What is next for ROH?

Bandido is still ROH World Champion, but Hechicero says he’s up next! Will the Alchemist of Lucha establish himself going up against Angelico?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Atlantis Jr. VS Lee Johnson w/ Blake Christian; Atlantis wins.
• Diamante VS Maya World; Diamante wins.
• Michael Oku w/ Amira VS Jay Lethal; Lethal wins.
• Hechicero w/ Rocky Romero VS Angelico w/ Serpentico; Hechicero wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

Atlantis Jr. VS Lee Johnson w/ Blake Christian!

While neither man won that $50,000 prize at Supercard of Honor, they’re both chasing down golden opportunities. Will the second-generation star of CMLL close in on a title shot? Or will Big Shotty take the spotlight?

The Code of Honor is barely upheld, the bell rings, and the two circle. They feel things out, clinch, and Lee waistlocks. Atlantis pries free to wrench Lee into a wristlock, then hammerlock. The fans cheer, Lee reaches back to headlock, but Atlantis powers up to wrench free and YANK the arm. Atlantis CLUBS the arm, WRINGS Lee, but Lee UP KICKS! They go again and Lee headlocks. The fans rally, Atlantis throws Lee away to then run him over! The fans cheer and things get moving. Lee hurdles, Atlantis waistlocks, but Lee switches. Atlantis switches, shoves, but Lee goes up, only for Atlantis to KICK him out of the air! Atlantis runs to tilt-o-whirl RANA!

The fans fire up, Lee bails out, and Atlantis DIVES! Down goes Lee with that true tope suicida, and Atlantis rises, checking his own forehead. Atlantis is fine so he puts Lee in the ring. Lee staggers to a corner but Atlantis is right on him with a GAMANGIRI! The fans fire up, Atlantis says uno mas, and he whips corner to corner. Lee reverses, runs up, and blocks Atlantis’ boots. Lee puts Atlantis in the ropes but Atlantis elbows Lee away! Lee has the ref check his nose, but that’s just so Blake Christian can SLIDING GERMAN! The fans boo but Vanilla Babyface gets away with it. Lee stomps away on Atlantis while the fans boo more.

Lee soaks up the heat, drags Atlantis up, and Lee RAMS Atlantis in the corner. And RAMS him again! Lee snapmares, runs, and SLIDING FOREARMS! Cover, TWO! Atlantis stays in this but Lee covers again, TWO! Lee is annoyed but the fans rally for Atlantis. Lee hushes the fans and he clamps onto Atlantis with a chinlock. Atlantis endures, fights around, but Lee says Atlantis has nothing! Atlantis fires body shots so he has something! Lee holds on tight but Atlantis fires more shots! Lee CLUBS Atlantis, ROCKS him, then ROCKS him again! Atlantis drops to a knee, Lee runs, but Atlantis pops him up! Only for Lee to block the kick!

Lee takes a swing but Atlantis ducks! Atlantis comes back, slips around Lee, and then ripcords for the KNEE! The fans fire up, Atlantis runs, but Blake is there! The ref reprimands, Lee runs up, Atlantis dodges! Lee avoids colliding with Blake, then he dodges Atlantis, so the SUPERKICK takes down Blake! Lee rolls Atlantis up, TWO! Atlantis escapes, dodges, and SNAP POWERSLAMS! Atlantis runs to basement DROPKICK! Cover, TWO! Lee toughs it out and Atlantis is surprised. The fans rally up and Atlantis brings Lee around. Atlantis puts Lee in a drop zone, and the fans rally as he climbs the corner.

Atlantis aims, FROG- NO, he has to roll through as Lee moves! Lee fireman’s carries, Atlantis fires elbows, but Lee still ROLLING DEATH VALLEY! PENALTY KICK! STANDING MOONSAULT! Cover, TWO!! Atlantis survives that triple impact and the fans rally up again! Lee vows to end it now, though, and he reels Atlantis in. Atlantis fights off the lift, so Lee CLUBS away on Atlantis! Lee lifts, Atlantis slips free, slips around, and GERMAN- NO, Lee lands out! Lee dodges in the corner, Atlantis BOOTS him! Atlantis goes up, Lee GAMANGIRIS! Lee climbs up, the fans boo, but Atlantis fights the suplex! Atlantis SHOVES Lee, but Lee flips to land out!

Atlantis adjusts and hits a FLYING DESTROYER! The fans fire up as Atlantis hurries back up top! FROG SPLASH! Cover, Atlantis wins!

Winner: Atlantis Jr, by pinfall

Big Shotty took his best shot, but Atlantis survived it to hit his! Atlantis vows that he will shine across CMLL, ROH and AEW! Will Atlantis find his way back to a title?

ROH shares footage from after Supercard of Honor.

After his instant classic Pure Championship match, Lee Moriarty says, “Blue Panther is a living legend. He is one of the most famous luchadores in the entire world. And I just proved why I’m the best pure wrestler on the planet. Because I defeated Blue Panther in MY ring, in ROH! And now, I can proudly say that I am the longest-reigning ROH Pure Champion in this title’s history. 351 DAYS! I have beaten every style of professional wrestler. And I am making it clear right now that #TAIGASTYLE, Lee Moriarty is not complacent with just being Pure Champion. I am going to take this to the top of ROH and become the face of this brand. So everybody better watch your step, and protect ya neck!”

Lee Moriarty is ready to make ROH truly Pure, but who will be next to step to his throne?

Diamante VS Maya World!

While Mina Shirakawa did win the Interim ROH Women’s World TV Championship at Supercard of Honor, misfortune befell her in the Women’s Casino Gauntlet match at All In: Texas. With the title’s future once again in doubt, could the Cuban Diamond find her way to that gold? Or will Maya put the “World” in Women’s World TV Championship?

The Code of Honor is upheld, the bell rings, but Diamante holds onto Maya! Diamante fires kicks and forearms, then CLUBS Maya down! The fans boo but Diamante whips, blows past Maya, and CLOBBERS her! The fans boo but Diamante gets moving. Maya drops down, hurdles, but Diamante RANAS! Diamante ROCKS Maya, goes to the corner and rains down fists! The fans fire up, Diamante scrapes Maya’s face off the ropes! The fans boo, the ref counts, and Diamante stops at 4. Diamante puts Maya in a corner to CHOP! Diamante bumps Maya off buckles, runs up, but Maya pops Diamante up to ENZIGIRI!

Maya gets under Diamante and brings her off the corner, only for Diamante to fight free. Diamante blocks the forearm to KICK, SLAP, and UPPERCUT! Maya goes back to the corner, Diamante runs in and GAMANGIRIS! Diamante then whips corner to corner, but Maya reverses. Diamante breaks that to SOBAT and CODE RED! Cover, Diamante wins!

Winner: Diamante, by pinfall

Diamante does not waste time with Maya, she gets that 1-2-3 and moves up the ranks! Will the Cuban Diamond finally have some gold now that she’s back?

MXM TV runs their commercial again.

“Beneath the surface, something stirs.” “A piercing glance that turns hips.” “A heat that makes you touch tips.” “A gaze that feels like a drop in a puddle.” “Because deep down, everyone wants to be planted and watered.” “MXM Collection presents: Seed. Let it grow inside you.” Will anyone care to buy MXM TV’s Seed?

ROH shares footage of Athena from after All In: Texas.

Athena sits with her ROH Women’s World Championship, and she smiles as she says, “I don’t care who it is, I don’t care when it’s time. The Forever ROH Champion, the hometown hero, the Fallen Goddess, the Minion Overlord, is going to be the AEW Women’s World Champion!” Athena laughs and roars as she heads out with her Women’s Casino Gauntlet contract. She also put Toni Storm on notice just last night on Dynamite, when and where will Athena give “The Whore We All Adore” an O-Face?

ROH shares footage of Dustin Rhodes from after All In: Texas.

The Natural says, “Tony asked me to step up, I did. I’ve chased this thing and come short, like I said, many times. And I’m still in shock. I’m still in shock a little bit that I actually pulled this off and I’m just super proud that I could do it in my home state of Texas. I love the fans. They treat me so good, even 37 years later, it’s amazing. I think there’s so much passion in me and our family, that we go to work and we have a work ethic, and we do what needs to be done, and step up when we can. My dad taught me many, many lessons, and that was the one, to keep stepping and to keep going and to keep thriving and to keep reinventing yourself.

“And it’s such a pretty belt, man. I’m just like, staring at it for what felt like ten minutes. I didn’t wanna take it out of Aubrey’s hands cuz it was just… My gawd… And I’m just in shock a little bit. I pulled it out, I guess, y’know? I wasn’t on the receiving end of this this time. I’m super proud of myself. I wanna carry this title and do the very best that I can for as long as I can. Thank you.” Dustin Rhodes, #YouDeserveIt!

Michael Oku w/ Amira VS Jay Lethal!

And now, we play! The Undisputed Rev-Pro British Heavyweight Champion made quite the splash on Supercard, even in a loss to Hechicero. Meanwhile, The Franchise fell short to Blake Christian, so both men are looking to rebound. Will Oku look to change the game on ROH? Or will things get lethal for the summer?

The Code of Honor is upheld, the bell rings, and the fans rally as the two circle. The fans duel as the two tie up, and Oku headlocks. Lethal powers up and out, Oku RAMS him, then Oku trips him to step over, LA MAGI- NO, Lethal smothers it to a cradle, TWO and Oku finishes La Magistrol, TWO! Both men stand, go again, and Oku trips Lethal. Oku wants a leg, Lethal kicks at him, and then Lethal drags Oku down. Lethal floats to get the legs, steps through, but Oku cradles! TWO and Oku kips up! The fans fire up and Lethal is rather surprised. Amira rallies the fans and Oku resets with Lethal. They shake hands again, but Lethal holds on?

Lethal dares Oku to keep the wristlock so they can go toe to toe. The fans rally up and Oku winds up first to ROCK Lethal! Lethal grimaces, winds up, and ROCKS Oku! The fans cheer as Oku comes back to ROCK Lethal! And as Lethal comes back to- NO, Oku fires first! Lethal reels Oku in, suplexes, but Oku fights that. Oku wrenches but Lethal reels him in again. Oku fights another suplex, Lethal slips around and spins Oku, but Oku wrenches free. Lethal waistlocks, spins, and snap suplexes! The fans fire up and Lethal is feeling it! Cover, TWO! Lethal stays focused, and calls his shot! Lethal runs, Oku reels him in, but Lethal ELBOWS Oku!

Lethal handsprings, but Oku gets past him! Oku redirects Lethal, RANAS, and then DROPKICKS! Lethal wobbles then falls and the fans are torn! Oku brings Lethal around by a leg and he hears the dueling chants. Oku smiles and he says, “NOW, WE PLAY!” But Lethal BOOTS Oku away! Oku returns to PENALTY KICK! Oku goes to the ropes, TOP ROPE LIONSAULT! Lethal dodges, slips around, and a SHIN BREAKER! DRAGON SCREW! Lethal lets out a “WOO~” and has the FIGURE FOUR! But Oku rolls and rolls and rolls, only for both men to fall to the floor! The fans fire up and Amira coaches her husband up.

The fans rally as Oku and Lethal slowly rise. Amira shows Oku his title to motivate him, and both men go to the apron. They both slowly stand, Lethal rolls in at 6 of 20 but Oku follows. Lethal and Oku are on the apron, and Lethal CHOPS! Oku LARIATS Lethal into the ring! Lethal lands out, reels Oku in, but Oku BACKDROPS Lethal to the floor! Lethal hurries up but Oku triangle dropkicks him back down! That’s a Lethal move! The fans fire up and clap along with Oku as he rises again. Oku builds speed and he HIGH JUMPS onto Lethal! Oku puts Lethal in, the fans rally up, and Oku runs in at the corner! But Lethal dodges the dropkick!

Oku crashes ‘n’ burns, Lethal goes up top, and Hail to the King! MACHO ELBOW! But into a Ghost Pin! TWO!! Both men stand, CUTTER from Lethal to Oku! Oku’s back up, another CUTTER from Lethal! Lethal runs, handsprings, LETHAL INJECTION!! Cover, Lethal wins!

Winner: Jay Lethal, by pinfall

It was a wild match, and it took shots from Lethal to do it, but he just pinned the Rev-Pro Champion! Lethal says this is what ROH is about as he helps Oku to his feet and shakes his hand! The fans cheer, but will we see these two run it back soon enough?

ROH shares footage of The Frat House from after Supercard of Honor.

Cole Karter, Jacked Jameson, Preston Vance & Griff Garrison regrouped after their loss to The Dark Order, and Jameson shouted at the pledges to get the bags and the car. Can’t handle Dark Order 5v3?! That ref cheated! The ref grabbed Griff’s foot when Uno hit the neckbreaker! The Frat House should’ve won!! Vance says he thought he was done with The Dark Order, and he definitely thought that he was done with little Brodie Junior. So Dark Order, you can get it again, and leave that punky little rat kid at home! Karter wants to drink right now. Griff says there is a bar nearby. Vance likes where their heads are at.

Because remember, whether they win or lose, they BOOOOOOZE~! And transition into their night at the bar! They forget where but they’re having fun chugging while it rains! They bring pledges and random locals into the games, and they’re ready for Flip Cups, Beer Pong, and more Beer Pong! And unlike the Six Man Tag, they dominate the drinking games without question! “I’M THE GREATEST ALIVE~!” Okay, but will they be ready for another shot at The Dark Order? Or will they be too hungover for much of anything?

Hechicero w/ Rocky Romero VS Angelico w/ Serpentico!

The Alchemy of Lucha beat the Rev-Pro British Heavyweight Champion at Supercard, but he wants THE ROH World Championship first! Will Hechicero sharpen his skills as the summer heats up? Or will the South African Stud cool things down with his chill vibes?

The Code of Honor is not upheld, and Hechi points out the fans cheering him on. Angelico still offers, but then he leaves Hechi hanging. The two circle, Angelico leans on the ropes but Hechi still goes for a leg. The ref counts, hechi lets go at quatro, and the two reset. They tie up, Angelico wrenches and hammerlocks to then spin Hechi and wristlock. Hechi slips through, does his own Bernie Lean, then he shoves Angelico down! Hechi rolls Angelico to a facelock but Angelico wrenches out. Hechi moves around, trips Angelico, and he rolls to hook Angelico by a leg! Then he floats back to a hammerlock! Angelico reaches out to the ROPEBREAK!

The ref counts again, Hechi lets go at quatro, and he taunts Angelico. Serpentico coaches Angelico and the two reset again. Angelico knuckle locks, rolls, and traps the arm between his legs to bend it! Hechi endures, SLAPS Angelico’s leg, then ties the legs up for a modified FIGURE FOUR! Angelico scrambles to the ROPEBREAK! Hechi lets go, Angelico goes to a corner, and Hechi eggs Angelico on. The fans rally behind Hechi as he and Angelico reset. They knuckle lock, Hechi wrenches then headlocks. Angelico fires body shots, powers up and out, but Hechi RUNS Angelico over! Hechi grabs an arm and twists the wrist!

Hechi steps over, LA MAGISTROL! TWO and Angelico has a cover, TWO! Both men stand, Angelico sweeps to cover, ONE! Hechi sweeps to cover, ONE! Both men spring up and Hechi dazzles with his alchemy. The fans cheer but Angelico springs up to spin and Bernie Lean! The fans do cheer that, but then Hechi runs up! Angelico dodges, KICKS, KICKS, and SOBATS! Angelico whips, Hechi reverses, then Hechi CROSSBODIES Angelico against ropes! SLEEPER! The fans fire up, the ref counts, and Hechi lets go. Hechi argues with the ref, but that lets Rocky sucker punch Angelico! Snakeman warns Azucar, but Hechi BOOTS Angelico!

Hechi stomps Angelico, the fans chant “Rocky Sucks!” but Rocky tells them to shut up! Hechi stomps away on Angelico, then stands him up top CHOP! Hechi follows Angelico to another corner, whips, but Angelico reverses. Hechi goes up and out, avoids a boot and CHOPS! Then he DRAPING DRAGON SCREWS the leg! Angelico writhes, Hechi climbs a corner, and the fans rally. Angelico rises, Hechi leaps, but Angelico DROPKICKS Hechi first! The fans fire up for the antiair but Rocky freaks out! A standing count starts, the fans rally even harder, but both men are down even at cinco! Angelico sits up first, but Hechi follows.

Both men stand at ocho, and then Angelico ROCKS Hechi! And counter punches! Then dodges a shot to fire off more kicks and a KNEE! The fans fire up and Angelico whips, but Hechi reverses. Angelico rolls off Hechi’s back, Hechi avoids the sweep but not the EDDY GORDO KICK! Angelico steps over, LA CASITA, TWO! Hechi escapes and the fans rally again. Angelico brings Hechi up, whips him to ropes, but Hechi reverses, only for Angelico to clinch! FLATLINER! Cover, TWO! Hechi stays in this but Angelico grabs a leg! Angelico hooks Hechi up but Rocky gets on the apron! Angelico storms up so Rocky drops back.

Hechi dropkicks the legs out! Then BASEMENT DDT! Angelico goes to a corner, and Hechi runs up to STEP-UP KNEE! Hechi then hammerlocks and SWINGS Angelico for EL CONJURO! Cover, Hechicero wins!

Winner: Hechicero, by pinfall

Angelico gave The Wizard a run for his money, but perhaps that spoonful of Azucar helped the medicine go down. But then Rocky adds insult to injury by BOOTING Serpentico! The fans boo as Hechicero y Rocky beat up on SAP! But wait! HOLOGRAM is here! The undefeated luchador of the future leaps in and FLYING RANAS! Then he dodges Rocky to SUPERKICK! The fans fire up for Hologram as he eggs Hechicero on! Hologram stands with SAP, will they stand in Hechicero’s way of facing Bandido for the world title? Or will Hechicero hand Hologram his first loss in AEW/ROH?

My Thoughts:

A really good ROH at just under 45 minutes, but only so much could happen after Supercard and All In when this was recorded sometime before those shows. Very good promos edited in after, though, with Athena obviously aiming for the AEW Women’s World Championship, Dustin Rhodes being so thankful to be TNT Champion, and Lee Moriarty being even more motivated after his win over Blue Panther. Frat House of course party their troubles away, but they apparently want a rematch with Dark Order, so that might be something good for down the line. Very good match from Atlantis Jr. VS Lee Johnson, but I figured Atlantis would win to keep things strong in the CMLL-ROH-AEW relationship.

Diamante of course beat Maya World, but I do think Diamante should go for the Interim ROH Women’s TV Championship, maybe get back on that story of wanting to be Team Athena. Great match from Oku VS Lethal, and Lethal getting the win was only a touch surprising. Lethal has been once again put on the backburner after how he wanted to get going in ROH again and how Team Triple J had a weird restructuring without Sonjay Dutt, but maybe he and Oku can have an awesome Rev-Pro British Heavyweight Championship for Forbidden Door where Oku gets his win back.

And great main event from Angelico VS Hechicero, but I figured Hechi would win. Hechi & Rocky beating up SAP bringing out Hologram rather than Bandido is a little surprising, but Hologram and Hechicero had great interactions during those Conglomeration VS Don Callis Family matches that doing another Six Man Tag here in ROH would really be something. I just feel like TK needs to pull the trigger on Hologram and get him a title. Why have him be undefeated for so long if he’s not going to be an undefeated champion?

My Score: 8.7/10