Will ROH belong to the Death Riders?

Former ROH Pure Champion, Wheeler Yuta, is back on Honor Club! But will he prove himself worthy of another title opportunity?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Wheeler Yuta VS Matt Mako; Yuta wins.
• Trish Adora w/ The Infantry VS Rachael Ellering; Trish wins.
• Cole Karter & Griff Garrison VS The Dark Order; Karter & Garrison win.
• 8 Man Tag: The Sons of Texas VS MXM Collection & The Premier Athletes; The Sons of Texas win.

PLAY BY PLAY

Wheeler Yuta VS Matt Mako!

The former ROH Pure Champion, the ONLY three-time Pure Champion, makes his return to Honor Club and is in no mood to play around. The Death Riders are desperately clinging to THE AEW World Championship, as seen just last night on Dynamite. Will Yuta use this match as a warm-up for his Collision with “Powerhouse” Hobbs? Or will “Weapon X” have quite the W under his belt?

The Code of Honor is not upheld and Yuta circles with Mako. They feel things out, knuckle lock, and Yuta rolls back to wrench and wrangle Mako. The fans duel, “Let’s Go, Yuta!” “YUTA SUCKS!” Mako fights up, Yuta waistlocks, but Mako switches. Yuta ELBOWS free, wrenches and wristlocks, but Mako rolls, spins, and traps a leg. Mako rolls to drag Yuta down into body scissors! Yuta fights off the sleeper so Mako shifts to the ARMBAR! Yuta fights around, stacks Mako, and then steps on Mako’s face! Yuta digs his heel in, the ref reprimands, and Yuta steps off. Yuta kicks Mako around while the fans duel more.

Yuta CHOPS Mako to a corner, then snap suplexes! And ELBOW DROP! Mako sputters, the fans boo, but Yuta soaks it all up. Yuta drags Mako up to scoop and SLAM! Mako writhes, Yuta SENTONS! Yuta cheers himself on but the fans still boo. Yuta ties Mako’s legs up in an INDIAN DEATHLOCK! Mako bridges to alleviate pressure and Yuta sarcastically compliments it. Yuta then shows off his own bridge! Mako endures and Yuta flips off the fans! Yuta stands back up, but Mako fires a forearm! And another! Yuta CLAWS Mako’s face! The ref reprimands and the fans boo, but Yuta claims Mako bit him!

Yuta stalks Mako to a corner, CHOPS him, and then brings Mako around. Yuta whips, ELBOWS, and then taunts Mako. Yuta scuffs Mako, taunts him, but Mako frowns. The fans rally for Mako and he CHOPS! The fans fire up, and Mako fires off a strike fest! Mako BOOTS, Yuta rewinds, and Yuta slips around to SNAP GERMAN! Mako goes to a corner, Yuta runs in, and Yuta ELBOWS! Then a wrench and PAIN THRILLER! Yuta mockingly claps but the fans boo. Fans rally up as Mako sputters, but Yuta taunts him. Mako slowly rises up, and he clinches! Yuta turns that to a cravat and snapmare! Mako endures, but Yuta grinds him into the mat.

The fans rally, Mako fights up, and Mako fires body shots! Yuta KNEES low, headlocks, but Mako SAIDOS free! Both men are down and the fans rally up! A standing count starts but Yuta sits up at 2, then stands at 3. But Mako KICKS, SOBATS, and BUTTERFLY SUPLEXES! The fans fire up as Mako goes for the full nelson! Yuta breaks it, but then fights the straitjacket! Yuta goes to ropes, Mako O’Conner Rolls and CHAOS THEORY into the ARMBAR!! Yuta clasps hands but Mako breaks the grip! ARMBAR, but Yuta rolls free! Mako runs up, Yuta ducks the roundhouse, BUSAIKU KNEE!! The fans boo but Yuta roars!

Yuta clamps onto Mako and rains down HAMMER ‘N’ ANVIL ELBOWS! Mako is a ragdoll, but Yuta still puts on CATTLE MUTILATION!! Mako taps, Yuta wins!

Winner: Wheeler Yuta, by submission

Yuta could’ve easily just left it to the knockout knee, or even those elbows, but he wanted to send a message. Will Yuta fight his way to a fourth ROH Pure Championship reign? Or will he settle for tearing down the Powerhouse at Beach Break?

ROH hears from Tom Lawlor and Josh Woods.

“Filthy” Tom says the first time he heard the name “Josh Woods” was 2011, Woods’ first year wrestling at UCF. And honestly, he heard it was a stud following in Tom’s footsteps. Tom admits, he was a little jealous of Woods then. But there’s one thing Woods can’t do, and that’s fight harder than Tom. The Technical Beast says he sees a guy like Tom, an incredible athlete. Woods’ coach was a teammate of Tom’s and would always make these little verbal jabs. “Tom wouldn’t quit, Tom wouldn’t get tired.” Woods dug deeper, trained harder, trained longer to no longer get those comparisons. Woods didn’t want the comparison, he wanted to be himself.

Tom says you look at the accolades, the credentials, the sequel is never as good as the original. Tom was UCF, Woods was UCF, they both became champions. Tom became a professional fighter, Woods wanted to do that, but took a different path. But now they’re both in pro-wrestling, except Woods did it first and in his opinion, does it better. Tom has trained with Woods on the mats, in the cage, and now Tom has been compared to Woods for the past 15 years of his life. Woods became NCAA champion, Woods became an MMA fighter, except look who did those first! Tom Lawlor!

Woods says they were friends, they were teammates, they’ve traveled together. This isn’t personal, this is business. Woods has been in AEW for three years now, doing everything right, waiting for opportunities, and nailed everything. But none of it has worked. So sorry, Tom, but you’re just the next opportunity. Tom says he’s a dog, Woods doesn’t have that bite. Saturday, May 24th, at the Dean Rasmussen tribute show, everyone will see who really has the goods!

Trish Adora w/ The Infantry VS Rachael Ellering!

The Afropunk and the Queen of Strong Smile have been away for a bit, but after hearing about the Women’s Pure Championship Tournament, they had to come back. Will a win here go a long way towards one of them joining the bracket?

The Code of Honor is upheld, the bell rings, and the fans rally. Trish and Rachael tie up, are in a deadlock, and they go along the ropes. They end up in a corner and Trish rolls her eyes as the ref counts. Trish lets go, but Rachael storms right up on her for another tie up! Rachael powers Trish to the far corner, but she lets off, only for Trish to headlock! Rachael powers up but Trish holds on. Trish gives Rachael a little noogie, but Rachael puts her on the ropes. The ref counts, Trish turns things around, but Rachael turns it back. Rachael whips Trish, then goes the other way! They run the ropes like in training, then Rachael drops down and UPPERCUTS!

The fans fire up and Trish is a bit dazed. Rachael brings her up to WRING the arm! Trish clutches her arm but Rachael runs to basement DROPKICK! Cover, TWO! The Infantry is annoyed on Trish’s behalf but Rachael mocks their finger guns. Rachael fireman’s carries but Trish fights it! Rachael still tries but Trish rains down elbows! Trish wrenches and PELES the arm! Trish goes for that arm and WRINGS Rachael out! The fans rally and duel, the Infantry tell the haters to shut up, but Trish has plenty of fans. Trish slaps Rachael’s arm to the rhythm, then drags her up. Trish wrenches, hammerlocks, and she RAMS Rachael into buckles!

Trish then ARM-DRAGS Rachael, and she pushes Rachael down to a cover. TWO, and the fans rally up. Carlie & Captain Dean coach Trish to keep on Rachael. Trish reels Rachael in for a FISHERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO! Not quite perfect and Trish grows frustrated. Trish stalks Rachael, full nelsons, but Rachael breaks free to waistlock. Trish switches, Rachael ELBOWS her, then ROCKS her! And UPPER- NO, Trish hooks her to a backslide! Rachael rolls through but into LARIAT TUBMAN!! Cover, Trish wins!

Winner: Trish Adora, by pinfall

It didn’t need to be technical, but it was still clean! No flaws in the game plan, will Shane Taylor Promotions soon have both ROH Pure Championships?

Red Velvet speaks.

“Everyone keeps talking about the Pure Women’s Title. Uh, I’m sorry, did I get canceled? Let’s not worry about a title no one has won yet. What we should be worrying about is: Who is winning? Up here I’ve been winning, I’ve been winning everywhere. As a matter of fact, I can even win in Mexico! Just ask La Catalina who’s been winning. I put the R in ROH. I put the V in TV champion! And I will continue to show that each and every night. I think I’m gonna deliver some cake, too. I’m gonna drive a car, I’ll fly a plane, I’ll even deliver it special, hand made, to anyone’s front door. You know why? Because I show up, I show out, and I stir it up.”

The Chef is ready to serve a fresh batch of L’s, but who will step up and get served?

Cole Karter & Griff Garrison w/ The Frat House VS The Dark Order!

Win or lose, they booze. But they also like to punk out pledges and look down on pretty much everyone else that isn’t in their fraternity. But will Evil Uno & Alex Reynolds show it is all about quality, not quantity? Or will the Diamond in the Rough and the Ivy League MVP show size matters?

The teams sort out, but Jacked Jameson seems to give this week’s pledges some instructions. Karter and Reynolds step up, they keep the Code of Honor, and the bell rings. They circle, the fans rally, and the two tie up. Reynolds wrenches but Karter ROCKS him! Karter CLUBS him, then ROCKS Alex again. Karter whips, Reynolds reverses, but Karter KICKS him away! Karter taunts Uno and the fans boo, but Reynolds LARIATS Karter down! The fans fire up and Reynolds rains down fists! Reynolds stands Karter up to UPPERCUT, then UPPERCUTS again! Reynolds whips, Karter reverses, but Reynolds ducks ‘n’ dodges.

Karter scoops but Reynolds slips free to waistlock. Karter goes to ropes and Griff tags in as Karter bucks the O’Conner Roll. Reynolds stands, Karter throws hands, and then Griff BOOTS Reynolds down! Griff BLASTS Uno for good measure and the fans boo. The Frat boys reel Reynolds in, but Uno saves him from the double suplex! The Dark Order SMACK Karter & Griff, then we get stereo swivels, and stereo NECKBREAKERS! Uno hustles back to the corner, tags in, and he climbs up to rain down fists! The fans count along, and Uno goes all the way to eight, then hits nine, then ten, then ELEVEN! The fans cheer, and Uno reels Griff in!

Uno suplexes, and stalls for ONE before the SLAM! Cover, ONE!! Griff toughs it out but the fans rally up. Uno CHOPS Griff, then whips, only for Griff to reverse. Vance trips Uno up! Uno swings on the former Number 10, but then Griff runs in. Uno TOSSES Griff out onto Vance! The fans cheer, Uno builds speed, but Karter trips Uno! The fans boo as Karter drags Uno out and LARIATS! Karter soaks up the heat, puts Uno in the ring, and Griff rolls in. Griff tags Karter, the Frat mugs Uno, and Karter suplexes! Cover, TWO! Karter drags Uno up, bumps him off buckles, and he tags Griff. The mugging continues and the ref reprimands.

Griff brings Uno around, whips and ELBOWS him down, then covers, TWO! Uno stays in this and the fans rally. Griff drags Uno to the ropes and CHOKES him! The fans boo, the ref reprimands, and Griff stops at 4. Vance mockingly asks Uno, “What do you say?” Uno swipes at Vance, but Griff CLUBS Uno. Tag to Karter, but Uno fights back with forearms and elbows! The fans fire up but the Frat keeps Uno back! They sends him into the corner, then taunt Reynolds. Karter runs up and SPLASHES! Griff runs up and BOOTS! Then Griff feeds Uno to Karter’s DROPKICK! Cover, Reynolds breaks it! And ROCKS Griff!

The ref reprimands and backs Reynolds off. Griff taunts Reynolds, Karter CLUBS Uno, and Uno bails out. The pledges mug Uno! The fans boo but they put Uno back in the ring. Karter CLUBS Uno, bumps him off buckles, and tags Griff. The Frat continues to mug Uno, then Griff runs in, but into a BOOT! Uno ELBOWS Karter, TOSSES Griff out, and then he BOOTS Karter for a DDT! The fans fire up while Uno and Karter are down! Uno crawls, the fans rally, but Griff is back. Griff anchors a foot, but Uno kicks him away! Hot tag to Reynolds! The fans fire up as Reynolds dodges Griff, BOOTS Karter, and then dodges Griff!

Griff runs into Karter, Reynolds comes back to ELBOW Griff! Then Reynolds runs to UPPERCUT! The fans fire up and Reynolds LARIATS Karter up and out! Griff is back but Reynolds dodges to DROPKICK! Reynolds kips up, the fans fire up, and Reynolds runs to DIVE! Down goes Karter into the railing! The fans fire up and Reynolds hurries up. But the Frat distracts the ref so the Pledges can drag Reynolds down! But Reynolds dodges their double lariat, and Uno runs in with DOUBLE LARIATS! The fans fire up and Reynolds climbs! DIVING STOMPS to the back! Griff writhes, Reynolds tags Uno, and the fans fire up more!

Uno reels Griff in, Gory Especial, and Reynolds jumps up, GORY CODE BREAKER!! Jameson distracts the ref, Vance drags Reynolds out and TOSSES him! Uno is furious, but Karter has the paddle! Uno takes the paddle from him! The ref sees the paddle, he and Uno tug-o-war over it and Uno gives it up. Uno explains it was The Frat! But speaking of, Jameson argues with the ref, and Vance DISCUS LARIATS!! Griff covers, the fans boo, but the Frat House wins!

Winners: The Frat House, by pinfall

When it’s 6v2, of course the Frat House wins. Did The Pledges earn their place on the team? Will the Dark Order ever return to former glory?

BREAKING NEWS for Collision!

Beach Break is only getting bigger as ROH World Champion, Bandido, joins forces with Brody King and NJPW Strong Openweight Champion, Tomohiro Ishii, against their common enemies in the Don Callis Family! Will the Most Wanted, the King of Death and the Stone Pitbull stand tall in Chicago? Or will Lance Archer, Rocky Romero & Trent Beretta win big for the family?

8 Man Tag: The Sons of Texas VS MXM Collection & The Premier Athletes!

Dustin Rhodes & Sammy Guevara may be battling CRU on Collision for a chance at the AEW World Tag Team Championships, but they still need to be wary of everyone coming for the ROH World and Six Man Tag Team Championships. But will Dustin, Sammy & The Von Erichs handle their business? Or will this rather eclectic combination grab up some golden tickets?

And of course, Mark Sterling has to talk… “Alright, Bobby, quiet down, hit the bricks, I’ll take it from here. Everyone knows Ariya Daivari & Tony Nese, and we are the Premier Athletes!” The fans boo, but Sterling tells the fans that we’re here in the “Big D.” But judging from the people in the crowd, this is more like the Small D. Mansoor & Mason laugh at that inappropriate comment, but Sterling says all they need tonight is the tip! So they will ask MXM and all the fans here to join in on the pregame cheers. When he says, “Athletes,” you say, “Rule,” nothing else. “Hands in, boys. Ohh…! ATHLETES!” “SUCK!!” Gottee!

Sterling’s inability to learn from his mistakes continues, and now the Sons of Texas make their entrance! The teams sort out and the fans already fire up for Sammy and Dustin. In the end, Marshall Von Erich starts against Daivari, and they tie up. Daivari pulls hair to put Marshall in the corner, tags to Nese, and the Athletes mug Marshall! They stop to shout, “ATHLETES!” The fans shout, “SUCK!” Nese is annoyed and he UPPERCUTS Marshall! Tag to Mason, he tags Mansoor, and MXM double whip to DOUBLE ELBOW! Then POSE! The fans are torn, but then MXM tip touch and DOUBLE ELBOW DROP! Mansoor covers, TWO!

Mansoor drags Marshall up to ROCK him and CHOP him! Mansoor whips Marshall but Marshall reverses. Marshall BACKDROPS Mansoor, tags Ross, and sends Ross in at the corner. Ross BOOTS Mansoor, Marshall LARIATS, then snapmare for Ross’ PENALTY KICK! Marshall hits a STANDING MOONSAULT! Ross covers, TWO! Ross brings Mansoor over, tags Sammy, and Sammy KICKS Mansoor in the side! The fans cheer as Sammy whips, hurdles, backflips, and DROPKICKS! Sammy kips up and the fans cheer more. Sammy takes a bow, then he POSES! Sammy points to Dustin and the fans fire up more!

Sammy wrenches Mansoor, points again, but Mansoor kicks low! Mansoor sucker punches Dustin, blows a kiss to the fans, but Sammy blocks a kick. Sammy FLIPS Mansoor and Mansoor lands on his stomach! Mansoor flounders while Sammy tags Ross. Ross brings Mansoor around, whips, but Mansoor reverses, only to claim arm pain. This distracts the ref so Sterling can trip Ross up! Ross grabs at Mark but Mason grabs Ross! Mason drags Ross through the ropes, the ref has to keep Marshall back now, and Mansoor uses this opening to hit a DRAPING SENTON to the apron! The fans boo but Mansoor poses, and Mason stomps Ross!

Mansoor tags Daivari, he puts Ross in, and Daivari stomps Ross. Daivari throws KNEE after KNEE into Ross, then clamps on a chinlock. Ross endures, the fans rally, and Sterling tries to get an “Athletes Rule!” going, only for the fans to shout back, “ATHLETES SUCK!” Ross fights up, fires body shots, then he KICKS! But Daivari CLAWS Ross’ face! Daivari turns Ross for a NECKBREAKER! Daivari goes up, up, and “ATHLETES!” FLOP!! The fans fire up as Daivari’s “Magic Carpet Ride” crashes ‘n’ burns! Daivari and Ross crawl for their corners, hot tags to Nese and Dustin! Detroit fires up for The Natural as he rallies on Nese!

Dustin whips, Nese reverses, but Dustin says, “Not Today!” UPPERCUT! Nese staggers into the SNAP POWERSLAM! Dustin fires up, the fans are with him, but Daivari runs in! SNAP POWERSLAM! Nese ROCKS Dustin, fireman’s carries, but Dustin dragon sleepers! CROSS RHODES! Cover, MXM breaks it! The fans boo but Sammy DUMPS Mason out, and Ross TOSSES Mansoor! Dustin drags Nese up, tags Marshall, but Sterling trips Marshall up! Nese then shoves Dustin into Marshall! Dustin falls, Nese grabs Marshall, but Sammy JUMP KNEES Nese! Sammy goes up, but Mason catches him!

Mansoor joins in, MXM sets Sammy up for DRAG THE LAKE!! Or perhaps some fashion themed nickname. THe fans boo, but then the Von Erichs DOUBLE DROPKICK MXM! Mansoor falls, Mason stays up, so the Von Erichs DOUBLE DROPKICK him! Daivari runs in, he DECKS Ross but Marshall LARIATS Daivari! Nese rolls Marshall, with tights! TWO!! DOUBLE LARIATS collide! Nese and Marshall fall but Sterling gets on the apron. Dustin grabs Sterling and TOSSES him in! The fans fire up as Dustin puts Smart Mark in the corner, and opens him up! Sterling begs for mercy, but Dustin doesn’t have to hold back!

Dustin ROCKS Sterling, then winds up, and Detroit is rocking! Double bird and SHATTERED DREAMS!! But then Mason grabs Dustin by the neck! Sammy hits a CUTTER on Mason! Nese runs up to CLUB Dustin! MXM & The Athletes beat up on the ROH World Six Man Champs! They CHOP, then triple whip! But Dustin gives Mansoor a DESTROYER! And then The Von Erichs clamp on DOUBLE IRON CLAWS!! The fans are thunderous as the Athletes go down! They TAP, the Sons of Texas win!

Winners: The Sons of Texas, by submission

MXM is in retreat while the Premier Athletes have massive headaches. But as the Sons of Texas celebrate their win, CRU shows up! Lio Rush & Action Andretti swagger out on stage, and they stare down with Dustin & Sammy. There’s a Collision on the horizon, but who walks away ready to fight the Hurt Syndicate?

My Thoughts:

A very good ROH clocking in at about 48 minutes, but it also felt more like a go-home to Beach Break Collision this Saturday. For one, they advertised a Six Man Tag that Dynamite should’ve mentioned but I guess it was just made on the fly. Then we get Yuta winning easy so that he has momentum going against Hobbs. I would think Hobbs wins that, but Death Riders might interfere even then. And then a great 8 Man Tag main event but I figured the Faces would win. CRU showing up at the end trying to intimidate Dustin & Sammy continues to give off chihuahua vibes. Dustin & Sammy are definitely winning at Collision, and as I said for Dynamite, there could be a chance for Titles VS Titles at Double or Nothing, but that would only tank the ROH Tag Division.

Speaking of, good stuff from Dark Order VS Frat House, but of course Frat House won using a lot of cheating. The Dark Order can only hope John Silver is cleared soon, or that they start bringing in new members, perhaps from the existing roster that isn’t doing anything. They let the Nick Comoroto & Jacoby Watts story fall through, maybe Comoroto could be the new big muscle guy. Good return match from Trish and Rachael. Trish gets a solid win, but with three spots in the tournament left open, they both could get in on merit and past win-loss record.

Red Velvet had a very good promo, and I do like her angle of talking down on a title that has yet to be won. A little curious as to where her story is going, and I continue to ask: Where is Athena? Why isn’t TK figuring out how her story with Diamante and Billie Starkz is supposed to go? Is he just putting them on hold until we’re closer to All In: Texas? I still don’t know the business story behind why Supercard of Honor was delayed, but it has wrecked a lot of the wrestling stories ROH had going. Let’s hope the latter half of this year is better for ROH.

My Score: 8.7/10