velvet battle in a LEGIT quarterfinal match!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- ROH Women’s World Television Championship Tournament, Quarterfinal: Leyla Hirsch VS Red Velvet; Velvet wins and advances.
- Abadon VS Judy Azule; Abadon wins.
- Lee Johnson VS Jon Cruz; Johnson wins.
- Nyla Rose VS Airica Demia; Nyla wins.
- Four Corner Survival Tag: Jack Cartwheel & Gringo Loco VS Spanish Announce Project VS The Workhorsemen VS The Infantry; The Infantry wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
ROH Women’s World Television Championship Tournament, Quarterfinal: Leyla Hirsch VS Red Velvet!
The opening round was LEGIT as Leyla battled it out with her good friend, Rachael Ellering, while The Chef served Sandra Moone a nice L. Will Velvet serve up an even tastier L here tonight? Or will Leyla simply be tasting sweet victory?
The Code of Honor is upheld, the bell rings, and the two circle. They feel things out, and Velvet throws a testing strike that gets Leyla on the arm. Leyla says okay, and they start throwing hands back and forth! The fans rally, Leyla gets Velvet in a corner, but then lets off with pats on the shoulder. The fans cheer and the two reset. Velvet gets around to waistlock then headlock then wrench. Velvet wristlocks but Leyla powers her through to a headlock takeover, then ARMBAR! Velvet clasps hands fast, uses a leg to hook Leyla’s legs, and fans cheer this technical exchange as they end up in the ropes.
Velvet backs off and Leyla cools off. The two reset, tie up, and Leyla waistlocks, but throws Velvet by her hair! Fans boo but Leyla shrugs. Things speed up, Velvet drops then leaps, but into Leyla’s arms! SAIDO! Fans fire up as Velvet goes to a corner, and Leyla storms up. Leyla clotheslines Velvet again and again, then whips corner to corner. Velvet reverses but Leyla goes up and over to O’Conner Roll, TWO! Leyla hurries to waistlock again, but Velvet throws Leyla away. Velvet then BODY SHOTS! Velvet fires hands, talks some trash, but Leyla shoves Velvet, then SLAPS her! Velvet gets in Leyla’s face, then shoves her back.
Leyla turns things around and has Velvet in the corner to fire forearms! Leyla sits Velvet down, digs her boots, and mocks the Stir It Up! The fans are torn but the ref counts. Leyla lets off and drags Velvet up but Velvet puts her in the corner to DOUBLE CHOP and BODY SHOT! Velvet keeps Leyla cornered and RAMS into her again and again! The ref counts, Velvet lets off, then fakes the right! Velvet waits for Leyla to let her guard down, then Velvet SLAPS her in return! Velvet then does the splits to dig her boot in! The fans cheer but the ref counts. Velvet lets off at 4, then “apologizes.” But Leyla gets up to SHOTGUN Velvet down!
Leyla drags Velvet from the ropes to cover, TWO! Leyla stomps Velvet, puts her in the drop zone and says this is it! Leyla goes up but Velvet CLUBS her! Velvet CLUBS Leyla again, goes up, but Leyla CLAWS eyes! Leyla BOOTS Velvet, then reels her in for the HANGING SLEEPER! The ref counts, but Velvet pries at the hold! Velvet bends the fingers, then ICONOCLASM! Cover, TWO! Leyla survives but Velvet stays on her! Velvet isolates an arm to STOMP it! Leyla shouts in pain, but Velvet drops a leg onto the arm! Leyla gets away before the short arm scissor but Velvet drags her back in! Velvet gets the short arm scissor after all!
Leyla endures, the fans rally, and Leyla moves around. Leyla bridges up to alleviate pressure, then she CLUBS Velvet’s legs. Leyla rolls to stack Velvet but they’re in the ropes, so Leyla drags Velvet back, Cover, ONE!! Velvet SUPERKICKS Leyla right down! The fans fire up and Velvet scuffs Leyla. Velvet puts Leyla in the drop zone, stomps her then goes up. The fans fire up as Velvet reaches the top, but Leyla rises to UPPERCUT! And HEADBUTT! And HEADBUTT! And HEADBUTT! Velvet CLUBS Leyla back, Leyla ROCKS Velvet, then climbs to CLUB her! Leyla brings Velvet to the very top, for a SUPER DUPER PLEX! Cover, TWO!!
Velvet survives and the fans fire up! Leyla is frustrated and clutching her arm from the hard landing. A standing count starts, the fans rally and duel. The count passes 5 of 10, but both women rise at 7. Velvet gets in Leyla’s face, but Leyla fires a forearm! Velvet throws a haymaker, Leyla forearms back, and the two go back and forth! The fans rally as Leyla stands and CLUBS away on Velvet! Velvet fires off hands in return! Leyla knees low, whips Velvet to ropes, but Velvet ducks ‘n’ dodges to CALF KICK! Velvet brings Leyla up, whips her now, but Leyla gets up and over to GERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO!!
Velvet survives again but Leyla clamps right back on with the waistlock. Leyla drags Velvet up, but Velvet switches to GERMAN SUPLEX in return! Leyla and Velvet both stagger to their feet as the fans fire up. Leyla LARIATS Velvet right down! Cover, TWO! Leyla is frustrated with Velvet, and she reels her back in. Back suplex, but Velvet lands out! Velvet then baits Leyla into a drop toehold onto ropes! Velvet runs to DOUBLE KNEE Leyla in the back! Velvet YANKS Leyla from ropes but Leyla uses that to roll Velvet up! Velvet rolls through but into a LEGIT KNEE! Leyla then drags Velvet around, runs and goes up, up and LEGIT SAULTS!! Cover, ROPEBREAK?!?
The fans are thunderous as Velvet survives by fingertips! Leyla is about to lose her mind, but she KICKS that arm! And SLAMS it on the mat! And then stomps away on the elbow! Leyla snarls, she drags Velvet for a ripcord, but Velvet sunset slips! TWO and Leyla sits on it! TWO and Velvet sunset flips with a deep hook, VELVET WINS!!
Winner: Red Velvet, by pinfall (advances to the semifinals)
That was a legit shocker! Leyla gets caught and she is out! Velvet shows Leyla respect by offering the Code of Honor. Leyla accepts and the fans cheer as the two hug it out. Velvet is now headed on and will face Queen Aminata, will there be another L on the menu?
The Infantry speaks.
They’re admiring their new merchandise, and Carlie Bravo starts by saying, “ROH, have no fear! The Infantry is always here! Yes, yes, fresh to death and back in full effect. With a brand new logo, brand new merch, and guess what? Brand new money, which is why we walking down the aisle looking like puddles when we be drippin’.” But speaking of fresh, Carlie is liking Captain Shawn Dean’s new glasses. Looking fly! Hit a pose! Dean flexes, then hits the Hogan, then spins around. Oh, oh, last one. Do the biceps and tongue out or something. Yeah, good, good. But how do you feel? Like an idiot! A doofus!
Yeah, that’s how you should feel doing things that are unoriginal, unauthentic, and just too uncool for school. But if you wanna be like The Infantry, steal their drip and their swag, where should they go, Trish? To Boot Camp! They told y’all before, have no fear, the Almighty Infantry is here! Copy that. Will Turbo Floyd & Truth Magnum get the message?
Spanish Announce Project talks backstage.
They’ve found Maria Kanellis and are confronting her. Hands to yourselves, she is married. Yeah, okay, but they want her to understand that Angelico is back to 100%, so she can go get her little boys so SAP can fight them right here and now! She tells them easy, she’s the only one here. Griff & Karter were given the night off. Oh, of course. And she adds that even if they were here, they don’t face losers. SAP hasn’t won anything in a long time, so maybe if they win tonight, then she’ll consider the challenge. Until then, she still has Serpentico’s other mask! SAP is motivated, will they prove themselves worthy of the rematch?
Four Corner Survival Tag: Jack Cartwheel & Gringo Loco VS Spanish Announce Project VS The Workhorsemen VS The Infantry!
The Undisputed Kingdom still holds the ROH World Tag Team Championships, but with Supercard of Honor just a month away, someone’s gonna get their shot at the titles! This is quite the assortment, but who comes out in pole position for this race to Philadelphia?
In this form of Fatal 4 Way, only two teams are legal at a time. Anthony Henry starts against Angelico, and he barely keeps the Code of Honor, then the bell rings. They circle, feel things out, and the fans rally up. They knuckle lock, Henry wrenches and wristlocks, but Angelico slips through to spin free and headlock. Henry powers his way around to a facelock, then wrenches and wrangles Angelico. Angelico rolls back, spins and slips through to cording hold, and he brings Henry over. Tag to Serpentico and he goes up, to DOUBLE STOMP the arm! Serpentico wrenches, Henry CLUBS free and UPPERCUTS!
Tag to JD Drake, Serpentico CHOPS! Drake doesn’t budge, and he CHOPS back! Serpentico sputters, and he tags out to Jack Cartwheel. The fans cheer as Jack cartwheels three times in a row! Drake mocks Jack, then takes a swing! Jack dodges to CHOP, but Drake doesn’t budge! Drake swings, Jack ducks ‘n’ dodges and dodges again, to roll back and headscissor, to then hold on so he can SPLASH! But then Drake gets up to CHOP Jack down! Drake suplexes, Jack slips free, tag to Gringo Loco! The fans fire up as Jack BOOTS Drake and Gringo Loco RANAS Drake! Serpentico runs in but Gringo Loco runs him over!
Things speed up, Loco leaps over then handsprings to duck under! Loco shoves Serpentico to a corner, runs up, but Serpentico BOOTS him away! Loco comes back, but Serpentico RANAS him now! And SUPERKICKS! Loco scrambles away and Carlie Bravo tags in! Serpentico dodges Bravo, trips him, and things speed up. Serpentico rolls, sidesteps, but Bravo arm-drags! Bravo rolls, gets a leg, slips around and hits a NECKBREAKER! Bravo wrenches Serpentico, tags in Dean, and they double whip. They trip, basement dropkick, and Dean covers, TWO! Dean drags Serpentico up and whips him to ropes.
Serpentico stops himself, SUPERKICKS, but Bravo SUPERKICKS Serpentico! Angelico BOOTS Bravo but Dean ROLLING ELBOWS Angelico! SAP brawls with The Infantry, so the other teams get involved! The fans fire up for the chaotic brawl, the Workhorsemen and the high-flyers dump SAP and Infantry out. Drake drags Dean over to tag in off him, and then DECKS him! Jack tags in off Serpentico, but Henry DROPKICKS Loco! The Workhorsemen mug Jack, then DDT! Jack is down, Drake covers, TWO! Jack survives but Drake bumps him off buckles. Drake stands Jack up to CHOP, then he tags Henry.
Henry brings Jack around to KICK him down! Henry then drags Jack right back up, tags Drake back in, snap suplex and slingshot SENTON! The Workhorsemen mock Angelico’s Bernie Lean, then Drake says stuff it! The Workhorsemen double whip but Jack rebounds to cartwheel! Henry pops Jack up and Drake catches him, but Jack RANAS Drake into Henry! Jack hot tags Loco but Serpentico BOOTS Jack! Loco kicks and whips Serpentico, trophy lifts him, and then DROPS him! To then STANDING MOONSAULT! The fans fire up with Loco and he brings Serpentico to the drop zone. Loco goes up but Drake ROCKS him first!
Drake climbs up to the very top, for a SUPER SIZED STEINER! Henry DOUBLE STOMPS! Drake covers but Dean FROG SPLASHES it apart! Dean TOSSES Henry, tags Bravo, and Bravo drags Loco up. Perhaps some lucha rules are at play here as they SUPERKICK and SIDEWINDER Loco! Bravo covers, Angelico breaks it! Angelico ELBOWS Dean, TOSSES him, and Serpentico feeds Bravo to the BACKBREAKER! Angelico stands Bravo up and Serpentico runs in, NECKBREAKER BACKBREAKER COMBO! The fans fire up with SAP but Loco & Jack get in! Loco CLUBS Angelico, Jack kicks Serpentico!
Loco whips, Angelico reverses but Loco holds ropes. Angelico runs up but is put on the apron. Jack HANDSPRING KICKS Angelico! Serpentico SUPERKICKS Loco, Jack BOOTS Serpentico! Jack whips Serpentico corner tot corner but Serpentico BOOTS back! DESTROYER but Jack cartwheels through! PENALTY KICK and STANDING MARIPOSA! Jack sets Serpentico up for Loco for the SWITCHFOOT SAULT! But then the Workhorsemen TOSS Loco, and JD THROWS Jack! Henry METEORAS in a corner, JD CANNONBALLS! The Workhorsemen high-five, but The Infantry DOUBLE SUPERKICK them!
The Infantry says “OORAH~!” But SAP trips up The Infantry up! SAP TOSSES them out, then regroup. Serpentico builds speed and Angelico holds ropes open, Serpentico DIVES onto the Workhorsemen! The fans fire up but Bravo BOOTS Angelico onto the rest! Jack DROPKICKS Bravo out, then builds speed. Loco gives him the boost on the SASUKE SPECIAL! Down goes the pile, but Dean LARIATS Loco! Dean goes up and CROSSBODIES! Dean rolls off but keeps moving, and he FLIES out onto everyone else! Bravo SCISSOR KICKS Loco! Dean joins in, they call their shot! They get Loco up and send him to BOOT CAMP!! Cover, Infantry wins!
Winners: The Infantry, by pinfall
Dean & Bravo take down three hot teams because they might just be the hottest team! They still have issues with The Outrunners, but will they also have their shot at the ROH Tag Team Champions soon enough? And hey, Maria walks out on stage just to taunt Serpentico with his mask! Will SAP ever get their revenge on Griff & Karter at this rate?
My Thoughts:
ROH needs to fix their livestream’s runtime indicator. I thought this was gonna be one hour and 47 minutes, but turns out it was just 49 minutes. Granted, I clearly skipped the huge chunk in the middle, but those were all clearly gonna be filler squash matches. Though, it was rather interesting that Abadon would need a squash match win before facing Mercedes Martinez in the next round. Is this to create go-home math that then favors Mercedes in the tournament? Or is Mercedes going to have her own filler match to do the same back?
Speaking of the tournament, great match from Leyla and Velvet, and I really am surprised Velvet won out. I suppose Leyla and Rachael can move on to their own story that leads them to facing each other, which is still good stuff. Good promos from a couple of the teams that were in tonight’s really good main event. Infantry are calling out The Outrunners, and them winning tonight gives them momentum into facing Turbo & Truth down the line. SAP want their match with Griff & Karter but lost so Maria gets to taunt them about it.
I feel like SAP is gonna keep losing until they lose their cool and attack Griff & Karter the moment they’re back on ROH TV. And I would think the match they have is for Serpentico’s mask, maybe a ladder match where the mask is hanging above the ring and they gotta bring the mask down. A No Disqualification style match is very fitting of where this feud has gone, so why not make it so climbing the ladder is the win, not a pin or submission?
My Score: 8.4/10
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