Who will step up to the Fallen Goddess?

Athena is still the ROH Women’s World Champion, and she is here to celebrate 1000 days! But will it (not) go how she wants?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• ROH Women’s World Championship Proving Grounds Match: Athena w/ Billie Starkz VS Dayami; Athena wins and denies Dayami a title match.
• The Swirl VS Thomas Heim & Joe Alonzo; The Swirl wins.
• John Silver VS Wheeler Yuta w/ Marina Shafir; Yuta win.
• 2v1 Handicap: Lance Archer w/ Rocky Romero VS KOE; Archer wins.
• Spanish Announce Project VS Philly Collins & Marino Tenaglia; SAP wins.
• Katsuyori Shibata VS Jordan Oliver; Shibata wins.
• Holo.grm & Tomohiro Ishii VS The Premier Athletes w/ Mark Sterling; Hologram & Ishii win.

PLAY BY PLAY

ROH Women’s World Championship Proving Grounds Match: Athena w/ Billie Starkz VS Dayami!

The Fallen Goddess has reached the milestone no one else has: 1000 DAYS as ROH Women’s World Champion! But if no man can touch her and no woman can beat her, what chance does anyone have of ending her reign?

The Code of Honor is upheld, the bell rings, and the two circle. Athena swings, Dayami dodges and fires off forearms! Athena shoves Dayami, Dayami blocks a lariat to ENZIGIRI! The fans rally for Dayami, she runs up and LARIATS! Dayami then snapmares Athena out of the corner, goes up the ropes, and leaps, but into a BOOT! Billie cheers, as do the fans, and Athena HAMMERS away on Dayami! The ref counts, Athena tells him not to tell her what to do, and Athena TOSSES Dayami out. Athena argues with the ref, goes out and THROWS Dayami into the railing! “Did you miss me, Minions?” The fans cheer!

Athena drags Dayami up, but Dayami fires body shots! Dayami ROCKS Athena with forearm after forearm! Then she kicks, only for Athena to block! Athena slips under to APRON POWERBOMB! The fans fire up, Athena puts Dayami in the ring, and Athena BASEMENT FLATLINERS! KOJI KLUTCH! Dayami is OUT, Athena wins!

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

The Minion Overlord, the American Joshi, the ROH Gatekeeper, continues to be undefeated in Proving Ground matches, meaning she has no one on her level. But will there come a day when forever ends?

Bandido speaks.

It was after Death Before Dishonor last Friday night, after The Most Wanted was successful in defending his ROH World Championship, that he said, “Let me say this in Spanish. <This is for all of my people. To all my fellow Mexicans that have been down, for all the people who have fallen and not known how to return. Here I am, after two years out, two years hurt, without being able to get in the ring. My heart. I am a champion who only put his heart in every ring, for all of you so that you realize, yes we can! Yes, we can come back from adversity! Yes, we can come back as champions! Here is the result! The Most Wanted is still the ROH World Champion! For all of you, and by you. Thank you so much!>”

Passionate words from a passionate, fighting champion! Bandido made it through Konosuke Takeshita, made it through Hechicero, will he make it through the rest of this year and beyond?

BREAKING NEWS!

There will be a bonus episode tomorrow, Friday, September 5th, free gratis on YouTube, and we will see Bandido battle Lee Johnson on the Proving Ground! Will #BigShotty earn himself a title shot? Or will Blackjack 21 make him bust?

MORE BREAKING NEWS!

ROH Final Battle is set for Friday, December 5th, in Columbus, Ohio, coinciding with GalaxyCon! That’s right, you can enjoy your favorite fandoms all at once with both ROH and GalaxyCon hitting The Biggest Small Town in America! Tickets on sale now!

John Silver VS Wheeler Yuta w/ Marina Shafir!

The Dark Order may have lost to MXM TV last week, but the Death Riders have been losing quite a bit themselves. But will The Meat Man get himself back on track? Or will The Decoder have the solution with The Problem in his corner?

The Code of Honor is not upheld as Yuta flips Silver off, but the fans were already cussing Yuta out so this was expected. The bell rings, the two circle, and they tie up. Silver powers Yuta back, Yuta puts Silver in the corner, and the ref counts. Yuta lets off slowly, then he SLAPS Silver! Silver CHOPS Yuta down! The fans cheer, but Yuta drop toeholds Silver. Yuta floats all over, slaps Silver around, then waistlocks. Silver pries free but Yuta CHOPS! Silver CHOPS Yuta off his feet again! The fans cheer and Silver KICKS Yuta! The fans sing, “F HIM UP, JOHNNY, F HIM UP!” Silver KICKS Yuta again!

Yuta goes to the ropes, Silver hushes everyone, and he KICKS Yuta down! Even Silver winces hearing the impact of that one! Silver snapmares Yuta, and PENALTY KICKS! There was impact there, too! Cover, TWO! Silver whips Yuta, Yuta reverses, and Yuta hurdles, only for Silver to catch him and POWERBOMB him! The fans fire up and Silver flexes. Yuta bails out, Marina coaches him up, but Silver goes out to put Yuta on the barriers. Silver CHOPS and the fans fire up! Yuta fires a forearm, but Silver ROCKS Yuta in return! Silver whips Yuta into railing! The fans cheer, and Silver KICKS Yuta against the barriers! And KICKS again!

Silver brings Yuta around, Yuta fires another forearm, but Silver ROCKS him! Silver puts Yuta in the ring, but Marina creeps over. The ref warns her, but then Yuta ROCKS Silver! The fans boo, but then Silver CHOPS! Silver CLUBS Yuta, CLUBS him again, but Yuta HOTSHOTS! And he DIVES! Down goes Silver! The fans boo more but Yuta leaves Silver behind. Yuta distracts the ref while Marina creeps over, and she THROWS Silver down! But wait! NOW Dark Order comes on out, they won’t stand for the shenanigans! The ref has everyone back off, and Yuta puts Silver in the ring. Yuta SENTONS, covers, TWO! Silver is still in this but Yuta is annoyed.

Yuta KNEES Silver in the back, the fans rally, but Yuta KNEES Silver again! Yuta clamps on with a chinlock and he grinds Silver down. Silver endures, Uno & Reynolds coach him up and the fans rally. Silver rises, fires body shots, then he reels Yuta in! Yuta fights the suplex to wrench, and he BITES Silver’s forehead! The ref counts, the fans boo, but Yuta stops. Then Yuta CHOKES Silver on the ropes! The ref counts again, Yuta stops and reminds us, “I have ’til five!” The fans boo, but Silver SUPERKICKS Yuta! Yuta tumbles, rewinds, and he slips around, GERMAN SUPLEX! But Silver is right back up and LARIATS!

The fans are all fired up while Silver and Yuta are down! Uno & Reynolds coach Silver up, the fans chant, “Johnny Hungy!” Silver fires a forearm, Yuta fires back! Silver KICKS, but Yuta fires a forearm! Silver KICKS, Yuta forearms, repeat! They go back and forth, the fans fire up, and Silver fires a flurry of forearms! Silver runs, but Yuta slips around, roll-up, but Silver slips through! KICK, KICK, SUPERKICK, and deadlift BRAINBUSTER! Cover, TWO!! The fans chant, “That was Three!” but Silver stays focused. But wait, here comes JON MOXLEY! The Maniac is on ROH just to tell Yuta to get going.

Yuta sits up, Silver KICKS him! Silver KICKS again, then he flips off Moxley! Silver runs up, but Yuta blocks a kick! DRAGON SCREW, then a HALF CRAB! The fans rally as hard as they can as Silver endures! Silver powers up, turns over, and he kicks away at Yuta! Silver drags Yuta down, and has a STRAITJACKET CROSSFACE!! The fans are red hot, but Marina gets on the apron to shout at the ref! Reynolds YANKS Marina down! The fans cheer, but then Moxley helped Yuta get the ROPEBREAK! Uno ROCKS Moxley! Marina jumps on Uno! Reynolds drags Marina away, but Moxley clamps onto Uno with a SLEEPER!

The fans boo, but Silver KNEES Moxley down! But then a BUSAIKU KNEE hits Silver! Cover, Yuta wins!

Winner: Wheeler Yuta, by pinfall

Yuta got help, but even more than expected. Moxley is still proud of Yuta for winning, but will the Death Riders make it back to gold if this is how they win a simple singles match?

ROH Media catches up with Deonna Purrazzo.

It was after Death Before Dishonor that reporters found The Virtuosa on her way out, and asked her about Queen Aminata’s win in the Women’s Pure Championship Tournament. But then Trish Adora confronted Deonna, having seen her confront Aminata. Deonna must have something to say, but she has Trish first. The Afropunk has been overlooked for so long, and with STP getting titles, it’s her turn now. Deonna says, “Oh, is that what you think? You think I’m overlooking you?” Deonna laughs and says Trish is right, she is overlooking Trish, AND everyone else! Because the ROH Women’s Pure Championship wasn’t just created in her image, the entire DIVISION was!

So how about saying thank you for Deonna building the foundation you’re standing on ten years ago! Deonna is a former ROH Women’s World Champion, so next time Trish approaches her, say thanks. Deonna tries to wave Trish off dismissively, but Trish slaps that hand down! Trish reminds Deonna that she’s got Trish next, so watch yourself. Then see you in the ring. Deonna leaves, but will she make it through the tournament’s opening round? Or will she get caught off guard by the AfroPunk?

The Von Erichs speak.

This is not from after Death Before Dishonor as Ross & Marshall are still in Philly tonight, and Ross says that at DBD, Shane Taylor Promotions was the better team, he can accept that. What he cannot accept was the betrayal after. Marshall tells his brother that they learned some things that night. They learned that Philly don’t like Cowboys, and that Sammy Guevara is a snake. The Von Erichs came to ROH to tag with Dustin Rhodes, a true legend. They won belts together, fought at Globe Life Field, and they even teamed with Sammy, too. Sammy has pissed them off. He is officially in their crosshairs!

This isn’t just for them, they are doing this for Dustin, too! Sammy, the Von Erichs are coming after you! Will the Spanish God regret becoming ungovernable? Or will Ross & Marshall have no choice but to tranquilo?

Holo.grm & Tomohiro Ishii VS The Premier Athletes w/ Mark Sterling!

Don’t adjust your screens, we are getting this match again, as a rematch from Death Before Dishonor. However, is the futuristic luchador going to be alright knowing that there is a copycat coming soon? Or can he focus and help the Stone Pitbull shut down Tony Nese & Ariya Daivari once again?

Sigh… Smart Mark just has to talk… “Alright, Bobby, quiet down, hit the bricks, I’ll take it from here. Everybody knows Tony Nese, Ariya Daivari, the Premier Athletes!” The fans boo already, but Sterling says he never thought he’d be traveling to “Temu Cleveland,” but here we are. In fact, look around! No wonder Pete Rose left! Oh, right, this is in Cincy, not Philly. But Sterling says that’s okay, because there are some REAL athletes here! And you can take part in the pregame cheer. When he says, “Athletes,” you say, “Rule!” NOTHING ELSE! Hands in, boys. “Ohh…! ATHLETES!” “SUCK!!” They got him again! Will it be the same for this DBD rematch?

The teams sort out and Hologram starts against Nese. They keep the Code of Honor, but with some attitude, and the bell rings. The two circle, the fans chant, “Athletes Suck!” and Daivari says they didn’t even do anything! Nese and Hologram tie up, Nese hits a headlock takedown, and shouts, “Athletes Rule!” Nese pushes to a cover, ONE, and Hologram headscissors. Nese moves around, headstands and pops free to then headlock again. Hologram rolls to slip out and hammerlock. Nese fights up, powers Hologram to a corner, and the ref counts. Nese lets off, but he ELBOWS Hologram! The fans boo but Sterling claims that was legal!

Nese CHOPS Hologram, then he whips Hologram corner to corner. Hologram reverses, Nese stops himself and ELBOWS again! Nese goes up and backflips, but Hologram gets under. Nese does jumping jacks just to show off. Hologram runs, things speed up, Nese hurdles but Hologram leaps over. Hologram keeps moving, he rolls off Nese’s back, then he dodges to RANA! Hologram does jumping jacks to taunt Nese! The fans cheer, Sterling is upset, and Nese runs up, but Hologram arm-drags! Tag to Ishii, they mug Nese, and the fans rally. Nese throat chops Ishii! Tag to Daivari and Daivari fires hands!

Daivari talks smack, then CHOPS! Ishii just stands up straight! Daivari fires a forearm but Ishii shakes his head. The fans chant, “Athletes Suck!” Daivari HEADBUTTS, but Daivari’s the one to stagger back! Daivari goes to ropes, the ref wants Ishii to stay back, but Ishii pushes past the ref, only for Daivari to CLAW the eyes! Ishii bends the fingers back, then CHOPS! And he CLOBBERS Daivari! The fans fire up, Ishii tags Hologram, and they double whip Daivari to leapfrog, CHOP, ROUNDHOUSE, FOREARM, and ENZIGIRI! Daivari flops over, Nese runs in, and he whips, only for Hologram to reverse and TOSS Nese out!

The fans fire up, Sterling helps Daivari stand, but the ref reprimands. Sterling protests that as the manager, he can be here! Hologram takes aim, builds speed, but Nese trips him up! Nese drags Hologram out, and the fans boo as Nese THROWS Hologram into railing! Nese puts Hologram into the ring, Daivari covers, TWO! Daivari drags Hologram up, CHOKES him on the ropes, but stops as the ref reprimands. Daivari stops, but Sterling CHOKES Hologram now! The fans boo, Ishii protests, but Sterling gets away with that one. Hologram sputters, Sterling plays dumb, and Daivari drags Hologram back up.

Daivari whips Hologram hard into buckles, then tags Nese. Daivari puts Hologram in the ropes, Nese goes up, and Nese shouts, “ATHLETES!” The fans say, “SUCK!” Nese hits a GUILLOTINE LEG DROP! Cover, TWO! Nese drags Hologram up, UPPERCUTS him, and CHOPS him in the corner. Nese CHOPS again, but Hologram CHOP, CHOPS, and CHOPS! But Nese pokes Hologram in the eyes through the mask! Nese snapmares Hologram and clamps on a chinlock! The fans continue to taunt the Athletes, and Hologram fights up to his feet. Hologram fires body shots, reaches out, but Nese keeps him from Ishii!

The fans rally, Nese inches Hologram away, tag to Daivari! Daivari CLOBBERS Hologram, and the Athletes mug Hologram! The ref reprimands, Daivari says, “Athletes!” “SUCK!” Daivari is annoyed, but he tags Nese. They stand Hologram up, they double back suplex, but Hologram lands out! Hot tag to Ishii! Ishii rallies with shoulder tackles! Then a SAIDO for Nese! SAIDO for Daivari! The fans fire up for Ishii, but he runs into double kicks! The Athletes double whip, Nese runs up, but Ishii dodges to CLOBBER Daivari! Ishii wrenches Nese into a suplex! Cover, Daivari breaks it! Daivari CLUBS Ishii and Nese joins in.

The Athletes double whip, but Ishii DOUBLE LARIATS! The fans fire up and Hologram tags in! The Conglomeration double whip, Nese stops to KICK Hologram, SUPERKICK Ishii, and run again! But Hologram catches him for a SPANISH FLY! Hologram hurries up top, but Sterling distracts! The ref reprimands, but Daivari trips Hologram up! Daivari has his magic carpet! He goes up, up, MAGIC CARPET RIDE! Nese covers, TWO!! Hologram survives and the fans fire up! Tag to Daivari, the Athletes double choke grip, but Ishii DOUBLE LARIATS them! GERMAN SUPLEX for Daivari! Nese kicks low, BOOTS, but Ishii DISCUS LARIATS!

Daivari SUPERKICKS Ishii! Hologram HEEL KICKS Daivari! Ishii LARIATS! Hologram STANDING MOONSAULTS! Hologram goes up, Ishii sees Sterling get up, and he BLASTS Sterling down! Hologram tightrope walks to 450 SPLASH! Cover, Conglomeration wins!

Winners: Hologram & Tomohiro Ishii, by pinfall

And that’s another great win for Hologram & Ishii! Sterling will surely come up with another excuse for this loss, when he wakes up. But will momentum carry the Conglomeration towards the ROH World Tag Team Championships? Or will that other Hologram get in the way?

The Premier Athletes regroup backstage.

They get a camera crew to document this. The medic checks on Mark Sterling, and his arm seems to be injured. Daivari says this is absolute BS! He is sick and tired of wrestlers putting their hands on the Athletes’ manager! Sterling has a manager’s license, not a wrestler’s license! Nese is furious, and says time to fight fire with fire! Sterling has them calm down. Sterling says medics are telling him the bicep is torn. And they’re also telling him that he’ll need surgery! So you mean to tell him he can’t live a normal life? That he can’t pick up his daughter and hold her in his hands? That just says to him that we need a contingency plan.

The Athletes agree, and they have Sterling’s back. But doesn’t Sterling only have himself to blame for getting in the middle of everything? And just what will this Premier Contingency Plan look like?

My Thoughts:

A very good episode for ROH that clocks in at 58 minutes, but apparently they are putting a LOT into that YouTube episode tomorrow. I can’t claim they’re retaliating for WWE putting WrestlePalooza on September 20th, but… A possible alternative is that they realized there were leftovers from Cincinnati that they hadn’t gotten in, such as Athena VS Dayami and the main event of Ishii & Hologram VS Premier Athletes. Athena VS Dayami was even thrown on randomly before the Death Before Dishonor recap, which was dumb because these shows are always prerecorded, just put it on after. They didn’t even give us proper introductions for either person.

Anyway, good stuff in the “rematch” of Ishii & Hologram VS Premier Athletes, and while the Athletes losing again was expected, I appreciate this new direction with Sterling being written off and having a backup plan ready to go. I would think they reveal that plan as soon as tomorrow’s YouTube episode. For that matter, I’m wondering if we get more tease of “CLØN” during that episode. Death Riders being more present on ROH is an interesting move, too. Very good match from Silver VS Yuta, and Moxley being the tipping point for Yuta to win was a surprise. I don’t know where this goes, as The Death Riders still have a lot more going on in AEW, but maybe it helps Dark Order get going again on AEW.

And great promos from after Death Before Dishonor, especially Trish Adora confronting Deonna Purrazzo. Trish and Deonna are each in Pure Rules matches as warmups for their tournament match, so I’m sure both will win and have momentum. The Von Erichs also had a good promo responding to Sammy’s actions, and I’m sure we’ll see an ROH World Tag Team Championship feud of Ross & Marshall VS Sammy & Rush. But there might need to be a special ROH episode for that title match because I do not see them stretching this literally three months to Final Battle in December.

My Score: 8.7/10