So things can’t get much worse than last week unless this ends up a negative score. Hopefully we got the filler episode or the TNA equivalent of A Feast for Crows, out of the way. I’d like at least a high school level attempt at logically telling a story, not bad promos and story beats almost as bad as Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail.

The show kicks off with the Knockouts title match featuring Lish. Now while I’m not gonna put Lish over for her ringwork, but her character work is great. So being a NO DQ match, we should get more gimmick and less “work rate”. I will just make it known before the show happens, I am very sick of Tommy Dreamer’s booking (or whoever really has it). Literally none of the stories matter, they aren’t consistent with the storytelling and are squandering the brand equity and good faith returning to TNA has granted them. Lots of potentially decent pieces on this roster, just booking is written by a blind kindergartner who’s just pulling a lever on a See ‘N Say and making that an angle.

The Rascalz and KUSHIDA are confident heading into #TNATurningPoint! @ZacharyWentz @TheTreyMiguel

Watch #TNAiMPACT on TNA+: https://t.co/7N7e9L00hs pic.twitter.com/Av19OnPnHt

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) November 22, 2024

Ratings:

• TNA Knockouts Championship NO DQ Match: Masha Slamovich (c) vs Alisha Edwards: Masha retains via Package Piledriver – ** 1/2
• ASH by Elegance w/Personal Concierge & Heather vs Jody Threat w/Dani Luna: ASH wins via Rarefied Air – **
• Rhino vs Frankie Kazarian: Kaz wins via School Boy w/ Feet on ropes – ** 1/4
• Moose & JDC vs Leon Slater & Laredo Kid: Slater wins via La Magistral – *
• Savannah Evans vs Brittany Jade: Evans wins via Full Nelson Bomb – SQUASH
• The Hardy Boyz & Ace Austin vs Birminghammer Daddies (Hammerstone, Jake Something & Trent Seven): Trent wins via Birminghammer – ***

Results:

TNA Knockouts Championship NO DQ Match: Masha Slamovich (c) vs Alisha Edwards

Lish starts off during the introductions, hits a big Forearm and starts laying into Masha in the corner. Lish grabs Kendra, takes a swing, but Masha ducks it and gets a little bit of revenge before a trash can lid stalls Masha’s Suicida. Lish throws Masha back in the ring, along with a chair. Throat Chop from Lish, followed up with a DDT onto the chair and Lish gets an early two count. Lish puts the chair in the corner, bounces Masha’s face off of it a few times before trying to set up for a Corner Crossbody, but Masha moves and Lish eats the chair. Masha grabs a trash can, pops the crowd and tries something but Lish puts the brakes on the initial attack before Masha just smashes Lish’s face into the can, sets her up in the corner, looks for a Superplex through the can, but Lish block and gouges the eyes, slips between her legs and the Avalanche Powerbomb onto the can gives Lish another two count!

Kendra comes into play again, a few quick cracks just seems to piss off Masha, she fires, grabs the kendo stick from Lish and beats on her a few times before the Package Piledriver seals the deal and Masha retains!

Tasha Steelz attacks after the pinfall, so Jordynne makes the save for Masha so they can have a moment before their match at Turning Point. 

ASH by Elegance w/Personal Concierge & Heather vs Jody Threat w/Dani Luna

ASH plays the powder to annoy the babyface gimmick, but after the second time Jody steps on ASH’s hand when she tries to quickly break the count and powder again. A few suplexes give Jody the early advantage, but she misses the Spear into the corner and posts herself. Heather uses the moment of distraction to hit Jody with a Neckbreaker and ASH grabs a cheap two count. ASH works Jody over in a corner, distracts the referee again so Heather attacks one more time. The crowd is surprisingly loud for a Jody comeback…but ASH does the ole hair slam into a Headlock.

Jody finally powers up for the comeback, rope spot with the Knees to the back and German Suplex but ASH uses the hair pull to stop Jody from continuing…momentarily. Jody is beating on ASH in the corner, perches ASH, looks for the Superplex but Heather tries to get into the ring to distract the referee, Concierge helps to anchor ASH, so ASH fights off Jody, hits Rarefied Air and wins the match!

Mike Santana comes out for a promo, and about a minute into, the stupid channel switches into Picture in Picture mode. DURING A PROMO. So I have no clue if anything being said is clever, well done or why Frankie Kazarian showed up. Anthem needs to get their act together, this is embarrassing. Apparently we come back in time for the punchline and because they’re both gunning for the World Title Santana challenges Kaz to a Turning Point match because “no nights off”? What kind of moron e-fed story is this? And Tom throws to Picture in Picture as soon as Rhino comes out to kick off the Kaz match…but the commercial break already happened. Sad.

Rhino vs Frankie Kazarian

Lots of stalling from Kaz, since this is supposed to be during PiP, so dumb stuff like powdering, opportunistic throwing Rhino face first into the steps…so on and so forth. Just slow paced dumb stuff until we’re supposed to be “back”, so now Rhino will start…yup Uppercut cuts off Kaz, Lariat, a few Knife Edge Chops into some Short Arm Shoulder Tackles. Kaz powders, tries to grab his Call Your Shot trophy, referee takes it away from him, Kaz runs into the ring and tries to grab his scarf, ref again disarms him but Kaz kicks the middle rope into Rhino for a near fall. Kaz starts laying in some fists and chokes with his shin, cocky cover for 2.

They start just throwing hands, because reasons…Rhino gets the best of it and connects with a few Lariats and a Shoulder Tackle into a Belly to Belly for a two count. The crowd is behind Rhino, a few more Lariats, Gore set up, but Kaz sidesteps it, School Boy with the feet on the ropes for the win.

.@SteveMaclin's journey of discovery forces him to confront elements of his past.

Watch #TNAiMPACT on TNA+: https://t.co/7N7e9L00hs pic.twitter.com/g82wDEBdnu

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) November 22, 2024

This vignette is hot garbage in my opinion. Trying to frame PTSD as trust issues in half baked choppy Netflix recap of a Burn Notice knockoff. 

Moose & JDC vs Leon Slater & Laredo Kid

Yeah this match is useless on paper. Laredo is such a filler enhancement talent and even if JDC could eat a pin against say Leon…there’s no way Leon is beating Moose for the X Division title. So aside from a time filler, this match serves no purpose.

JDC starts and eats offense from both Laredo and Leon, as is expected, but I really can’t be dragged into caring about this match. Laredo is joke, Leon is someone they want to hype up but he’s got no discernable personality aside from “British”. Laredo breaks up a pinfall attempt, John Woo Dropkicks JDC into the post after dodging a Spear, Moose catches a Laredo dive and turns it into an Apron Powerbomb, Leon flies over the post to wipe out Moose, locks up JDC in the La Magistral, and its over.

So as I alluded to, it’s technically just a way to set up a challenger for the X Division title, but even if the match is good, Leon shouldn’t beat Moose unless he brings a rifle. 

Hendry is out talking, as per usual, and doing his usual thanking the fans for believing and saying all the babyface things. Is definitely cookie cutter, he’s passionate so he sells the basic words well, but it’s basic shit.

Savannah Evans vs Brittany Jade

Skye Blue from wish is the jobber that Savannah gets to eat. Propels Jade across the ring, corner splashes a few times, throws her into the ropes, Jade goes for a Flying Headscissors but Savannah blocks the momentum and reverses it, Facebuster, Samoan Drop, and now Full Nelson Bomb to kill the jobber. There we go, no one is shocked and it didn’t really do anything for Savannah, it was more just a basic reminder of her power moves. Nothing flashy, so if Lei Ying Lee loses, then she’s dead in the water.

The Hardy Boyz & Ace Austin vs Birminghammer Daddies (Hammerstone, Jake Something & Trent Seven)

The Seven Star Hammer Daddies or Birminghammer Daddies…not sure which I like more. Think I’m leaning towards Birminghammer Daddies.

Hammer and Matt start, Matt has control, Jake tries to make the save but ends up eating the Delete Buckle Face Smashes. Matt tries to Double Coconut Jake and Hammer, but they no sell, beat their chests and drop Matt. Hammer works over Matt a little, tags in Trent and then Matt counters whatever Trent tries and gets Jeff in. Classic Senton/Legdrop Doubles, Jeff’s Low Dropkicks, and just typically classic Hardy stuff. Jeff looks for Twist of Fate, Bop and Bang counters, Trent hits a Flowsion and tags out to Jake. Jeff and Matt do some veteran tactics with a blind tag as Jake tries to chase Jeff. But the referee tells Jake that Jeff isn’t legal just in time for Matt to hit a Chop Block and tandem Hardy offense, Ace gets involved in some of the fun and finally gets tagged in. Ace has Jake in the corner, Hammer tries to break things up but Ace moves and Hammer collides with Jake, Trent gets sent in, Double Poetry on the stacked up heel team, they go for Twists in Triplicate…but the heels shove off and powder.

After the picture in picture, we know the heels had control with basic heel stuff, but Ace clears the apron with a big Double Dropkick, Enzuigiri to Trent to try and lunge, but Jake and Hammer pull the Hardys off the apron. Tandem Powerbomb from the Daddies, Trent hits the Seven Star Lariat, but Ace kicks out at two! Birminghammer attempt is slipped, X Plex attempt but Ace turns it into a Flatliner! Ace tags in Jeff and Trent didn’t look for the tag! Jeff hot tag, wipes out the apron, through the legs Double Leg Drop, Flashing Elbow, but the Daddies come in and we get to the signature spam moves for moves sake moment. Matt counters a tandem Back Body Drop with the Double DDT, Twists in Triplicate are hit, Swanton Bomb is called for but Jake and Hammer put a stop to that.

Ace tries to fly on the big men but they catch him, so Jeff gets up and connects the big splash to assist Ace. Plot Twist on Trent! Swanton Bomb from Jeff, 1-2-but Hammer and Jake pull out Ace. Hardys almost fall victim to the Final Chapter, but slip it and hit Stereo Twists of Fate. Referee is checking on the outside stuff, counters The Fold with a Low Blow, Birminghammer wins the match for the Birminghammer Daddies!

Hardyz try to attack Trent, but the big men stop them, they look to make an example out of the veterans, but Rascalz and Kushida make the save. 

Overall Score: 4.5/10

Still not what I would call a “good” episode, but at least there was a semblance of trying to remember stories they had going on, a couple alright promos and vignettes. But between the Picture in Picture mistiming, the Maclin vignette being inane and three matches in the middle that mean literally nothing in the grand scheme of things just makes the show feel both bloated and lacking at the same time. Genesis better be the start of a new booker, because literally everything since Scott left has been kinda stupid. A few obvious connections got made and that was fine, but the reimagining of The System swagger (or lack thereof), Hendry becoming the Tetsuya Naito of TNA and the desolate Knockouts Division really makes this a hard product to get any consistency out of much less tolerate what they hand us.

The main event was at least tolerable, give Trent and Ace something with Speedball leaving and Bey injured, and potentially setting up Hammer Daddies to challenge for the tag titles, I’m not mad at that. If I had a say in things, Hardyz should drop the belts to either Hammer Daddies or First Cla$$.

So this was better than last week, but that’s a low bar, and with next week being a Thanksgiving Special, this was technically the Go Home for Turning Point. So next Friday is hopefully a good show, because that card looks bad.

Will The Machine cancel the Whole Fox’n Show?

While The Don Callis Family was successful last night on Dynamite, Brian Cage must keep it up as he defends the ROH World TV Championship! Will AR Fox finally be the answer to “Who Betta Than Brian Cage?”

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Gabe Kidd VS Angelico; Gabe wins.
• Shane Taylor & Lee Moriarty w/ Shane Taylor Promotions VS JD Drake & BEEF; Shane & Lee win.
• Kevin Knight VS Serpentico; Knight wins.
• Tomohiro Ishii VS Mike Bennett; Ishii wins.
• ROH Rewind – The Briscoes VS Kensuke Sasaki & Katsuhiko Nakajima; The Briscoes win.
• Shingo Takagi VS Ariya Daivari w/ Mark Sterling; Takagi wins.
• ROH Women’s World Championship Proving Ground Match: Athena VS Leila Grey; Athena wins and denies Leila a title match.
• ROH World Television Championship: Brian Cage VS AR Fox; Cage wins and retains the title.

PLAY BY PLAY

Gabe Kidd VS Angelico!

The Mad Man is still NJPW Strong Openweight Champion after Fighting Spirit Unleashed and his war with Kosei Fujita. However, the South African Stud brings a much different vibe than The Japanese Young Punk. Will Angelico bring down this War Dog? Or will Gabe show ROH is not #WarReady?

The Code of Honor is NOT upheld as Gabe SLAPS Angelico! The bell rings and SLAPS Angelico, CHOPS him, then HEADBUTTS away on Angelico in the corner! The ref counts but Gabe reels Angelico in for an EXPLODER! The fans fire up while Angelico writhes, and Gabe talks trash. Gabe stomps Angelico, UPPERCUTS him, then UPPERCUTS again. Gabe HEADBUTTS Angelico, talks more trash, saying no one in AEW or ROH can beat him! The fans boo but Angelico KICKS Gabe in the leg! Gabe snarls, Angelico KICKS again, but Gabe UPPERCUTS! Gabe suplexes, but Angelico cradle counters! TWO!

Gabe storms up to DOUBLE CHOP! Angelico falls, Gabe covers, TWO! Gabe is already frustrated with Angelico but the fans rally. The fans cheer for “KENNY! KENNY!” but Gabe says F Kenny! Gabe CHOPS Angelico, CHOPS again, but Angelico fires body shots! Gabe HEADBUTTS Angelico, whips him to ropes, but Angelico reverses. Gabe rebounds, but Angelico dodges the comebacker to LARIAT! And LARIAT! Angelico KICKS, KICKS and SOBATS! The fans fire up for Angelico as he whips. Gabe reverses but Angelico rolls off his back! Gabe jumps the sweep but can’t duck the EDDY GORDO KICK! Cradle, TWO!

Gabe runs up again, but Angelico SWATS the lariat! Wrench and BIG back suplex! Angelico clamps onto Gabe, steps over, LA MAGISTROL! TWO!! Angelico can’t believe how close that was! But then he trips Gabe, steps through, but Gabe kicks him away! Gabe runs up to ROCK Angelico! Angelico ROUNDHOUSES! Gabe SAIDOS!! Cover, TWO! The fans fire up but Gabe drags Angelico up. “I’m a MAD MAN, y’know!” BRAINBUSTER! Cover, TWO?!? Angelico survives and Gabe is seething! Gabe mocks Omega’s finger gun, then runs up, but Angelico swings around! Gabe fights off the crucifix takedown!

Gabe fireman’s carries and swings Angelico, but Angelico sunset flips! High stack, into a jackknife! TWO!! Gabe reels Angelico in, PILEDRIVER!! Gabe holds on, that wasn’t enough for him, PILEDRIVER AGAIN!! Cover, Gabe wins!

Winner: Gabe Kidd, by pinfall

Angelico put up a fight, but it wasn’t enough to stop this Mad Man. Gabe stares through the camera, wanting to send a message to The Best Bout Machine. Will Gabe get that battle with Omega for WrestleKingdom? Will he still be NJPW Strong going into 2025?

Shane Taylor & Lee Moriarty w/ Shane Taylor Promotions VS JD Drake & BEEF!

STP is still looking to take over ROH while Scrap Metal is still just trying to understand Anthony Henry’s Second Cousin By Marriage. Will Big Bad Shaney T & #TAIGASTYLE show them how to rumble, bad man, rumble? Or can JD & Beef finally get cooking?

The teams sort out and Beef offers the Code of Honor. Shane SPITS on Beef’s hand and JD gets in Shane’s face about it. Beef wipes his hand off, and Lee at least keeps the Code of Honor. The teams settle down, and Shane starts against JD. They circle and the fans rally up, but Beef wants “Cousin” JD to tag him in. After all, Shane did spit on him! JD leaves alone how they aren’t cousins, and he tags Beef in. The fans fire up as Beef and Shane circle. They tie up, are in a deadlock, and Shane SLAMS Beef down! Shane taunts Beef, “Welcome to the big leagues, b*tch!” Beef and Shane reset, circle, and tie up again.

Shane powers Beef to the corner, the ref counts, and Shane lets off slowly. Shane CHOPS and grins. Beef CHOPS in return! And CHOPS again! And CHOPS again! Shane blocks that to short arm LARIAT! Shane talks more trash and he taunts JD, too. Shane tells Captain Dean that he smells new boots. So Shane stomps Beef’s new boots! Beef gets pissed, and he fires off haymakers! Shane BODY SHOTS Beef, pushes him, but Beef cartwheels and DROPKICKS! The fans fire up as Shane staggers, but Lee tags in. Lee runs up, but into an arm-drag! Beef has the armlock but Lee fights up. Lee ROCKS Beef, wrenches, and then drops to TWEAK the arm!

Lee runs up, but Beef catches Lee with the good arm! Beef RAMS Lee into the corner! Tag to JD, and JD feeds Lee to Beef’s HIP ATTACK! Beef says kiss this, and JD hits a FALLING HEADBUTT! Cover, TWO! JD puts Lee in a corner to CHOP! Lee pie faces JD! JD shoves Lee then CHOPS again! The fans fire up but Lee clamps on a headlock. Shane tags in as JD powers out. Lee goes Spider-Man, then BOOTS JD. Shane LARIATS JD down! Lee swings on Beef but Beef gets clear. The ref has to stop Beef from going after Lee, and that lets Dean CHOKE JD! STP gets away with all that, and then Shane fires hands in the corner.

The ref counts, Shane stops to then bring JD around. Shane ROCKS JD, CHOPS JD, but JD wakes up! JD pie faces Shane and eggs him on. Shane CHOPS, JD CHOPS, CHOPS, and CHOPS! Shane reels JD in, JD dodges the lariat but not the SOUTHPAW! Cover, TWO! Beef shouts to JD but Shane brings him away. Tag to Lee and Lee gives a Tenzan level MONGOLIAN CHOP! Lee runs to BOOT Beef! The fans boo but JD CHOPS Lee! JD storms up but Lee ELBOWS back! Lee bumps JD off buckles, CHOPS again, then RAMS JD into the corner. Shane tags back in and he fires knees into JD! Shane ROCKS JD, JD CHOPS back!

JD swings, Shane ducks, then HEADBUTTS! Beef shouts to his “cousin” but Shane swings! JD dodges, dodges the southpaw, and he SAIDOS! JD calls to Beef but Shane hot tags Lee! Lee intercepts JD, but JD dodges the leg lariat! Hot tag to Beef! The fans fire up as Beef fires ham hocks on Lee! Shane storms up but Beef dodges to JAB! JAB! JAB! The fans fire up and Beef flips, flops, and dodges Shane to LARIAT him out of the ring! Then he DECKS Lee! Beef climbs up to rain down fists! The fans cheer on “BEEF! BEEF! BEEF!” Then Beef BITES Lee! The fans cheer, the ref reprimands, but Beef whips to LARIAT and BULLDOG! Cover, TWO!

Beef calls to JD, and he tags JD in. Lee is on ropes, Beef runs for some SLOPPY STEAKS! JD hits a SPINEBUSTER on Lee! But Shane BLASTS Beef! JD tells him to stop that, then climbs a corner. JD MOONSAULTS but FLOPS as Lee moves! LEG LARIAT! Tag to Shane, and Shane reels JD in! MARCUS- NO, JD wrenches out to SLAP Shane! Shane DECKS JD!! And then URENAGE!! Shane runs to SPLASH DOWN! Cover, STP wins!

Winners: Shane Taylor & Lee Moriarty, by pinfall

JD & Beef served up a supersized fight, but Shane & Lee ate that for lunch! But now Dean joins in to beat down JD! Beef runs in to shield JD but he just gets stomped by everyone, even Trish Adora! But The Undisputed Kingdom rushes out here, with chairs! Matt Taven & Mike Bennett owe STP a little something something from prior weeks, and Taven still wants that ROH Pure Championship on top of it! Will Taven & Bennett humble STP? Or will STP soon rule over ROH?

The Righteous speak.

Vincent says, “Everybody knows we’re on the righteous path to become the ROH World Tag Team Champions. But before that, Dutch has a beautiful poem for you, Dustin.” Dutch says, “Hello, Dustin. It’s me, your long lost brother, Dutch! And now, we finally got you to pay attention. I remember 14 years ago, I sat in a locker room with my head in my hands, feeling broken, feeling lonely, feeling like I’d be able to walk that righteous path. But then I heard footsteps, and I heard the clang of a bell. I felt a hand on my shoulder, and out the corner of my eye, I saw a beautiful pair of cowboy boots. Then I heard a distinct voice.

“‘Son, everything is gonna be okay. I’ve always believed in you. Take this, because it’ll mean more to you than it will Dustin.’ And as I looked up and saw a tear rolling down The Dream’s cheek, in that moment, I realized that I made Daddy proud.” Dig what they’re saying, man? Dutch & Vincent taunt Dustin with Dusty’s cowbell, but will The Sons of Texas taunt them with the ROH World Tag Team Championships?

ROH Final Battle is set!

We have one month left before the final PPV of ROH’s calendar, and ROH is looking to make it a December to dismember! Friday, December 20th, ROH returns to the Hammerstein Ballroom in The Manhattan Center! Who in ROH will be headed to New York? And who will survive their Final Battle?

ROH Rewind – The Briscoes VS Kensuke Sasaki & Katsuhiko Nakajima!

With the news of Final Battle’s date and venue set, we flashback to Final Battle 12/27/08! Jay & Mark in their star-spangled shorts battled the then GHC Heavyweight Champion and the Kicking King when he was just a “Young Volcano!”

The New York, New York crowd is already fired up as Mark and Nakajima start. They circle, tie up, and Mark powers Nakajima to a corner. The ref counts, Mark lets off, and the fans applaud. The two circle again, feel things out, and tie up. Nakajima powers Mark back now, but lets off as the ref counts. Nakajima CHOPS Mark, but Mark brushes it off. Mark and Nakajima circle, Nakajima waistlocks but Mark pries free to wrench and arm-drag Nakajima for an armlock. Nakajima headscissors, Mark kips free, and the fans cheer again. They reset, circle, tie up, and Mark waistlocks. Mark SLAMS Nakajima down and floats to a facelock.

Nakajima slips free, wrenches to a hammerlock, and he tweaks the arm. Mark endures, reaches back to bridge up, and he snapmares Nakajima. Mark KICKS Nakajima, but Nakajima stands right up! Nakajima kicks Mark, snapmares, and then KICKS! The fans fire up while Mark stands back up. Mark SLAPS Nakajima, Nakajima SLAPS, and the hands start flying! Mark runs, but Nakajima KICKS him down! The fans fire up while Mark backs away to his corner. Jay tags in and now he circles with Nakajima. They feel things out while fans chant “MAN UP!” Nakajima kicks, whips, but Jay reverses. Jay hurdles, Nakajima KICKS!

Nakajima kicks again but Jay blocks it, only for Nakajima to ENZIGIRI! Jay tumbles to the apron, but Nakajima PENALTY KICKS him down! Then Nakajima slingshots to DOUBLE STOMP on the apron! Jay goes to the floor, Nakajima CANNONBALLS onto him! The fans fire up and Nakajima high-fives the front row. Nakajima puts Jay in the ring, but Jay fires forearms! The fans duel as the forearms fly! Nakajima SOBATS but Jay ducks the boot! Jay fires a flurry, runs, but into a BOOT! Nakajima runs, but into an ELBOW! But Nakajima rises! Jay kicks, whips, and SAMOAN DROPS! The fans fire up as Nakajima flounders to his corner!

The fans fire up as Sasaki tags in! Sasaki and Jay circle and tie up. Jay headlocks, Sasaki powers out, but Jay RAMS him! Sasaki runs to RAM Jay! Now the CHOPS start going back and forth! Sasaki CHOPS, runs, but into a DROPKICK! The fans fire up as Jay keeps moving, but Sasaki SWATS the lariat to then LARIAT Jay! The fans fire up again and Sasaki suplexes for a BRAINBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Sasaki drags Jay over, tags in Nakajima, and they mug Jay. Nakajima KICKS away, then whips, to KICK Jay again! Jay fires forearms in return, but Nakajima returns fire with forearms of his own!

Nakajima knees Jay, facelocks, but Jay RAMS him into the Briscoe corner. Mark tags in, the Briscoes mug Nakajima and Mark fires off forearms and elbows! Nakajima sits down and Mark digs his boot in. The ref counts, Mark stops to stand Nakajima up. Mark scoops, SLAMS, and ELBOW DROPS! Cover, TWO! Nakajima stays in this but Mark stays on him. Mark tags Jay and they bump Nakajima off buckles. Jay whips Nakajima into Mark’s elbow! Jay then clinches Nakajima for a RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! Mark goes up to FLYING SENTON! Jay covers, TWO! Nakajima stays in this but Jay drags him back up.

Jay CLUBS Nakajima, CHOPS him, but Nakajima returns fire! The CHOPS go back and forth but then Jay goes to forearms! Jay bumps Nakajima off buckles, tags Mark, and the Briscoes mug Nakajima again. Mark suplexes, covers, TWO! The fans rally while Mark drags Nakajima up. Nakajima KICKS, and LEG SWEEPS! Mark tumbles, Nakajima tags in Sasaki! Sasaki drags Mark up to CLUB away from all sides before he LARIATS Mark down! The fans fire up and Sasaki drags Mark up. Sasaki whips Mark to a corner to LARIAT! Sasaki whips Mark corner to corner to LARIAT again! Cover, TWO! Mark stays in this but Sasaki YANKS a leg!

Mark writhes while clutching his leg. Sasaki stands Mark up to KICK away on the bad leg! Mark falls while the fans duel, but Mark rises to fire more shots! Sasaki wants that leg, grabs that leg, and he trips Mark to then tie up the legs! MODIFIED FIGURE FOUR! Mark endures and fires forearms from below! Nakajima plays defense but only for so long as the ref reprimands. Jay then storms in and stomps Sasaki! The ref reprimands Jay now but Sasaki lets Mark go. Nakajima tags in, drags Mark up and DRAGON SCREWS that bad leg! Nakajima stomps Mark’s legs, then stalks him to the corner. Mark fires forearms and elbows!

Nakajima ROCKS Mark, bumps him off buckles, and stomps away on the leg. Nakajima digs his boot in but the ref counts. Nakajima tags Sasaki and Team Noah KICKS and CHOPS away on Mark! The ref counts, the fans fire up, but Sasaki brings Mark out for a BIG back suplex! Cover, TWO! Mark survives but Sasaki drags him up. Tag to Nakajima but Mark fights back! Team Noah mugs Mark, whips him to ropes, and DOUBLE SHOULDER TACKLE! Nakajima covers, TWO! Nakajima keeps close and he scoops Mark. Nakajima puts Mark in a Tree of Woe in the open corner, then runs to basement DROPKICK Mark out of the Tree! Cover, TWO!

Mark continues to tough it out but Nakajima drags him up. Mark fights the suplex, then sips free. Mark waistlocks, Nakajima switches, but Mark switches. Nakajima fires elbows, but Mark catches him to a FISHERMAN BUSTER! Both men are down and the fans are thunderous! Both men crawl, hot tag to Jay! Jay goes up a corner and he CROSSBODIES Nakajima! Jay BLASTS Sasaki then fires CHOPS off on Nakajima. Jay whips Nakajima, runs to LARIAT, but Nakajima follows to BOOT! Nakajima then swings, but into a BUCKLE SHOT! Jay gets moving and he BOOTS Nakajima down! Cover, TWO!

The fans fire up as Jay brings Nakajima up to a fireman’s carry. Nakajima slips free to SOBAT, and SWITCH KICK! Nakajima runs, into a SPINEBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Nakajima survives but Jay drags him up. Jay CHOPS Nakajima to the corner, then whips corner to corner. Jay runs up, but into an AX KICK !Nakajima goes up and up to FLYING CHUCK! The fans are thunderous, Nakajima hot tags Sasaki! Sasaki CHOPS, CHOPS, but Jay CHOPS! The CHOPS go back and forth and the fans fire up! Sasaki CHOPS away on Jay and whips him to a corner! Sasaki runs to BULLDOG Jay, then keeps moving!

Jay dodges, kicks, and runs, but into a SNAP POWERSLAM! Cover, TWO! Sasaki stays focused and he brings Jay up. Sasaki whips to KNEE Jay low! Then he hits a SAYANAGI! Cover, TWO! Jay holds his arm but Sasaki goes after it! STEP-OVER ARMLOCK! Jay endures being bent around but Mark goes after Sasaki! The ref reprimands but The Briscoes mug Sasaki! They double whip but Sasaki breaks the line to DOUBLE LARIAT! Tag to Nakajima and Team Noah stands Jay up. They whip him to a corner, then Sasaki LARIATS! Feed to the WHEEL KICK from Nakajima! Then Sasaki suplexes Nakajima onto Jay! Cover, Mark breaks it!

Sasaki CHOPS Mark, then sets him up as Nakajima runs in, tilt-o-whirl AX KICK! The fans are thunderous and Nakajima SUPERKICKS Jay! SUPERKICK, SUPERKICK, SUPERKICK! It’s a serious of SUPERKICKS and down goes Jay in the corner! The fans are electric as Nakajima drags Jay up. Nakajima whips Jay corner to corner, then JUMP KNEES him the corner! Nakajima ROCKS Jay, HOOK KICKS him, then covers, TWO!! Jay survives but Nakajima tunes up the band. The fans join in, and SWEET CHIN MUSIC!! Cover, TWO!! Jay survives, but Nakajima goes up, up, but Jay Electric Chair Lifts!

Mark tags in, springboards, but the bad leg gives out!! Nakajima victory rolls, TWO!! Jay swings, misses, and a SUPERKICK hits again! Jay LARIATS Nakajima down! Cover, Sasaki breaks it! Mark goes after Sasaki, TOSSES him out, and shakes the bad leg out. Mark goes out, but Sasaki CHOPS him! Sasaki whips, Mark reverses and sends Mark into steel! Jay runs, Nakajima dodges! Jay dodges in return to hit a BIG back suplex! Jay tells Mark to go up, and Mark climbs. Electric Chair, and DOOMSDAY DEVICE!! Cover, SASAKI BREAKS IT! The fans are thunderous again as Mark stomps Sasaki out of the ring.

Jay drags Nakajima up, reels him in, JAY DRILLER!!! Cover, BRISCOES WIN!

Winners: The Briscoes, by pinfall

Sasaki can’t believe it! Team Noah, Team K&K, the GHC Heavyweight Champion and his young protege, have been defeated on their Final Battle in ROH! Will we see another classic battle like this this year?

ROH Women’s World Championship Proving Ground Match: Athena VS Leila Grey!

The Fallen Goddess may have been in denial about how much she feared Abadon, but she made no bones about  laughing at Leila’s challenge. Will Athena have smooth sailing through the rest of 2024? Or will the Top Flight Attendant earn herself a golden ticket to Final Battle?

The Code of Honor is upheld, the bell rings, and the fans cheer on Athena. Athena makes sure Leila hears it, too. The two circle, tie up, and Athena slips around to roll Leila into a grapevine, then a stepover, but Athena pulls hair. The ref reprimands, Athena messes with Leila’s hair and says Leila’s so cute. Athena then mocks Leila by pretending to be an airplane. Leila LARIATS Athena down! The fans are torn but Leila whips Athena to ropes. Athena reverses but Leila sunset flips. Athena rolls through, kicks, but Leila rolls her up! TWO, and Leila dodges to RANA! Cover, TWO! Leila hurries to ROCK Athena with forearms!

Leila kicks, KICKS, then kicks a leg out! Leila runs to SHOTGUN! Athena tumbles out and the fans fire up! Athena flounders while flustered, but Leila storms out after the champ. Leila brings Athena up but Athena arm-drags Leila away! Then Athena SHOTGUNS Leila at the ramp! The fans fire up while Athena snarls. Athena storms up on Leila, whips her into steel steps, then SMACKS her off them! Leila falls back and Athena shouts, “This is MY show!” The fans cheer in agreement there. Athena leaves Leila behind for the count to handle this. Leila is up at 3 and rolls in at 4, but Athena stomps her around.

Athena CLUBS Leila, then stalks her. Leila staggers up, throws elbows, then body shots. Athena throws Leila down by her hair! Athena CLUBS Leila on the back, then drags her around to HAMMER away on Leila’s back! The ref reprimands about hair pulling but Athena shouts that he doesn’t tell her what to do! Athena then stalks Leila to a corner, brings her around, and Athena wrenches to hook Leila up in a modified Cobra Twist. Leila endures and fires body shots while the fans rally. Athena CLUBS Leila, rolls her, and covers, TWO! Athena is annoyed but the fans continue to rally. Leila staggers to a corner, and Athena runs in!

Leila dodges, Athena hits buckles hard! Athena falls back and looks up in a daze! Leila powers up and the fans duel. Athena stands but into a LARIAT! And another LARIAT! And then a BOOT! Athena tumbles to a corner, Leila runs in, SHINING WIZARD! Then BULLDOG! Cover, TWO!! Athena survives and Leila grows frustrated. The fans rally up while Athena flounders and Leila refocuses. Leila storms up, but Athena YANKS her! Leila stops from hitting buckles, then runs in, but into a wrench and SAIDO! Athena kips up and roars! The fans fire up and Athena goes corner to corner, handspring LARIAT!

Athena then whips Leila to SNAP POWRESLAM! Cover, TWO! Leila stays in this and Athena grows frustrated. Athena steps on Leila to go to the corner. The fans rally as Athena climbs, but Leila rushes up! Leila ROCKS Athena, fires more hands, then climbs up after her! But Athena slips under! Leila rains down fists! Athena drops after 5, and Leila adjusts her position. Leila drags Athena up to dribble off the buckles! Leila goes up to SUPER SUNSET BOMB!! Cover, TWO!! Athena survives and Leila is beside herself! But surely time is on her side, if she can just keep this going! Leila drags Athena up, fireman’s carries, but Athena CLAWS Leila’s face!

Athena DECKS Leila! Roll and SNAKEBITE!! Leila taps, Athena wins!!

Winner: Athena, by submission (denies Leila Grey a title opportunity)

But Athena won’t let go! The Fallen Goddess wants Leila to suffer for pushing her this far in just a Proving Grounds match! The ref reprimands, Athena lets go to shout at him! Athena then grins as she holds up her championship. Will there never be a final battle for the Forever Champion?

ROH World Television Championship: Brian Cage VS AR Fox!

The Machine may now be part of the Don Callis Family, but he still has to prove he runs ROH weekly programming. Will Cage make sure there is NO ONE betta than him? Or is this about to become The Whole Fox’n Show?

The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who is the real face of ROH TV!

The Code of Honor is upheld, the bell rings, and the fans rally as these two circle. They tie up, and Cage SHOVES Fox out of the ring! The fans fire up and Cage flexes. Cage then goes out to fetch Fox, reel him in, and put one out. But Fox fights free to the apron! Fox BOOTS Cage, then goes up the corner to MOONSAULT! Down goes Cage and the fans fire up! Fox slides into the ring to build speed, and he FLIES! Down goes Cage again and Fox high-fives fans. Cage runs up but Fox dodges so Cage only hits railing! Fox is back in the ring again, and he goes up, up and SUPER CANNONBALLS! Another direct hit and Cage is down!

The fans fire up as Fox hurries to bring Cage up and into the ring. Fox then goes up, up, and CROSSBODIES! Fox rolls to go to another corner! Fox is right up top, to SWANTON BOMB! Cover, ONE?!? Fox’s aerial attack hasn’t taken Cage down yet so Fox goes for a fireman’s carry. Cage CLAWS Fox’s eyes! The fans boo but Cage whips Fox to a corner. Cage runs up to UPPERCUT, LARIAT, and then SAIDO! Fox flounders while Cage flexes again. Cage says he doesn’t look to suck, despite what fans say. Cage drags Fox up, RAMS him into a corner, and then CHOPS! Cage whips Fox corner to corner hard and Fox flops to the mat!

Cage flexes to show off the biceps. Cage storms up on Fox, drags him up, and whips him corner to corner again! Fox bounces off buckles, and Cage scoops Fox for bicep curls! Fox fights, but Cage POWERSLAMS him down! Cover, TWO! Cage clamps onto Fox with a chinlock and he grinds Fox down. Fox endures, fights up, fires body shots, but Cage KNEES him in return. The fans boo but Cage soaks up that heat. Cage runs in but Fox BOOTS back! Cage tries again but Fox slips to the apron. Cage hits buckles, Fox trips Cage up! Fox slingshots and facelocks, but it’s Cage who deadlift suplexes! But Fox slips free!

Fox waistlocks, Cage ELBOWS, but then Fox kicks! Cage blocks that kick, KNEES Fox, but Fox ENZIGIRIS! Cage wobbles, Fox clinches to ROPE SHOT! Fox YANKS Cage off the ropes, then somersaults to SHOTGUN! The fans fire up while both men are down! Cage goes to a corner, comes back, and he SWATS Fox’s lariat! But Fox goes Matrix to dodge Cage’s lariat! Fox ENZIGIRIS again and Cage goes to another corner. Fox runs up, A-LIST LARIAT! Cage sits down, Fox skins the cat and DROPKICKS! The fans fire up with Fox while Cage flounders to the apron. Fox storms over, but Cage ROCKS him first!

Fox avoids Cage’s shoulder tackle to KICK! PENDULUM DDT! Cover, TWO!! Cage survives and Fox is shocked! The fans rally up and Fox drags Cage up. Fox goes to suplex but Cage wrenches out! Cage HEADBUTTS, pump handles, and hits the FACEBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Fox survives and Cage can’t believe it! Cage drags Fox around, ties the legs up, and he has a PRISM TRAP! Fox endures, reaches out, ROPEBREAK! Cage holds until 4, and says he has ’til 5! Cage thinks he’s the other Bryan but then he drags Fox up. Fox steps over the fireman’s carry, hops on, CODE RED! Cover, TWO!! Cage survives and Fox can’t believe it!

The fans argue the count for Fox but Fox fires the fans back up. Fox rises, he brings Cage up, but Cage fights the fireman’s carry again. Cage ripcords and ROCKS Fox! Then DISCUS- BOOT from Fox! Fireman’s carry! Fox hits a ROLLING DEATH VALLEY! Then Fox goes up, up, and 450 SPLASH!! Cover, TWO?!?! Cage survives again and Fox is beside himself! Fox stalks Cage to a corner, hauls him up, and hoists him up top! The fans rally and Fox GAMANGIRIS! Cage wobbles, Fox runs up, and ARABIAN- NO, Cage rejects the hybrid fly! Then Cage TORNADO DDTS!! Cage hauls Fox up, POWERBOMB! High stack, deadlift and POWERBOMB!

But then Cage deadlifts again, SITDOWN POWERBOMB!! Cover, TWO!!! Fox survives an onslaught and the fans are thunderous! Cage is furious and he drags Fox right up. Fox cradle counters! TWO!!! Cage escapes, to DISCUS LARIAT!! And then he drags Fox up, suplexes, DRILL CLAW!!! Cover, Cage wins!

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

Fox put on a hell of a fight, but this is how the world knows Brian Cage is a Machine! Will there never be anyone betta?

My Thoughts:

A very good ROH at just an hour and 30, and I like the ROH Rewind being from a Final Battle. That was an awesome match, great to see it for the first time. And going by the NJPW wrestlers featured tonight, I believe this ROH was filmed in the Lowell, Massachusetts area, as NJPW was there for Fighting Spirit Unleashed. Great showing from everyone facing them, though the NJPW stars were of course winning. Great tag match from STP VS Beef & JD, especially with how much fire Beef got to show. But at the same time, of course STP won to build their momentum in all divisions, not just the tag division. And then The Kingdom making the save, I wonder if we get an 8 Man Tag before we get Lee VS Taven for the Pure title.

Very good promo from The Righteous to tell the story of Dusty gifting Dutch with the cowbell, but I can’t be sure how much it adds to what we’ve gotten already in this build to the tag titles. They’re definitely going to drag this build out to Final Battle in a month, and perhaps The Righteous will win those titles to bring them into 2025. And very good title related matches to close the night. I figured the champions would win out, but very good showings from Leila and AR Fox for each match only being about eight minutes. Kinda wish Cage VS Fox was more than that, but they still got a lot in for the short time.

My Score: 8.6/10