The Forever Champion returns to ROH!

After losing in the AEW Women’s Tag Team Tournament, ROH Women’s World Champion, Athena returns to remind us this is HER show! But will she and Billie Starkz lay down the law?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Six Man Tag: Dalton Castle & The Outrunners VS Zack Mason, Warren Johnson & Savage King; Castle & The Outrunners win.
• Hechicero & Rocky Romero VS Spanish Announce Project; Hechicero & Rocky win.
• Athena & Billie Starkz VS Maya World & Hyan; Athena & Billie win.
• Blake Christian & Lee Johnson VS Vin Parker & Will Allday; Blake & Lee win.
• Lance Archer VS Aaron Solow; Archer wins.
• Mixed 8 Man Tag: Team Sky Flight VS MXM TV; Sky Flight wins.
• ROH Pure Championship Proving Grounds: Lee Moriarty VS Willie Mack; Lee wins and denies Mack a title opportunity.

PLAY BY PLAY

Six Man Tag: Dalton Castle & The Outrunners VS Zack Mason, Warren Johnson & Savage King!

The Peacock & The Youngest Men Alive have been red hot since becoming a trio, and they’re still turning up the heat! But will Dalton Castle, Truth Magnum & Turbo Floyd continue to break hearts as they climb up the ranks? Or will they be brought back down to Earth in the Fall?

The trios sort out, and Truth starts against #ZackZilla. Truth offers the Code of Honor handshake, but Zack says if Outrunners like flexing, check this! Zack does the “Most Muscular” pose but the fans boo. Zack and Truth circle, the fans rally up, and the two tie up. Truth slips around to waistlock then headlock, but Zack powers out, only for Truth to RUN him over! The fans cheer, especially as Truth flexes. Things keeps moving,. Truth counters a hip toss with a HIP TOSS! Then an arm-drag! And another arm-drag! Truth wrenches Zack, tags Turbo, and Turbo takes the handoff to wrench and wristlock.

Tag to Truth, they whip to BODY SHOT, KNEE LIFT, and BIG back suplex! The fans fire up as the Outrunners spin, but Savage King tags in. King fires hands, ROCKS and CHOPS and fires more body shots! Tag back to Zack, they double whip, but Truth blocks! Truth CHOPS and CHOPS and CHOPS! Truth BODY BLOWS Zack, tags Turbo, then whips Savage. Truth and Turbo each ELBOW a man, then the BULLDOG LARIAT COMBO hits! The fans fire up with The Outrunners, and then Turbo points to Castle. The fans cheer, and Turbo tags Castle! Warren tags in, but Castle THROWS him! Then Castle THROWS King! Zack waistlocks, Castle switches, GERMAN SUPLEX!

The fans fire up for The Peacock as he stands tall, and then he dodges Zack and King! The Outrunners DOUBLE LARIT those two out, and feed Warren to Castle! Scoop and SLAM! Then the Outrunners wind up, “YOU SON OF A B*TCH!” DOUBLE ELBOW DROP! And Castle tops it off with BANGARANG~! Cover, #Castlerunners win!

Winners: Dalton Castle & The Outrunners, by pinfall

The fans love to see it! Castle, Truth & Turbo are building momentum like they’re running downhill. Will they use that momentum to run right through Shane Taylor Promotions and take those Six Man titles? Or are they about to run right into a wall?

It’s an all-new edition of QTV.

Harley Cameron and Aaron Solow play Rock Paper Scissors, but clearly Harley doesn’t actually know how to play Rock Paper Scissors. QT Marshall then walks in and asks what they’ve got this week. Solow points with his chin and QT asks if that means he has something in his teeth. Harley says no, the thing it’s right behind QT, it’s on screen already. Oh! The graphic for Full Gear’s Tailgate Brawl. Solow says as announced last week, it will be #Boom&Doom VS RPG Vice. Can’t believe QT and AJ are friends now. No, they’re not friends, QT still can’t stand Big Boom AJ. But he hates the Don Callis Family even more.

Harley says yeah, how can you like a guy with what looks like a v*gina on his head? Solow asks QT if he thinks AJ will be ready. Oh, AJ will be ready. And think about this: it is going to be exactly a year since QT VS AJ, also in the Prudential Center. If there’s one place you don’t wanna count out two Italian American guys from New Jersey, it’s in New Jersey. Solow says that sounds good. So what else they got? Oh, gentlemen… Roll da GRAPHIC! Harley Cameron gets her shot at the ROH Women’s World Championship next Thursday on ROH TV! They applaud and cheer Harley on. Harley thanks them, and says that’s what happens when you pin the champ!

So is Harley gonna make an Athena puppet? Nah. No, better! A funny song! No, no, Harley will just beat the *hit out of her! And then Harley takes the ROH Women’s World Championship! Harley calls out Athena via the camera. Harley knows she is not the favorite to win, that she is the underdog, and that Athena is the “Forever Champion.” But we both knew that last week. And it occurred to Harley that everyone who has ever pinned Athena went on to become a champion in AEW. So why not Harley? On any one night, in any one match, why not Harley? Harley doesn’t need forever; she just needs three seconds. #FeelTheWrath!

Athena & Billie Starkz VS Maya World & Hyan!

Speaking of the Forever Champion, The Fallen Goddess, The Minion Overlord, The American Joshi, The ROH Gatekeeper, and THE longest reigning champion of any kind in ROH history, she is back on Honor Club! And while she lost in the AEW Women’s World Tag Team Championship Tournament, that has only made her angrier than usual! Will she and Minion 400,237 & 3/4ths get things back on track this close to Full Gear? Or are they severely overlooking #ThatGirl & The Renaissance Woman?

The teams sort out and Athena starts against Maya. They keep the Code of Honor, but then Athena DECKS Maya! Athena RAMS Maya to a corner, fires off hands and even stomps! The ref counts but Athena puts Maya on ropes. Athena CHOKES Maya on the ropes while shouting, “C’mon, Harley! C’mon, Harley! This is what you want, isn’t it?!” The ref counts, Athena backs off Maya to tell him to NOT tell her what to do! Then Athena goes back to Maya and bumps her off buclkes. Athena digs her boot in, CHOPS Maya at the same time, then stops at 4. Billie tags in while Athena CLUBS away! Now Athena is upset with Billie!

Billie says calm down, Boss, this is so they don’t get disqualified. But the arguing lets Maya hot tag Hyan! Hyan SHOTGUNS Athena & Billie down! Hyan trips Billie, covers, ONE! Hyan whips Billie to ropes, Athena tags in, and Billie dodges! Hyan LARIATS Athena, ELBOWS Billie, and repeat! The fans fire up as Hyan whips and BOOTS Athena down! The fans fire up with Hyan and she brings Athena around for a back suplex. Athena lands out, and she THROWS Hyan down, to then HANDSTAND KNEE DROP! Athena seethes while she looms over Hyan. She tags Billie hard, then shouts for Billie to do her part!

Billie sulks as she gets space, this is feeling a bit like their relationship all of last year… Billie runs in at Hyan and ROCKS her with a forearm! “Is that what you wanted?!” “Keep going!” Billie fires LARIAT after LARIAT, then she reels Hyan in for a snap suplex! Cover, TWO! Billie drags Hyan up, tags Athena, and they mug Hyan. Athena keeps calling out Harley, and she CLUBS Hyan down! She fishhooks Hyan and says this will be Harley! Athena CLUBS Harley down, then grins as she stalks Hyan. Athena stands Hyan up, SLAPS her down, and pushes her around. She’s even calling Hyan “Harley!”

Athena drags Hyan up, suplexes, but Hyan fights the lift! Hyan suplexes and FALCON ARROW! Cover, ONE!! Athena is angry now as she CLUBS and HAMMERS away on Hyan! The fans are torn but Athena has Hyan on the ropes. Athena CHOKES Hyan, steps off as the ref counts, and she brings Hyan around. Tag to Billie, they double whip Hyan to the corner, Athena back body blocks! Billie KNEES Hyan, Athena ROCKS her! Athena cheers herself but the fans boo. Athena then brings Hyan around and Billie ELBOWS away on Hyan!

Billie snapmares Hyan, tags Athena back, and Athena KICKS Hyan in the back! The fans rally as Athena reels Hyan in, hooks her up, but Hyan fights the lift! Hyan wrenches out, but Athena ducks a lariat! Hyna fights the waistlock, slips under, and hooks Athena up, DDT! The fans fire up while both women are down! A standing count begins, Athena and Hyan stir at 4 of 10, and they crawl for their corners, hot tags to Billie and Maya! Maya dodges Billie to SOBAT, KNEE, and then dodge again to DROPKICK! The fans fire up as Maya handsprings! Maya runs up, springboard, wheelbarrow, victory roll, STOMP 182!

The fans fire up, Maya hurries to cover, TWO! Billie survives but Maya is fired up! Maya drags Billie up, but Billie CLAWS the eyes! The ref counts, Billie stops to suplex, GHOSTBUSTER! Cover, Hyan breaks it! Athena whips Hyan, Hyan reverses, and Athena tumbles out! Athena drags Hyan out and THROWS her into railing! Then THROWS her into more railing! And then THROWS her into even more railing! Billie goes up, Maya is after her, but Athena tags in! Billie slips under to HOTSHOT Maya! Athena storms in, hooks Maya up< ATAXIA!! Into the KOJI KLUTCH!! Maya TAPS, Athena & Billie win!

Winners: Athena & Billie Starkz, by submission

Athena shouts, “HARLEY! THIS WILL BE YOU! THIS WILL BE YOU!!” The fans boo as Athena doesn’t let go, but Billie just poses with Athena. Athena finally lets Maya go, and she holds up the title. Will Athena do even worse to Harley next week? Or will someone finally #FeelTheWrath?

Lance Archer w/ Rocky Romero VS Aaron Solow!

We already know the showdown of Don Callis Family VS QT & AJ is coming, but the Murderhawk Monster- WAIT, Rocky attacks Solow during his entrance! The Extra Talented is ready and he fires forearms first! But then Archer CLOBBERS Solow from behind! And THROWS him down the ramp! The fans boo but Archer storms up to DECK Solow! Archer puts Solow in the ring, storms in after him, and the bell rings. Archer bumps Solow off buckles, then stands him up to CHOP! Solow sputters, the fans “WOO~,” and Archer brings him around. Fans want that “One More Time!” But Archer feints the chop!

Archer swings a haymaker but Solow dodges that! Solow CHOPS, CHOPS, and CHOPS, but Archer barely flinches! Archer DECKS Solow right down! Archer hauls Solow up to short arm LARIAT! Solow sputters, Archer takes off his shirt, and he holds it out to the fans, only to drop it on the floor. Archer stands Solow up to ROCK him again! Solow slumps against the corner but Archer runs corner to corner. Archer ELBOWS Solow, then goes again! ELBOW! Rocky says that’s two-ever! But Solow dodges three-ever! Solow runs up, but Archer STOMPS him down! The fans are torn as Archer calls his shot.

Archer stomps around while Solow rises up. Archer tells the fans to stop clapping along, then he guzels Solow! CHOKE- DROPKICK! Solow hits back and the fans fire up! Mule kick! Solow runs, but Archer catches him with both hands! “You done messed up now, boy!” POP-UP- RANA! Archer tumbles, gets up to take a swing, but Solow ducks ‘n’ dodges! Solow tilt-o-whirls to DDT! The fans fire up with Solow, that’s certainly new. DREAMCAST KICK! Cover, ONE?!? Archer is tougher than that but Solow hurries to a corner. The fans rally up as Solow climbs, but Archer distracts the ref for Rocky to SHOVE Solow down!

The fans boo, but Archer hauls Solow up! CHOKE SLAM! Archer isn’t done, he hoists Solow up top, UPPERCUTS, and reverse crucifix. BLACKOUT BOMB!! Cover, Archer wins!

Winner: Lance Archer, by pinfall

Might as well have called this a handicap match, but that’s how the Don Callis Family rolls. If #EverybodyDies, then will Full Gear be the death of QT Marshall & Big Boom AJ? Or can #Boom&Doom take down Roppongi Vice?

Mixed 8 Man Tag: Team Sky Flight VS MXM TV!

No need for a Casting Call here, Scorpio Sky, Top Flight & Leila Grey were all willing and able to face Johnny, Taya, Mason Madden & Mansoor! But will Sky Flight be soaring into Full Gear Week? Or will they not be #TVReady?

The teams sort out, and wait, Shane Taylor Promotions is in the crowd to talk trash right on Sky Flight. In the end, MXM TV group hugs and tip touches before the Iron Chic starts against Air Wolf, Darius Martin. Darius wants the Code of Honor handshake, but Mansoor wants the Fingertip of Honor… It is a stalemate until Darius shakes the finger. The bell rings, the two tie up, and Mansoor wrenches to CRANK the wristlock. Darius rolls, kips up, but Mansoor has him right in a headlock! Mansoor grinds Darius down, has a cover, ONE and the two stand up. Darius powers up and out, hurdles, but Mansoor avoids the dropdown.

Mansoor winds up but Darius avoids the elbow drop! Darius WRINGS Mansoor’s arm, has him in a corner, and he UPPERCUTS! Darius whips corner to corner, Mansoor reverses, but Darius goes up and over. Darius rolls, returns, and arm-drags! Then arm-drags again! Mansoor avoids the third and hits the ELBOW DROP! But then Darius arm-drags anyway! Darius brings Mansoor over, tags The Flyest Baddie, and Leila goes up, only for Mansoor to ROCK Darius! Leila still leaps to FLYING RANA! Mansoor tumbles, Taya storms in, and Leila dodges! Taya dodges! Leila blocks a boot to THROW Taya down!

Leila whips, Taya reverses, but Leila dodges in the corner to SHINING WIZARD! And BULLDOG! The fans fire up, Leila covers, ONE! Tag to Johnny, and he dares her to try some of that! Leila nods, dodges Johnny, then dodges again! Tag to Dante Martin, and Angel Dorado speeds things up with the Guru of Greatness! Dante goes up and over, then blocks a shot to fire off on Johnny! Dante shoves Johnny, Johnny ducks the enzigiri, then laughs, only to take a JUMP SOBAT! Tag to Darius, then tag to Scorpio! They double whip Johnny to then DOUBLE DROPKICK! The fans cheer, Scorpio covers, TWO!

Johnny scrambles to the ropes, Scorpio ROCKS him then whips him. Mason saves Johnny, Mansoor runs in, but Scorpio DECKS Mansoor! But then Mansoor calls to the ref about his eye or something, as a distraction! Scorpio turns to Johnny, but Mason & Taya give Johnny a BOOST into his slide! LOW BLOW UP KICK! The fans boo but Johnny tags Mason. They double wrench and SWEEP THE LEG HIGH-LOW COMBO! Cover, TWO! Mason DRIBBLES Scorpio off the mat, then swaggers into his ELBOW DROP! Cover, TWO! Scorpio survives but Mason drags him up. Mason CLUBS Scorpio, tags Mansoor, Mansoor CLUBS Scorpio!

Mansoor CLUBS and stomps Scorpio, then argues with the ref. This lets Taya stomp a mudhole in! MXM TV gets away with that one, then Mansoor fishhooks Scorpio! The ref counts, Mansoor stops to stomp Scorpio down. Mansoor drags Scorpio up to ROCK him with a right. Mansoor LARIATS Scorpio in the corner, then climbs up to rain down fists! The fans count along and Mansoor stops at “SIX SEVEN~!” The fans are torn, but Scorpio carries Mansoor off the corner for a POWERBOMB! The fans fire up as Mansoor pays for the meme! Scorpio crawls, hot tag to Dante! Dante rallies on Mansoor with forearms and elbows!

Johnny is in, he gets a LARIAT! Mason storms in, he gets a DROPKICK! Taya storms in, but she and Dante back off as he has a haymaker loaded. Mansoor back suplexes Dante, but Dante lands out! Mansoor runs up, Dante goes out, up, around, and GAMANGIRIS before Dante springboards, “SIX SEVEN~!” CROSSBODY! Cover, Taya BOOTS Dante! Taya mocks Dante mocking the meme, but Leila grabs Taya by her hair! Leila whips, Taya reverses, out goes Leila! Taya then goes to the apron, but Leila trips her up! MXM TV and Sky Flight then watch the CAT FIGHT, and everybody loves it! Taya and Leila scrap, but then the boys all scrap!

The fans fire up even more, Top Flight TOSSES Johnny & Mansoor, but Mason KNEES Scorpio! Mason whips, Scorpio reverses to mule kick, KNEE LIFT, and LARIAT! Mason stays up, but Scorpio fireman’s carries!? But Mason slips free, then he fireman’s carries! WIDOWMAKER! Cover, TWO!! Then Top Flight DOUBLE DROPKICK Mason! Mason staggers to the ropes, Darius sets up and Dante runs, POETRY IN FLIGHT FLYING RANA!! Dante and Mason end up over and out to the floor! Johnny CLUBS Darius, whpis, but Darius reveres! Johnny goes up and over, Darius hits buckles! Johnny hits the PARKOUR LARIAT!

The fans fire up but then Scorpio hits a SKY HIGH! But Mansoor is back to BOOT Scorpio! Mansoor flexes, but Dante flies in! Mansoor sends him to Mason, but Dante flips through the choke slam! Then he ducks the LEG LARIAT and it hits Mansoor! Mason tries again, he gets stuck on the ropes! Dante DROPKICKS Mason out! Tag to Darius, and Top Flight has Mansoor together in a DOUBLE ANGEL’S WINGS! Cover, Sky Flight wins!

Winners: Sky Flight, by pinfall

A huge win, but then STP ATTACKS! The fans boo as Leila and Christopher Daniels are helpless to do anything! and then Shane Taylor himself HEADBUTTS Daniels just because!! Taya drags Leila out to THROW her into steel steps! Shane DECKS Scorpio! The Infantry then sets Scorpio up for the BACK SUPLEX NECKBREAKER COMBO! The fans boo but STP stands tall with their ROH World Six Man titles. Will nothing stop them from running everything in ROH? And then Lee Moriarty makes his way out here, ready to do his part. But will #TAIGASTYLE make up for letting time slip through his fingers last week? Or will the Mack Attack get himself a golden ticket?

ROH Pure Championship Proving Grounds: Lee Moriarty VS Willie Mack!

The Code of Honor is upheld, the bell rings, and we are on the clock! The fans rally as the two circle, and the two feel things out. They knuckle lock, and Mack has the advantage in the Test of Strength. Lee kicks one apart, rolls to wrench the other, and he hast he wristlock. Mack thinks about it, feels his way through to escape and wrench back. Lee rolls, handsprings, and then slips through to trip Mack. Lee steps over, covers, ONE, but Lee has the wristlock again. Mack fights around, and he goes to the ROPEBREAK! The fans applaud, Lee lets off, and that is Mack’s first of three. Mack shakes that off and resets with Lee.

The fans cheer “WILLIE! WILLIE!” and the two go again. They tie up, Mack headlocks, but Lee powers up and out. Mack RUNS Lee over and covers, ONE! Mack stays on Lee but Lee ROCKS Mack! Lee runs, but Mack RUNS him over again! Mack runs, Lee stays low, then Lee jumps to arm-drag! Mack stumbles and staggers up, Lee SOBATS high! Lee shoves, Mack ducks ‘n’ dodges, and Mack gives back the arm-drag! The fans fire up, Mack arm-drags again! And again! Lee flounders and gets mad but the fans fire up. Mack gets moving, ducks ‘n’ dodges, and he LEG LARIATS! Cover, TWO! Lee bails out as we’re already three minutes deep.

The fans rally and Mack takes aim. Mack builds speed, and he fakes the dive to roll back and give the mat some of that! Lee storms in, Mack blocks to DECK Lee! The ref sees that was a forearm so it is safe. Mack powers up again, and HELL- NO, Lee blocks the uppercut to wrench and PELE the arm! Lee then wraps the arm in the ropes to pull! The ref reprimands, Lee stops, but he BULLDOGS the arm! Cover, TWO! Mack stays in this but Lee stays on him with a top wristlock. Lee stands on the other arm and makes this a cover, TWO! Lee JAMS Mack’s fingers into the mat again and again! Then BORDER CITY STRETCH!

The fans rally as Mack endures, and he fights around to reach out with his legs! ROPEBREAK! That is Mack’s second, and the fans rally as Lee kicks Mack to a corner. Mack has made it to the halfway point, can he survive the last five minutes? Lee runs up but Mack dodges! Lee hurries after Mack, whips him to ropes, but Mack reverses. Mack pops Lee up to DECK him! The fans fire up while both men are down! Time is ticking so this is looking good for Mack. Lee staggers over to a corner, Mack rises up, and he shakes out the bad arm. Lee comes back to ROCK Mack! And ROCK him again! Mack SMACKS Lee! Lee roars, runs, and LARIATS!

Lee whips corner to corner, but Mack reverses! Mack runs up to ROCK Lee! Lee sits down, the fans fire up, and Mack throws off his elbow pads. Mack goes corner to corner, BLAT BLAT! CANNONBALL! The fans fire up for Mack Daddy as he scoops Lee, swing and SLAM! But Mack’s bad arm is still hurting, so he uses the ropes to pop it back in. Mack then sets up over Lee to STANDING MOONSAULT! Cover, TWO! Lee survives and we’ve hit the three minute warning! Mack shakes the arms, the fans rally up, and both men rise again. Mack pops Lee up for a SPINEBUSTER! The fans fire up again and Mack hurries to the corner.

The fans rally as Mack climbs, even with one good arm. Mack leaps, Lee dodges! Mack lands out, but Lee tilt-o-whirls to the BORDER CITY STRETCH!! Lee STOMPS away on Mack’s bad arm, then rolls him away! Mack can’t find ropes, he TAPS! Lee wins!

Winner: Lee Moriarty, by submission (denies Willie Mack a title match)

Mack lasted as long as he could, but there was still a minute and 40 on the clock. Komander is still first in line, and in fact, he is here! The fans cheer as the Ace of Space stares down the champ! Will Komander win 2025’s Final Battle with #TAIGASTYLE? Or will the historic reign continue even into the New Year?

My Thoughts:

A very good episode at just over an hour, though they still stuck some filler in here. Hechi & Rocky won against SAP so that Rocky can have momentum going into Full Gear’s Tailgate Brawl, and then Archer won over Solow to also send a message to QT. Though, Archer was probably gonna beat Solow no matter the story, but Rocky helped cheat Solow as part of story. Very good QTV this week, especially with it giving Harley her chance to call out Athena and vow she’ll not just win her first title, but win the title held by the most dominant person in ROH history.

Athena also did a great job responding to that by beating up Hyan & Maya World that much more in her tag match. They even gave us new/reheated dysfunction between Athena and Billie, but I’m not sure if I really want Athena VS Billie 3 at their third Final Battle in a row. This just makes me remember how Billie should’ve won last year, if not for how Tony Khan wanting to send their best ROH woman to the WrestleDynasty crossover match. Sadly, I don’t think Harley wins next week. A moment as big as Athena finally losing after almost three years of dominance cannot be put on a weekly episode of ROH. At this point, that’s Final Battle or an AEW PPV moment.

Good stuff from #CastleRunners in their Six Man Tag, and The Swirl of course won their match. The Mixed 8 Tag was great stuff, some really creative stuff, and a very good win for Sky Flight for them to then get jumped by STP. This definitely means we’re getting STP VS Sky Flight for the Six Man titles at Final Battle. That was also a great segue into Lee Moriarty’s match in the main event. It was a great match between him and Mack, and a great showing for Mack, but I figured Lee would win as redemption for last week. Komander showing up for a faceoff at the end there also indicates their match is gonna be for Final Battle, can’t wait to see what these two can do with a much bigger time limit.

My Score: 8.6/10