He’s a Machine!

While he teamed with Lance Archer on Dynamite, Brian Cage defends his ROH World Television Championship against Komander tonight!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• The Gates of Agony VS The Infantry; The Gates win.
• Reyna Isis VS Viva Van; Reyna wins.
• Rocky Romero VS Brandon Cutler; Rocky wins.
• Lee Johnson & EJ Nduka VS Bret Hankins & Jiah Jewell; Lee & EJ win.
• ROH Rewind – ROH Women’s World Championship: Mercedes Martinez VS Athena; Athena wins and becomes the new ROH Women’s World Champion.
• ROH World Television Championship: Brian Cage VS Komander w/ Alex Abrahantes; Cage wins and retains the title.

PLAY BY PLAY

There is a NEW ROH World Champion.

In case you missed it, there was a LADDER WAR on Dynamite, and despite the fight put up by Mark Briscoe, Chris Jericho took the title and is now a TWO-TIME ROH World Champion, nine-time overall. We are now in the Nueve Era, will it be another reign of terror?

The Gates of Agony VS The Infantry!

Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona have been through a lot of ups and downs, and especially a lot of teammates coming and going. But now they stand on their own, ready to stand atop the mountain. Will they Open the Gates to world tag team championships? Or will Captain Shawn Dean & Carlie Bravo march through these Gates on their own path to gold?

The teams sort out, Carlie starts against Kaun, and Carlie gets an “OORAH!” from San Jose. Kaun and Carlie tie up, go around, and Kaun waistlocks. Carlie wrenches to a wristlock, then shifts to a headlock. Kaun powers out, and the two reset. The fans rally up, the two tie up and Carlie waistlocks. Kaun wrenches out to wrench again. Carlie rolls, handsprings, and wrenches back to a wristlock. Carlie headlocks, but Kaun fights the takeover. Kaun powers up but can’t power out as Carlie holds tight. Carlie grinds the hold, stomps a foot, and hits a takeover! The fans rally, Kaun fights up, and Kaun fires body shots.

Kaun powers out, then follows Carlie to run him over! The fans cheer, and things speed up. Carlie hurdles, but Kaun blocks the hip toss. Carlie blocks a hip toss but Kaun dodges the lariat to RAM Carlie, then UPPERCUT! Snap suplex, cover, TWO! Kaun drags Carlie up, tags Liona, and The Gates whip Carlie to a corner. Then they bring Carlie up to DOUBLE HIP TOSS! The fans rally and Liona stands Carlie up. Liona throws a BODY SHOT, another BODY SHOT, then winds up, but Carlie braces himself. So Liona LARIATS! The fans fire up while Liona stalks Carlie. Liona drags Carlie up, scoops, but Carlie slips free. CARLIE CROSSOVER!

Hot tag to Dean and he dodges Liona! Dean fires forearms, UPPERCUTS, and an ENZIGIRI! Liona staggers, swings, but Dean dodges. Dean floats to the DDT! Dean kips up, but Liona stands! The fans fire up, and Liona SUPERKICKS Dean! Liona drags Dean up, TOSSES him to the corner, then tags Kaun. Kaun SLAPS Liona to fire him up, and sends Liona in to SPLASH! Drop toehold and SPLASHDOWN! Kaun then slingshot SENTONS! Cover, TWO! Dean survives but Kaun looms over him. The fans rally but Kaun CHOPS Dean. Dean goes to a corner, Kaun runs up, but Dean puts him on the apron.

Kaun ROCKS Dean, BOOTS Carlie, but Dean runs up to BLAST Kaun down! Then Dean ELBOWS Liona! Liona storms in, but Carlie whips Kaun into railing! Carlie then drags Kaun up to toss him into the ring. The fans rally, Dean drags Kaun up, and Dean RAMS Kaun into a corner. Tag to Carlie and he CHOPS! The fans duel as Carlie CHOPS again! Carlie stomps a mudhole into Kaun, digs his boot in, then tags Dean. Dean stomps Kaun, drags Kaun up, and The Infantry double suplex! Cover, TWO! Dean clamps onto Kaun and grinds him down with a chinlock. Kaun endures, the fans rally up, and Kaun rises.

Kaun fires body shots, powers up and Carlie tags in. Dean whips, but Kaun KICKS Carlie! Dean blocks a kick, hands it to Carlie, ENZIGIRI! Carlie slips around to NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! The fans fire up and Carlie snarls. Carlie drags Kaun up, wrenches and hits a back suplex. Kaun lands out to kick low and DDT! The fans fire up while both men are down! Kaun and Carlie crawl, hot tags to Liona and Dean! Liona CLOBBERS Dean, CLOBBERS him again, then DECKS Carlie! Liona whips Carlie but Carlie KICKS! Liona spins through to LARIAT! Liona fireman’s carries and fans fire up, but here comes Dean!

Dean fires hands, but Liona just kicks him back! Liona then scoops Dean, and the fans fire up for the FALL AWAY SLAM SAMOAN DROP COMBO! Dean tumbles out and the fans fire up again! But then Dean YANKS Kaun down! No tag for Liona and the ref reprimands. Carlie dodges Linoa, Dean jumps in, Cap & Bucky combo! Liona falls, Carlie points out Kaun. Kaun dodges Dean to SHOTGUN Carlie! Dean JUMP KNEES Kaun, then whips. Kaun reverses, Liona is back, SAMOAN DROP! The fans fire up with The Gates, and they drag Dean up! OPEN THE GATES! Cover, Gates of Agony win!

Winners: The Gates of Agony, by pinfall

The Infantry took the fight to The Gates but the Gates are still standing! But The Cameroonian Prince and the Samoan Lion are not done, they will face two teams tomorrow night. Will Kaun & Liona go on a Rampage and come out the winners?

Leyla Hirsch speaks.

“It’s been awhile. But thankfully now, everything is good. The last two months were a bit rough, though. At Death Before Dishonor, I dislocated my shoulder. And in that match, in the end, I didn’t know if I was gonna be able to get back up. But I did. Once again, I showed everybody who I am. The first ever female Texas Deathmatch. I didn’t just participate, I won that match. So going forward, I am going to regain all the momentum that I had, and once and for all, become a champion here in ROH.” The comeback is about to be LEGIT, but what will it take for her to finally be a legit champion?

Rocky Romero VS Brandon Cutler!

Azucar has been feeling pretty sweet helping his friends in The Conglomeration, though not even he could thwart all of The Learning Tree’s Branches last night. Tonight, he’s got the Stockton Kings’ mascot, Dunkson, backing him up! Will Rocky get to dunk on The Young Bucks’ good friend/henchman?

But as Cutler makes his entrance, he is on the mic saying, “Oh, what do we have in my ring? What is in here? I see a cowardly lion, and I see a mascot of pro-wrestling. Yeah, that’s you, Rocky Romero. I see you parading around all these companies. AEW, NJPW, CMLL. Oh, you think you’re cool because you know a little lucha~ libre~? Well, I learned lucha libre on the mean streets of Rancho Cucamonga! Southern California!” The fans laugh at that, but Cutler still thinks he can run circles around Rocky. Because Rocky’s in Cutler’s domain, ROH, where they respect The Code of Honor. Rocky can’t do anything to Cutler until they shake hands.

That’s right! No lucha, no Strong Style, until they shake hands! Rocky shakes Cutler’s hand, and then Cutler tries a cheap shot! Rocky blocks that kick and Cutler freaks out! The bell rings, Rocky spins Cutler around and headlocks. Cutler powers up and out but Rocky runs him over! Rocky gives some Latino Heat before things speed up. Cutler hurdles, Rocky leaps over, and things keep moving. Rocky wheelbarrows then arm-drags! Rocky dodge Cutler, springboards and CROSSBODIES! Cutler stands, swings, but misses! Rocky runs to RANA! The fans fire up and Rocky ducks a haymaker. Rocky waistlocks but Cutler grabs ropes.

Cutler protests to the ref to get Rocky off him. The ref steps in, but Cutler gets a cheap shot on Rocky! Cutler throws hands, whips Rocky, but Rocky reverses. Cutler goes up and up and leaps, into a BODY SHOT! The fans fire up and Rocky wags his finger at Cutler. Cutler rises, Rocky goes up and up, and CROSSBODIES! Not the cleanest, but Rocky throws down fists! The fans cheer Rocky, but Cutler CLAWS Rocky’s eyes! The ref reprimands but Cutler mocks the fans chanting. Cutler fires hands, whips, and scoops Rocky for a BACKBREAKER! Cutler flexes while fans boo, and Cutler dances it out before he DABS AND ELBOW DROPS!

The fans boo but Cutler pushes Rocky to a cover, TWO! Cutler clamps onto Rocky with a chinlock but Rocky endures. Cutler shifts to a SLEEPER, but Rocky still fights. The fans rally, Rocky fights up, and Rocky fires body shots. Rocky KICKS a leg, KICKS it again, but Cutler knees low. Cutler goes up and up again, to CROSSBODY FLOP as Rocky moves! Rocky then builds speed, to DIVE! Direct hit and Cutler tumbles to the ramp! The fans fire up with Rocky, and Rocky high-fives Dunkson! Rocky puts Cutler in, winds up and runs in at the corner, LARIAT! Rocky keeps going, LARIAT! Rocky’s still going, but Cutler ducks!

Rocky bounces off buckles, and he comes back to LARIAT Cutler! The fans fire up again and Rocky brings Cutler up. Rocky cravats, but Cutler powers out. Rocky goes up and over, comes back, but into a BOOT! Cutler high-stacks, but he puts feet on the ropes! Dunkson points it out, the ref sees, and the count stops! The fans cheer but Cutler is upset with Dunkson! But Dunkson is a lion, not a cheetah! Rocky rolls Cutler up! TWO!! Cutler escapes, but Rocky SOBATS! KICKS! Cutler ducks a haymaker to ROCK Rocky! Cutler whips and scoops, but Rocky tilt-o-whirls through to DDT! The fans fire up again as Cutler staggers up! RUNNING SHIRANUI! Cover, Rocky wins!

Winner: Rocky Romero, by pinfall

Dunkson celebrates with Rocky, everyone is feeling like Kings tonight! But will Rocky fight his way back to a championship opportunity in the near future?

Lee Johnson & EJ Nduka VS Bret Hankins & Jiah Jewell!

Big Shotty needed backup, so he called on The Judge! #LEE-J makes their tag team debut, will the bring down the hammer on the ROH Tag Division?

The teams sort out and Lee starts against Bret. The Code of Honor is not upheld by Bret, and the bell rings. Lee and Bret circle, Bret goes for a leg but Lee stays back. Bret swaggers a bit in his singlet, and the two tie up. Lee waistlocks, Bret switches, but Lee switches back to SLAM Bret down. The fans fire up while Lee holds on. Bret rolls, but Lee holds on. Bret rolls back to hook a leg and cover, TWO! The two stand and reset, and the fans rally up. Lee and Bret circle, tie up again, and Lee headlocks for the takeover. Bret headscissors, Lee kips free, and hits another takeover! Bret headscissors again, Lee kips free again, and Lee wrenches an arm.

Lee wristlocks, tags EJ, and the fans fire up! Bret hurries away to tag in Jiah! The fans really fire up now, and Jiah runs in, into an UPPERCUT! EJ says Jiah must be joking. EJ drags Jiah up, whips him to ropes, but Jiah ducks ‘n’ dodges to LARIAT! Jiah hurts his arm more than anything! EJ thinks Jiah is a bit crazy, but the fans chant, “One More Time! One More Time!” Jiah fires up, runs, and LARIATS! But again, Jiah takes more damage than EJ. Jiah says third time’s the charge! Jiah runs, but EJ follows to CLOBBER Jiah! The fans fire up, and EJ wrenches Jiah to WRING him out! EJ drags Jiah up to tag Lee.

Lee goes up the corner, and he AX HANDLES Jiah’s arm! Lee wrenches, wristlocks, but Jiah SLAPS Lee! The fans fire up as Jiah BOOTS Lee to a corner. Jiah RAMS into Lee, Bret tags in, and Bret stomps Lee. Bret fires body shots, then runs up to UPPERCUT! Bret pushes Lee around, taunts him, and Jiah tags in. Jiah does the gator clap, the Crazy Cajun runs in to SPLASH Lee! Jiah brings Lee around, Bret tags in and the two mug Lee. The ref reprimands but Bret talks trash. Lee kicks low, ROCKS Bret, but Bret kicks back. Tag back to Jiah, Jiah & Bret DOUBLE SUPLEX, but Lee lands out! Hot tag to EJ!

The Judge CLOBBERS Bret & Jiah! And then UPPERCUT for Jiah! EJ just shows uppercut and Bret falls! EJ UPPERCUTS Jiah again! EJ and Bret hit each other, and Bret runs. Only for EJ to SPINEBUSTER! Jiah runs up, but EJ CLOBBERS him with a flying shoulder! EJ aims as Jiah flounders, and Lee tags in. EJ runs up, SPLASH! Lee adds a CHOP LARIAT! Then feed to the fireman’s carry, ROLLING DEATH VALLEY! PENALTY KICK! STANDING MOONSAULT! The fans fire up with Lee, and then he secret handshakes with EJ! They stand Jiah up, whip, SPINEBUSTER NECKBREAKER!! Cover, #LEE-J wins!

Winners: Lee Johnson & EJ Nduka, by pinfall

As the theme song says, they are unstoppable and undeniable! Will Big Shotty & The Judge be running ROH soo enough?

ROH Rewind – ROH Women’s World Championship: Mercedes Martinez VS Athena!

As part of tonight’s celebration for the 700+ DAY REIGN, we look back to how it all started! The OG Badass and The Fallen Goddess went to war at Final Battle 2022, relive the Age of Athena’s origin story!

The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and Athena offers the Code of Honor handshake. Mercedes takes it, the fans cheer, and the bell rings. Mercedes and Athena circle while fans rally for their Texas Goddess. Athena swings but Mercedes leans back to dodge, and Mercedes ROCKS Athena back! Mercedes fires forearms, then CHOPS Athena in the corner! Athena staggers to a corner, Mercedes stomps away, but fans boo. The ref counts, Mercedes lets off and she drags Athena up to bump her off buckles. Mercedes CHOPS Athena again, then ROCKS her with forearm after forearm!

Athena shoves Mercedes, ELBOWS her, then puts her in the corner. Athena blocks a kick and CHOPS Mercedes back! Fans fire up but Mercedes scowls. Athena brings her out of the corner but Mercedes UPPERCUTS her back! Athena scowls and throws a forearm. Mercedes throws a forearm back! The fans rally as the forearms go back and forth, with a “YAY!” for Athena and a “BOO!” for Mercedes! Mercedes gets the edge, but Athena pokes her in the eyes! The ref reprimands, Athena apologizes, but then she DECKS Mercedes! Athena rains down fists while fans fire up! Mercedes shoves her away but Athena stomps and kicks and CLUBS her back down!

Mercedes goes to a corner, fans fire up as Athena scowls. Athena drags Mercedes up, wrenches an arm and whips Mercedes corner to corner, to then forearm! Athena keeps moving, she KNEES Mercedes into the ropes! Fans fire up with Athena and she goes to the far corner. Athena runs back in to handspring and CHOP! Athena is having fun and the fans are fired up! Athena brings Mercedes up and out to suplex but Mercedes slips off. Mercedes waistlocks, Athena bucks her, but runs into a SPINEBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Mercedes is annoyed but she drags Athena up to CLUB her in the chest again and again!

Fans boo but Mercedes turns Athena over to hook up a leg. Athena resists, but Mercedes clamps on the CROSSFACE! Athena endures the OG STF, fans rally up, and Athena pulls hair! Athena CLUBS Mercedes, fires off forearms, and is free of the hold! Mercedes runs in but Athena drop toeholds her onto ropes! Fans fire up while Mercedes clutches a leg. Athena runs in to BASEMENT METEORA! Fans fire up as Athena climbs up! Mercedes BOOTS Athena first! Athena gets stuck on the ropes, Mercedes sits her up and then climbs up after her. Mercedes CLUBS away on Athena but fans boo.

Mercedes taunts the fans and then waistlocks Athena, but Athena holds the ropes! Mercedes CLUBS Athena more, tries again, but Athena flails and throws elbows! Athena adjusts, kicks Mercedes but Mercedes holds on! Mercedes drags Athena up, CLUBS away, but Athena hits back with body shots. Athena slips under and brings Mercedes up, but now Mercedes holds ropes! Mercedes rains down fists, adjusts her footing, but Athena uses that to hit the POWERBOMB! Athena drags Mercedes back up, suplexes, GOURD BUSTER! Mercedes flounders and Athena tunes up the band. SUPERKICK! Cover, TWO!!

Mercedes survives Athena’s Sweet Chin remix but Athena drags Mercedes up. Mercedes rolls, Athena waistlocks, but Mercedes fights the lift. Mercedes throws elbows, Athena shoves her then follows, but Mercedes ROCKS Athena with a forearm! Then HALF ‘N’ HALF SUPLEXES! Athena roars as she staggers up, but into an EXPLODER! Fans boo as Mercedes suplexes Athena again, for a BRAINBUSTER!! Cover, TWO!! Athena survives and fans fire up! Mercedes scowls as she looms over Athena. Mercedes drags Athena around, ties up the legs, PRISM TRAP!! Mercedes leans on that hold but Athena pushes up!

Athena rolls and sends Mercedes into ropes again! Fans fire up while Mercedes sputters. Mercedes crawls to the apron but Athena follows. Athena POSTS Mercedes, then reels her back in, for an APRON BACK SUPLEX! Fans fire up again and Athena roars! Athena drags Mercedes out, fans fire up and Athena tells people to move. Athena RAMS Mercedes into railing by the timekeeper! Fans fire up, Athena waves and runs in, but Mercedes moves! Athena dropkicks only railing! Both women slowly rise as the 20 count reaches 7. Mercedes drags Athena up, CLUBS her, then refreshes the ring count.

Mercedes puts Athena on the railing, for a MAGIC SCREW to the floor! Athena writhes and Mercedes grins while fans boo. Mercedes leaves Athena behind to get in the ring. Mercedes soaks up the heat from Arlington, and even takes a bow. Athena stirs as the count rises, and fans rally as Athena rises. The count is 7 of 20, Athena hurries up at 9 and in! Mercedes is right after her but Athena rolls Mercedes! TWO, and Mercedes CLOBBERS Athena! Fans boo as Mercedes drags Athena back up. Mercedes short arm LARIATS! And then again! And then again! Mercedes looms over Athena again, then turns her back over.

Mercedes hooks up the legs, she SLAPS Athena to get the arms. Mercedes pulls Athena up into the BRASS- NO, Athena blocks the arm to BITE the arm!! The ref reprimands, Mercedes lets Athena go to CLUB her on the back. Mercedes back suplexes but Athena lands out of it! Athena brings Mercedes around to a gut wrench! CODE BREAKER!! Cover, ROPEBREAK!!! Athena didn’t realize and fans boo that Mercedes survives. Athena gets mad at the ref but the ref warns her. Athena lets the ref go to rip a buckle pad off! Athena TOSSES the pad, free souvenir for a fan! Athena then drags Mercedes up and brings her over.

Mercedes whips Athena away, to POP-UP SPINEBUSTER! High stack, TWO!! Athena survives, fans tell whoever got the buckle pad to “GIVE IT BACK!” Athena grabs at the ref, he gets away, and Athena YANKS Mercedes at the bare buckle! Mercedes stops herself but Athena SHOTGUNS her into the bare buckle!! Athena climbs while Mercedes is down, but Athena wants Mercedes to stand! Mercedes does, for the O-FACE!! Cover, ATHENA WINS!!

Winner: Athena, by pinfall (NEW ROH Women’s World Champion)

And the rest, as they say, is history! And in this case, that’s literal, because now The Fallen Goddess is THE longest reigning champion in ROH history, regardless of gender or division! But will Athena truly be the Forever Champion?

Billie Starkz is in the ring.

The scene is already set with a table, cake, balloons, and MIT security. Billie has the mic to say with forced enthusiasm, “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the first celebration of the ROH longest reigning Women’s’ Champion, Athena…” The fans cheer, and here comes said champion! And she’s still chained to “Minion Bestie” Lexy Nair? Did they stay chained together the last seven days? Athena still revels in the cheers of the other “minions,” then steps into the ring with Lexy. Some of the Minions in Training shoot off confetti poppers but that spooks Athena! Athena is not good with surprises right now, given Abadon’s been haunting her…

But as things calm down, Lexy says everyone is very excited to celebrate Athena, so she will now introduce the official MIT dance team! Five, four, three, two, one, HIT IT! The dance team dances, not at all together, and not all that well, either… Lexy stays stop, cut the music! STOP! Athena asks, “What is this garbage?! I thought we were supposed to be getting Ja Rule. We talked about this! Living it up with Ja Rule! And yet I get this garbage? This trash!? Get outta my ring, Minions! NOW!” The dance team scurries away, Lexy is a bit embarrassed, and Athena says this was supposed to be her day! Her moment of celebration!

Her parents were supposed to be here, but her mom thought it was more important to have a major surgery than celebrate the ONLY success she has ever had in life! The fans boo but Athena says her mom is selfish! And where is the ROH Women’s Division? Did they really call a no show? Even after Athena lifted each and every one of them out of mediocrity!? How ungrateful! Yeah, they still suck, but Athena did the best she could with what she had, and she cannot do the Lord’s work. Lexy says Athena is amazing. Athena says this is just crazy. Without Athena, there would be NO ROH Women’s Division! Hell, there wouldn’t be an ROH!

Athena says day in and day out, despite people thinking she’s content, she is not. She always wants more! She busts hussies and she does her damn job! The fans cheer that! Athena says she is the Best in the World! She is the Greatest of All Time! And yet, there are people who wanna call her overrated! She is NOT overrated, she is UNDERAPPRECIATED. Lexy agrees and so do the fans. Athena is spiraling a bit as she says, “It’s crazy, it’s crazy, it’s crazy.” Fun fact: Without Athena, Your Forever Champion, the LONGEST reigning champion in ROH…! She has not been pinned or submitted in almost TWO YEARS!

So where are her damn flowers!? Where is her recognition!? Where is her tribute and appreciation!? Athena is huffing and puffing and again saying this is crazy. Then she says the people here SUCK, she doesn’t know why she bothered being in this Podunk town! This party SUCKS! And this is all BILLIE’s fault! Athena sees how Billie looks at her! Billie is jealous of everything Athena has accomplished in her career! SHUT UP, this is her time!! The fans start chanting for Billie, but Athena says no no no no, this isn’t about Billie. Billie wishes she was Athena. Billie is jealous because even on her best day, she couldn’t do a tenth of what Athena has this past year!

Athena keeps poking Billie in the shoulder as she talks at her, but Billie snatches the mic! The fans cheer, and Billie stares Athena down. Billie says y’know what? She’s DONE! Billie SHOVES Athena, then bails! The fans cheer but Athena tells Billie to get back here! Billie has finally got out from under Athena’s thumb but Lexy says this is still a great, wonderful night. Who knows what got into Billie, but they still have a present for Athena. Everyone worked really hard on it, and tada! They redid the original ROH Women’s World Championship belt, with Athena’s picture right on the front! And better yet, it’s a SPINNER~!

Athena loves it! She hugs it out with Lexy and the fans cheer. But then ABADON IS HERE!! Athena & Lexy panic, hurry out of the ring, and Lexy hides under it? Athena is still convinced, or perhaps in denial, that Abadon is after Lexy. But then where is The Living Dead Girl? Athena calms down, maybe it’s another fake out like last week. Athena calls Lexy back up as the music stops, but something pulls on the chain. IT’S ABADON! Athena freaks out and runs back into the ring, but she’s changed to Abadon! What’d Abadon do to Lexy!? Abadon reels Athena in for a LARIAT! The fans fire up and Abadon brings Athena up again.

Abadon ROCKS Athena, kicks the legs out, then brings Athena in! BLACK DAHLIA!! The fans fire up as Abadon stands over the Fallen Goddess! Abadon then notices the cake. Abadon undoes the cuff, and as the fans chant “CAKE! CAKE! CAKE!” Abadon picks it up, to SMASH it in Athena’s face! The fans fire up as Abadon shrieks, then tastes the cake. Abadon picks up the ROH Women’s World Championship, licks that, then drops it on Athena. Will Abadon do more than just ruin the celebration? Will Athena’s Forever Reign not last forever at all?

Mark Briscoe speaks.

It was after Dynamite last night, and The Sussex County Chicken was bloodied from the Ladder War. Mark grit his teeth as he struggled to even stand, and surprisingly, he couldn’t find the words. Mark heads out, but will he ever return for the ROH World Championship?

ROH World Television Championship: Brian Cage VS Komander w/ Alex Abrahantes!

The Machine took this title at WrestleDream, and to his word, he is a fighting champion! The Commander of the Skies overcame Willie Mack last week to earn this shot, will he overcome another big man here tonight? Or will there still be no answer to “Who Betta Than Cage?”

The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who gets their stuff in!

The Code of Honor is upheld, the bell rings, and the two circle. The fans rally up and Cage swings. Komander dodges to fire CHOP after CHOP after CHOP! But Cage doesn’t even flinch! Cage UPPERCUTS Komander down, then brings him up to DECK him! Komander goes to a corner, Cage ROCKS him and stalks him. Cage pushes Komander to a corner, stomps away, then stalks Komander along ropes. Cage whips but Komander goes up and out! Komander lands safe on the apron, springboards in, but Cage catches the rana! Komander sunset flips, but Cage stays up. Cage YANKS Komander up and over to THROW!

The fans fire up as Cage flexes, but Abrahantes coaches Komander. Cage drags Komander up, RAMS him into the corner, then RAMS him again! The ref counts, Cage lets off, and then CHOPS! The fans fire up and chant “One More Time!” Cage puts Komander in a corner, to wind up, and stomp instead! Cage does what he wants, not what fans want. Cage CLUBS Komander, brings him around, but Komander kicks, KICKS and JUMP SOBATS! Komander runs, springboards, but into Cage’s arms! Cage does curls with Komander to then FALL AWAY SLAM! Komander flounders and Cage again brags, “Who Betta Than Cage?”

Cage paces, drags Komander up, and Cage bumps Komander off buckles. Cage stands Komander up to LARIAT again and again and again! The ref counts, so Cage short arm LARIATS! Cage tells Abrahantes to suck it, then he steps on Komander. The ref reprimands as Cage stands on Komander’s head, but Cage steps away. The fans rally up, Cage smirks as he stalks Komander, and Cage drags Komander back up. Cage whips then ELBOWS Komander down! Cage mocks the fans cheering on Komander, then cocky covers, TWO! Komander stays in this but Cage drags him up again. Cage gorilla presses Komander, to TOSS him out of the ring!

Komander flounders away and Cage lounges on the ropes. Cage lets the count handle this, and Abrahantes coaches Komander. Komander clutches a hip and knee, that ten foot fall had to have jammed up something. Cage goes out to fetch Komander, drags him up, and whips him into railing! Komander falls, Cage lets out a “WOO~” and the fans echo it. The fans want that “One More Time!” so of course Cage sends Komander back into the same railing! Cage mockingly apologizes to the fans, and he drags Komander up. Cage gorilla presses again, to TOSS Komander into ropes! Komander flops into the ring while Cage soaks up cheers and jeers.

Cage backs Abrahantes off, then flexes as he steps back into the ring., But Komander KICKS from below! Komander kips up to ENZIGIRI! Komander runs, but Cage catches him! Cage TOSSES Komander to the corner, then UPPERCUTS, GAMANGIRIS, and GERMAN SUPLEXES! Komander lands out! Komander basement DROPKICKS Cage! The fans fire up but Cage gets mad! Komander dodges Cage, Cage blocks a boot, but not the ENZIGIRI! Komander knuckle locks, he KICKS the legs, then goes up, up, around and FLYING DRAGON RANA! The fans fire up as Cage bails out, and Komander builds speed! Komander DIVES!

The fans fire up as Komander topples Cage! Komander fires up, finds Cage, and whips, but Cage reverses. Komander slides into the ring, Cage follows, but Komander KICKS, KICKS, and springboards to SPLASH! Komander keeps moving, LIONSAULT! Cover, ONE!! Komander can’t believe it, but Abrahantes coaches him up. Cage flounders to ropes, Komander hurries to a corner and climbs up. Komander tightrope walks, but Cage trips him up! Komander is stuck up top, and Cage CLOBBERS him! Komander falls to the apron, but Cage drags him up. Cage asks San Jose, “Who’s an effin’ machine, huh!?” Then he DEADLIFT SUPERPLEXES Komander!

The fans fire up, Cage pushes Komander to a cover, TWO!! Komander survives and Cage seethes. Cage starts the Terminator Drums, the fans rally up, and Cage drags Komander up again. Cage puts one out, lifts Komander up, but Komander slips free! Komander kicks, Cage blocks, and Cage KNEES Komander in return! Cage puts Komander up top, then CHOPS! Komander wobbles, Cage goes up after him, and Cage again asks who’s a machine. But Komander slips under, KICKS the legs, then YANKS Cage down! Cage hits buckles, and Komander springboards! SEATED SENTON! BUZZSAW! Cage flops, Komander goes to a corner!

The fans fire up as Komander runs back in, goes up and up and PHOENIX SPLASHES! Cover, ONE?!?! Cage survives and roars! But Komander KICKS, BUZZSAWS, and goes back to a corner! The fans fire up as Komander climbs. Komander tightrope walks for CIELITO LINDO!! Cover, TWO!! Cage sits up and rolls back with Komander to deadlift him again! POP-UP POWERBOMB! And then a deadlift for a POWERBOMB! Another deadlift POWERBOMB! And then a deadlift into a fireman’s carry! F10!! Cover, Cage wins!

Winner: Brian Cage, by pinfall (still ROH World Television Champion)

Komander feebly moved his arm at 3.1, proof of a fighting spirit that’s stronger than his body. Cage has the body, he has the belt, but will he be unstoppable now that he is the King of ROH Television?

My Thoughts:

A very good ROH, coming in at just an hour and 20 minutes, and that is even after adding an ROH Rewind match. Great choice in Mercedes Martinez VS Athena from Final Battle 2022, mostly because I already covered that match and was able to copy-paste. But it also segued into the Celebration of Athena segment, which was an okay segment. Crowd didn’t really care for the comedic start with the horrible dance team, and I was so-so on it. But everything Athena said about being the backbone of ROH and then Billie finally standing up for herself was great stuff. As was the switcheroo of Abadon and Lexy.

Abadon of course ruins the already bad celebration, and it’s now just a matter of when and where Abadon VS Athena happens. If they’d paced this out better, it’d be Fright Night Dynamite, or even next week for Halloween ROH. But whenever Athena VS Abadon happens, I’m sure Athena finds a way to retain, and then we build towards Athena VS Billie Round 2, one year in the making, at Final Battle 2024. Great news that Leyla Hirsch is on her way back, she can start on a great journey for a title shot, but at this point, she’ll be going for the ROH Women’s Television Championship first.

Great tag match from Gates of Agony VS Infantry, with Infantry showing a touch more Heel tendencies like attacking on the outside and behind the ref’s back. But great win for Gates of Agony going into the Triple Threat Tag on Rampage. Kaun & Liona don’t have to be Faces, but the crowd sure liked them tonight so there’s clearly support for Face Gates of Agony. Wrestling fans just like big guys who can demolish opponents and that’s Kaun & Liona. In which case, EJ Nduka has a bright future, he could’ve easily handled Bret & Jiah on his own, but he and Lee make a great combo already, and that spinebuster neckbreaker was good stuff.

Really good match from Reyna Isis VS Viva Van, the friendship of CMLL and ROH is going strong. Rocky VS Cutler was a really good, really fun match, especially with the basketball mascot, Dunkson, there. Rocky of course won, maybe he can get going in a title scene at some point. And while Mark didn’t say anything in his promo, that was itself a strong, compelling move. And Brian Cage VS Komander was a great main event, but naturally Cage retains the title in his first defense. I still kinda wished it was Cage VS Mack here, but maybe they’re saving Cage VS Mack for a later, bigger defense.

My Score: 8.7/10