You wanna get loco? Let’s get loco!

While Hechicero waits for his shot at Death Before Dishonor, ROH World Champion Bandido steps onto the Proving Grounds with El Gringo Loco!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• ROH World Championship Proving Ground Match: Bandido VS El Gringo Loco; Bandido wins and denies Gringo Loco a title match.
• Jay Lethal & Satnam Singh w/ Karen Jarrett VS Hunter Holdcraft & GPA; Lethal & Singh win.
• Athena & Billie Starkz VS Missa Kate & Laynie Luck; Athena & Billie win.
• Six Man Tag: The Dark Order VS Los Depredadores; Los Depredadores win.
• Mistico & Mascara Dorada VS Blake Christian & Lee Johnson; Mistico & Dorada win.

PLAY BY PLAY

ROH World Championship Proving Ground Match: Bandido VS El Gringo Loco!

The Most Wanted is indeed that, as he and Brody King just won a massive tag match over The Young Bucks while Hechicero waits for his shot at this title at Death Before Dishonor. Will Bandido be able to keep up with his own busy schedule? Or will he get caught off guard by The Crazy White Boy?

The fans are already fired up for Bandido even before the bell. The Code of Honor is upheld, the bell rings, and we’re on the clock! The fans rally as the two circle, then they start throwing forearms! Gringo SOBATS, whips, but Bandido jumps the dropdown then handsprings. Gringo dodges, Bandido dodges, and then Bandido mule kicks! Bandido whips Gringo to a corner, runs up, but is put up top! Bandido BOOTS Gringo and FLYING RANAS! The fans fire up and Bandido builds speed, but Gringo TOSSES him out! Gringo then FLIES! Down goes Bandido and the fans fire up for Gringo now! Gringo drags Bandido up and into the ring to cover, TWO!

The fans rally and duel as Gringo drags Bandido up. Gringo CHOPS Bandido, whips, but Bandido reverses to SOBAT! Bandido runs, tilt-o-whirls, but Gringo makes it a FACEBUSTER! Gringo runs to LARIAT! Cover, TWO! The fans rally up and Gringo reels Bandido in. Bandido slips free of the bomb, then Bandido runs, POP-UP RANA! Cover, TWO! Gringo escapes and the fans rally up. Bandido brings Gringo up to put him on the top rope, then he climbs. Gringo and Bandido brawl, the fans duel, and Bandido goes to scoop. Gringo CLUBS Bandido, stands, and swivels the hips! DROP-DOWN SPLIT LEG MOONSAULT! Cover, TWO!

The fans fire up as Bandido survives! Gringo waits on Bandido to rise up, then runs back in, but into a BOOT! Gringo comes back, Bandido UPPERCUTS! Bandido goes up to TORNILLO! The fans fire up, Bandido fireman’s carries, and he gives Gringo a G T S! Then Bandido goes up the corner! The fans rally, but then Gringo CLUBS Bandido on the back! Gringo goes outside, says he’s gonna end this, and he goes up the ropes! Gringo has Bandido on the very top, for a SUPER DUPER REVERSE SPANISH FLY! Cover, TWO!! Bandido survives and Gringo can’t believe it, but Chicago is thunderous! Gringo drags Bandido to the drop before he goes back up the corner.

The fans fire up again, Gringo SWITCHFOOT MOONSAULTS, but flops! Bandido then runs in and CRUCIFIX DRIVERS! The fans fire up again as Bandido puts Gringo in a drop zone. Bandido goes right up top, and he gives some Latino Heat, FROG SPLASH!! Cover, Bandido wins!

Winner: Bandido, by pinfall (denies El Gringo Loco a title opportunity)

The Most Wanted was able to keep up with the Crazy White Boy, and he finishes this one off in under ten minutes! But now, Bandido must focus on other challenges! Will he and Brody King head for Forbidden Door and the AEW World Tag Team Championships? Will Bandido be ready for whatever magic tricks Hechicero might pull at Death Before Dishonor? Or could all of that go away with the summer?

Blake Christian & Lee Johnson speak.

Big Shotty says, “Over the last few months, my boy, Blake and I, have not only been on a roll, but we have really been figuring it out as a tag team together.” Vanilla Baby says, “That’s right, everything has been clicking on every, single level. And y’know what? I think it’s time to take it to the next level.”  Lee asks if Blake is thinking what he’s thinking, and Blake says oh yeah: The ROH World Tag Team Championships! With Dustin Rhodes out of action with double knee replacement surgery, the future of those titles is indeed in flux. Could Blake & Lee be the NEW ROH World Tag Team Champions?

Six Man Tag: The Dark Order VS Los Depredadores!

Speaking of titles, Dustin Rhodes going down with injury puts the ROH World Six Man Championships up for grabs. Will Evil Uno, Alex Reynolds & John Silver finally have some gold? Or will Volador Jr, Magnus y Rugido represent CMLL in the chase?

The trios sort out and Los Depredadores get the fans to cheer for “LUCHA LIBRE!” Rugido and Reynolds step up and the bell rings. They circle, the two feel things out, and tie up. Rugido waistlocks, Reynolds switches, Rugido switches back, but Reynolds hits a headlock takeover. Rugido fights up and around to hammerlock, but Reynolds switches it onto Rugido. The fans rally, Rugido fireman’s carries to THROW Reynolds! The fans cheer as the two stand off. They go again, knuckle lock, and Rugido wrenches to arm-drag. Reynolds fights up, whips Rugido away, but Rugido RUNS Reynolds over! The fans cheer, things speed up, and Reynolds hurdles!

Rugido leaps over Reynolds and comes back to run and hip-toss! Reynolds UP KICKS, then runs up! Reynolds dodges, Rugido leaps over, but Reynolds waistlocks. Rugido bucks Reynolds, fires up, and he puts Reynolds on the apron! Rugido runs up, Reynolds hooks him up, ROPE COBRA! The ref counts, Reynolds lets go at 4, then Reynolds goes up top. CROSSBODY! Cover, TWO! Reynolds stalks Rugido to the ropes, but Magnus runs in! Lucha rules seem to be in effect as Magnus is now legal, and the fans fire up with the man in the red mask. But then Reynolds bails out so Evil Uno steps in! The fans rally, Magnus RAMS with Uno, but Uno doesn’t budge!

Magnus does pushups to pump up, and he RAMS Uno again! Uno tells Magnus to run, Magnus runs, but then Magnus ducks a lariat! Uno comes back to RANA! The fans fire up, but here comes Volador! Uno DECKS Volador, then dodges Rugido! Uno shouts at Rugido, “STOP~!” Then he DECKS Rugido! Uno swivels them hips, but then Los Depredadores attack all at once! They mug Uno, BLAST Reynolds & Silver, then they stomp away on Uno! The fans are torn but Los Depredadores soak up the cheers and jeers. Then they hoist Uno up onto the top rope, and Volador climbs up to go after the mask!

The fans boo but Magnus distracts the ref. Then Volador distracts the ref so Rugido can try! Uno fights against that, Silver & Reynolds protest, but Rugido stops before he’s caught. Magnus tries now but Uno still fights back! Magnus CLUBS Uno into a Tree of Woe, then Depredadores stomp Uno down! The fans boo but Magnus drags Uno up. Uno breaks free, Magnus dodges, but Uno blocks the kick! Uno gives the foot to the ref and hits a NECKBREAKER! The fans rally up while both men are down. Uno crawls, hot tag to Silver! Silver dodges Magnus, BLASTS Rugido y Volador, then fires off KICKS on Magnus!

Silver KICKS and KICKS and KICKS, then runs, but Magnus UPPERCUTS! Magnus runs but Silver BOOTS him! Silver runs to BOOT Magnus again, then GERMAN SUPLEXES! Bridging cover, Rugido breaks it! Rugido y Volador TOSS Reynolds & Uno, then they mug Silver. They CHOP away, then double whip Silver corner to corner. Ruigdo is sent in but then sent outside! Volador is sent in, he’s sent outside! Silver DECKS Rugido, DECKS Volador, then dodges Magnus! Reynolds runs in and LARIATS! Silver runs in and forearm SMASHES! Uno runs in and SPLASHES! Feed to the FLAPJACK UPPERCUT!

The fans fire up with Dark Order, and Silver says raise the roof! Or rather, lift up Magnus! Uno & Reynolds do their part, but Rugido y Volador trip Silver! They send him into the desk, then Magnus gives Rugido a boost, DROPKICK to Reynolds! They wrench and whip Uno to a corner! Rugido LARIATS, feeds Volador’s SUPERKICK, then Magnus kicks low! Magnus underhooks, and he manages to lift Uno for a BUTTERFLY SUPLEX! Rugdio MACHO ELBOWS! Volador steps over, LA MAGISTROL! Depredadores win!

Winners: Los Depredadores, by pinfall

The Dark Order is good, but Volador and the Mexican National Tag Team Champions still come out on top! Will they be the ones to take the ROH World Six Man titles? Or can the Dark Order still find their way to the top?

QT Marshall speaks.

“Y’know, I’m a really busy guy. I don’t have time to live in the past, I live in the present. And Paul Walter-Hauser, you should probably do the same. Shouldn’t you be celebrating the fact that you’re, like, what? The fifth top star in the new Naked Gun? But instead, you’re on the red carpet and you’re talking about me. Look, Paul, it ain’t my fault that you’re an alcoholic. And for the last time, I didn’t know there was alcohol in that cup. And the minute I found out, I was horrified! And I’ve apologized over and over and over. Because at the end of the day, Paul, you’re a fan. And there’s nothing I love more than being nice to the fans.

“I mean, that’s this whole thing started, right? I tried being nice to a fan, and it blew up in my face. Lesson learned. But the more I think about this, this isn’t about me at all. This is about Paul Walter-Hauser, and his fixation on telling the entire world that he’s a professional wrestler. Paul, you’re nothing more than an egomaniac. And why? Because you’re some big movie guy who lives in a fantasy world? Listen, I get it. In the movie world, you can write your own story, you can create your own ending. But this isn’t a fantasy land, Paul, this is ROH, and I don’t get paid to play pretend, I get paid to fight.

“So next week, I invite you (Paul) to Roanoke, Virginia to watch a true professional wrestler. In fact, I think I’ll even roll out the red carpet to make you feel a little more comfortable. And then after I’m done, we can finally sit down and settle this misunderstanding once and for all.” QT smiles, but is it all tongue and cheek? Or is the self-proclaimed Gift to Wrestling actually being genuine?

Mistico & Mascara Dorada VS Blake Christian & Lee Johnson!

El Sky Team es en ROH, and they’re ready to reach new heights! But we just heard how Vanilla Baby & Big Shotty are aimed right at the ROH World Tag Team Championships. Will Mistico y Mascara also represent for CMLL? Or can Blake & Lee win their biggest match yet?

The teams sort out and Dorada starts against Blake. The Code of Honor is skipped and the bell rings. They circle, Blake trips Dorada, and things speed up. Blake handsprings over the dropdown, then sidesteps to hurdle. Dorada leaps over, Blake kips up to RANA, but Dorada handsprings through! Dorada RANAS buy Blake handsprings through! Dorada offers the handshake, Blake takes it, just to kick low! The fans boo but Blake whips Dorada to a corner. Dorada goes up and over, then dodges Blake with another handspring! Things keep moving as fans chant “Lucha Libre!” Dorada tilt-o-whirls but Blake slips free!

Dorada staggers, Blake runs up, but Dorada dodges and YANKS the ropes to snap Blake back! Dorada SOBATS, FRONT KICKS, and PELES! Blake falls and the fans fire up! Dorada drags Blake up, wrenches and wristlocks, then he tags Mistico. The fans fire up but Blake runs away! Tag to Lee and he circles with the Talisman of CMLL. The fans rally behind “MISTICO! MISTICO!” but Lee gets in his face. They circle, tie up, and Lee waistlocks. Mistico fires elbows to then switch, but Lee bucks the O’Conner. Mistico drops, hurdles, but Lee rolls Mistico! But Mistico avoids the sliding forearm! Then Mistico springboards and CROSSBODIES!

Things keep moving, Mistico RANAS Lee and the fans fire up! Lee stands up, Mistico blocks his shot to knuckle lock and CHOP! Mistico goes up, up, balances, and he FLYING ARM-DRAGS! The fans fire up as Lee tumbles away! Tag to Dorada, El Sky Team double whip! They hurdle then trip Lee to CAMEL CLUTCH DROPKICK! The fans fire up, Lee bails out, but Blake runs in! Dorada DUMPS Blake out to join Lee! Then Mistico joins in, El Sky Team builds speed as the fans rally up! But Blake & Lee get in! El Sky Team dodges to handspring and DOUBLE BACK ELBOW! The fans fire up while Blake & Lee bail out again.

The fans rally as El Sky Team aims again. They build speed and they DOUBLE DIVE! Down go Blake & Lee from the stereo topes! The fans fire up again and El Sky Team high-fives. Dorada drags Lee up, puts him in, then brings him around to whip. Lee grabs the ropes, Blake tags in, Dorada runs up only to be hung out to dry! Blake goes up to GUILLOTINE SPLASH! Lee then THROWS Dorada into railing! The fans tell them off but Blake & Lee soak up that heat. Blake whips Dorada hard into railing and Dorada flops to the floor. The ref reprimands but Blake puts Dorada in. The fans rally for Dorada but Blake ELBOWS him in the head.

Blake snapmares Dorada, runs, and basement DROPKICKS! High stack, TWO! Blake talks smack to Mistico, then he drags Dorada over. Blake stomps Dorada in the corner, tags Lee, and Lee stomps a mudhole in. The fans rally, the ref counts, but Lee says Dorada’s got NOTHING! Lee steps off of Dorada, stands him up, and he RAMS Dorada again and again! The ref counts, Lee stops and argues with the ref, and that lets Blake get his shots in! The fans boo but Lee goes back to Dorada. Lee snapmares Dorada, then blows a kiss to Mistico before the SLIDING FOREARM on Dorada! Cover, TWO! Dorada toughs it out but Lee tags Blake.

Blake drags Dorada up, he and Lee double whip, but Dorada handsprings! Lee & Blake dodge, Dorada dodges Blake! GAMANGIRI from Mistico for Blake! Tag to Mistico and he FLYING RANAS Lee! The fans fire up as Lee & Blake regroup. Mistico dodges them both, then uses Blake to get up and RANA Lee! Mistico keeps moving, springboard BACK ELBOW takes down Blake! Cover, TWO! The fans fire up and Mistico tags Dorada! Dorada goes up the corner to DIVING- NO, Blake dodges! Blake comes back, whips Dorada, then runs in, only to be put on the apron. But Blake APRON SPEARS Mistico! Blake goes up and over Dorada to roll up, with tights! TWO!!

Dorada escapes but Blake SUPERKICKS! Tag to Lee, Blake runs up on Dorada, ALLEY-OOP POWERBOMB COMBO! Blake FOSBURY TOPES Mistico! Lee covers Dorada, TWO! Dorada survives and the fans fire up again! Lee punches some fire back into himself, then he tags Blake. The fans rally for Dorada but Blake goes up a corner. Dorada rises to GAMANGIRI! Dorada then goes up the corner from the outside! He’s up top with Blake, SUPER DUPER STEINER but Blake lands out! Blake wags his fingers as he does his best Will Ospreay, and then he BOOTS Dorada! Mistico SUPERKICKS Blake! Lee SUPERKICKS Mistico! Dorada SUPERKICKS Lee!

Dorada runs up on Blake, STANDING SPANISH FLY! But Mistico CRUCIFIX DRIVERS! Lee tilt-o-whirl DDTS Mistico! Dorada is up, he scoops Lee for a POWERSLAM! All four men are down and the fans are thunderous! Chicago says, “This is Awesome!” and they rally up. Dorada rises first, but Blake SUPERKICKS him again! Lee tags in, then fireman’s carries Dorada. Blake goes up, but Dorada fights free! Dorada waistlocks, Lee switches, they run to the corner and Blake leaps over. Dorada bucks the O’Conner, but runs into an ALLEY-OOP! But Dorada RANAS Blake! Then he SUPERKICKS Lee!

Tag to Mistico and Dorada builds speed! Dorada FOSBURY FLOPS Blake! Mistico springboards to CROSSBODY Lee! Lee gets up, swings, but mises! Mistico hits LA MYSTICA!! FUJIWARA ARMBAR!! LEE TAPS, EL SKY TEAM WINS!

Winners: Mistico y Mascara Dorada, by submission

The fans cheer and sing along with Me Muero as El Sky Team celebrates this great victory. Will they soon be celebrating championship victory? Or can Vanilla Baby & Big Shotty still get the gold?

My Thoughts:

A great ROH here at just about 47 minutes. I should have actually anticipated the Proving Grounds match being first since they only last ten minutes max. A great showing from Gringo but man, why does he only get a Proving Grounds when Adam Priest got a title match outta relatively nowhere? Oh well, Bandido was gonna win either way. A little surprised Hechicero didn’t show up to at least cut a promo, it’s like they aren’t trying to build the match anymore despite finally announcing it. For that matter, where in the world has the ROH Women’s Pure Championship gone? Did Carmen Sandiego steal it?

I skimmed the squash matches, good stuff really. Athena & Billie were actually doing combo moves and strings of moves, something they have hardly ever done in the two years that they’ve been a duo. It mostly works as good momentum builder on Athena’s part with the Forbidden Door AEW Women’s World Championship match coming. Very good promo from QT to respond to the Paul Walter-Hauser interview, and I look forward to PWH confronting QT in Roanoke next week, or rather this Saturday since that’s clearly when ROH is being taped. Maybe they set up some kind of match for Death Before Dishonor with it, too.

Great stuff from the CMLL luchadores as always. They didn’t want to say it yet, but I’m pretty sure big matches will be made to crown the vacated ROH World Tag Team and ROH World Six Man Tag Team Championships with Dustin Rhodes out. By the way, hopes and prayers for a speedy recovery on Dustin’s part, but both knees being shot is rough stuff. ROH can clearly set up a Global Wars style crossover match with stars from CMLL and Rev-Pro getting in on this, but ultimately an AEW/ROH team should win, and part of me hopes Shane Taylor Promotions gets to swoop in and get at least one of the titles. STP has been building up slowly, time to turn up the heat and make them the core of ROH.

My Score: 8.8/10