The Franchise & The Most Wanted take on The Swirl!

Blake Christian wants his shot at the ROH World Championship, but can he earn it through a tag team match against Bandido & Jay Lethal?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Bandido & Jay Lethal VS Blake Christian & Lee Johnson; No Contest.
• Bryan Keith VS Serpentico; Keith wins.
• Deonna Purrazzo & Madison Rayne VS Billie Starkz & Diamante; Billie & Diamante win.
• Lance Archer VS Steve Gibki; Archer wins.
• Six Man Tag: Komander & Top Flight w/ Christopher Daniels & Alex Abrahantes VS Lee Moriarty & The Infantry; Komander & Top Flight win.
• Hechicero VS Aaron Solow; Hechicero wins.
• Six Man Fight Without Honor: Dalton Castle & The Outrunners VS MXM TV; Castle & The Outrunners win.

PLAY BY PLAY

Bandido & Jay Lethal VS Blake Christian & Lee Johnson!

While The Most Wanted is aiming at MJF’s AEW World Championship for Maximum Carnage, he has a target on his own back in the form of THE ROH World Championship. And since The Franchise Player has his own beef with The Swirl, it is a dream team tag match to start ROH in the year 2026! Will this lethal combination be a winning one? Or will Vanilla Baby & Big Shotty finally get the title shot they want?

The teams sort out and Lethal starts against Blake. The fans duel, but then Blake calls out Bandido. Bandido says he’s for it, so Lethal tags him in! But then Blake tags out to Lee! The fans boo as Blake trolls Bandido, but then Bandido LARIATS Lee! And then he TOSSES Blake into the ring! Bandido fires off on Blake, but Lee CLOBBERS Bandido! The ref keeps Lethal back while Lee SMACKS Bandido off buckles. Lee stomps a mudhole into Bandido, digs his boots in, but stops as the ref counts. The fans boo Big Shotty while he taunts Lethal, then Lee brings Bandido up. Lee whips and ELBOWS Bandido down, covers, TWO!

Lee taunts Lethal more, then looms over Bandido. The fans rally, Lee kicks and taunts the champ, then he reels Bandido in. Lee suplexes, but Bandido fights to lift! Lee tries, Bandido tries, and they go back and forth! Bandido slips free, ducks ‘n’ dodges, then DOUBLE LARIATS collide! The fans fire up while both men are down! The ref starts a standing count, and both men crawl. Blake distracts Lethal, then runs away, which is enough to deny Bandido the tag! Lee drags Bandido back to center and stomps away! Tag to Blake, Blake stomps Bandido, but Bandido RAMS Blake into the corner! But Blake YANKS the bad arm!

Blake fires haymakers, then wrenches Bandido to put that arm around ropes again. Blake YANKS the arm, the ref reprimands, and the fans rally up. Blake fires hands, CLUBS Bandido’s arm, then ROCKS him! The fans rally for Bandido as he fires forearms in return! Bandido reaches out for Lethal, Blake holds him back, but Lee distracts right as Bandido makes the tag! Lethal rushes in, Blake cowers in a corner, but the ref stops Lethal! The ref didn’t see the tag so it doesn’t count! Lee then storms in so he and Blake can mug Bandido! The fans boo, but The Swirl double whip corner to corner. Bandido BOOTS Lee, he BOOTS Blake, then goes up to TORNILLO!

The fans fire up while all three men are down! Lethal is all fired up, too! The fans rally, Bandido reaches out, but Lethal BACKS OFF!? The fans boo as Lethal is leaving Bandido out to dry! Lee HELLUVA KICKS Bandido! SNAP HALF ‘N’ HALF! Blake springboards to 450 SPLASH! Cover, TWO!! Bandido survives and the fans fire up! But The Swirl drags Bandido up, fireman’s carry and- NO, Bandido slips free and shoves Lee into Blake! Then he CHOKES Lethal! The fans cheer, but Blake CLOBBERS Bandido! Bandido still fights back! He JABS and ROCKS and CHOPS, but Lethal handsprings in! LETHAL INJECTION!!

The fans boo, but it seems Lethal and The Swirl set Bandido up all along! Lee fireman’s carries, Blake goes up, SWIRL STOMP VALLEY!! The fans boo as now Lethal & The Swirl mug Bandido! The ref just calls it, this is a farce!

No Contest

LETHAL SNATCHES THE MASK!! The fans boo as Blake holds up the belt like it’s his already! But then wait! Here come Adam Priest & Tommy Billington! Priest covers Bandido’s face while Lethal & The Swirl retreat! Lethal didn’t just betray Bandido, he betrayed two young men he was leading as a mentor! Will Bandido, Priest & Billington make them all pay for what they’ve done? Or is Lethal going to make sure no one stops Blake from taking that title?

Deonna Purrazzo & Madison Rayne VS Billie Starkz & Diamante!

The Virtuosa & Queen Bee caught Athena’s Minions by surprise, but now they’ve had a chance to study and plan. Will Minion 400,237 and the Cuban Diamond get their golden ticket to that ROH Women’s Pure Championship? Or will this be another great win to kick off the New Year?

The Code of Honor is upheld, but then the Minions take a swing! Deonna & Madison duck the haymakers to fire back, right as the bell rings! The fans fire up as Deonna & Madison whip, then ELBOW the Minions down! The fans rally as Madison brings Diamante up. She and Deonna DOUBLE SUPLEX Diamante, then they both wipe their feet. Deonna backs off so Madison can bring Diamante up. Madison wrenches to wristlock, then she tags Deonna. They whip Diamante, kick, BOOT, and then Deonna lifts for a POWERBOMB! High stack, TWO, and to the FUJIWARA ARMBAR! Billie stomps Deonna! Madison fires off on Billie for it!

The fans fire up as Billie and Madison scrap! The ref reprimands, but Madison SHOVES Billie down! The fans cheer while Billie frowns. Deonna whips Diamante into the corner, runs up, but Diamante ELBOWS her! Diamante ROCKS Madison for good measure, but then Deonna blocks a boot. Diamante apologizes but Deonna THROWS her down! Deonna grapevines a leg and tags Madison. The fans rally as Madison runs the ropes, and then STOMPS Diamante down! Cover, TWO! Madison whips Diamante, Diamante reverses, but Madison ducks ‘n’ shoves Diamante! Billie sneaks the tag before Madison ELBOWS Diamante down!

Diamante scrambles away and Billie waistlocks Madison. Madison fights the lift, pries at the hold, and fires elbows. Billie THROWS Madison into Diamante’s knee! The ref reprimands, but Diamante tags in for a step-in SPLASH! Cover, TWO! Diamante rains down fists on Madison, the ref reprimands about hair pulling, but then Diamante stands on Madison’s hair to pull the arms! The ref counts, Diamante steps off, and Madison flounders to ropes. Diamante tags Billie but Madison fights back. The Minions mug Madison, then double whip her to ropes. They DOUBLE HIP TOSS into a DOUBLE BACKBREAKER! And then another! And then a HAMMOCK TOSS!

The fans boo, the Minions soak up the heat, and then Billie clamps onto Madison with a chinlock. Billie taunts Diamante by holding Madison’s hand out, then clamps on tighter with the chinlock. The fans rally as Madison fights up, and she fires body shots. But Billie THROWS Madison by her hair! The ref reprimands, Billie runs in, and she blocks a boot! Tag to Diamante and she sweeps the other leg! Then they split the wishbone on Madison! Then they DOUBLE KICK her in the back! Cover, Deonna stomps it apart! The fans fire up, but the ref reprimands Deonna. This lets The Minions stomp away on Madison!

Diamante drags Madison around, bumps her off buckles, then stomps a mudhole in. The ref counts, Diamante adds more stomps, but she stops at 4. Diamante argues with the ref, then she tags Billie. Billie CHOKES Madison, stops at 4, then taunts Madison. Billie RAMS into Madison, digs her shoulder in, then stops at 4 to tell Aubrey to cool it. Billie fires forearms, Aubrey backs her off, and Billie says do NOT touch her! The fans boo Billie and Aubrey warns her. Billie says this is HER match! Aubrey says watch it, but Billie SHOVES her! Aubrey SHOVES Billie back, and Madison tabletops Billie! High stack, TWO!

The fans fire up as Madison hurries, but Billie drags her back! Madison turns over to BOOT Billie away! But Diamante is lurking! She YANKS Deonna from the apron! The fans boo, but Billie drags Madison up, Billie soaks up heat before she CLUBS away on Madison, then suplexes! Cover, TWO! Madison survives, Billie shrieks, but the fans rally up. Billie winds up to ROCK Madison, puts her in the corner, then runs up. But Madison BOOTS her away, then ELBOWS Diamante! Billie runs back in, but Madison BOOTS her again! Madison DECKS Diamante, goes up the corner, and she reels Billie in for a spin and NIGHTSHADE!

Madison SMACKS Billie into buckles again and again, then pushes her away. CANNONBALL! The fans rally up while both women are down! Billie and Madison stir, they crawl for their corners, and they hot tag to Diamante and Deonna! The fans fire up as Deonna rallies on Diamante with LARIAT after LARIAT! KICK, KNEE LIFT, and RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! Then a float over, FUJIWARA ARMBAR!! Diamante rolls to a cover, TWO! Deonna BOOTS Diamante down, covers, TWO! Diamante survives and Deonna scowls but the fans rally up again. Deonna drags Diamante up, vows to end this, but Billie HEEL KICKS her!

The fans boo but Billie waistlocks to GERMAN SUPLEX! Madison runs in, dodges Billie, and kicks low! Madison reels Billie in, calls her shot, and hits a DESTROYER!! Diamante runs up, Madison dodges to KNEE and dragon sleeper! But Diamante spins it around! “G’night, b*tch!” CUBAN TWIST! Diamante mocks Madison’s pose, then says vafanapoli! Deonna takes umbrage with that, and she ROCKS Diamante! Diamante fires back, they go back and forth, shot for shot, and the fans rally up! Deonna fires a flurry, then she ROCKS Diamante! Diamante shoves Deonna, ducks ‘n’ dodges, but DOUBLE BOOTS take them both down!

The fans rally up again while Deonna and Diamante crawl. Hot tags to Billie and Madison! The two stare down as they storm up, and then the forearms fire off! Madison fires a flurry, she ROCKS Billie, and then ripcords, but Billie ROCKS Madison back! Then she whips Madison for Diamante to UPPERCUT! Billie LARIATS, then feeds Madison to the cravat! ASSISTED SHIRANUI! Billie goes up for the SWANTON BOMB!! Cover, Minions win!

Winners: Billie Starkz & Diamante, by pinfall

Billie & Diamante flex and throw up the M’s for MIT! Will Athena be pleased seeing her Minions bring down two former world champions? Will Deonna just have to humble Billie directly?

Six Man Tag: Komander & Top Flight w/ Christopher Daniels & Alex Abrahantes VS Lee Moriarty & The Infantry!

The Commander of the Skies fell short of the Pure Championship, and Team Sky Flight fell short of the World Six Man Tag Team Championships, but it is a new year, so that means a new title chase! Will Komander and the Martin Brothers reach new heights in 2026? Or will STP still run ROH?

The teams sort out and Darius Martin starts with #TAIGASTYLE. They uphold the Code of Honor and the bell rings. The fans rally as the two circle, then tie up. Darius waistlocks, he SLAMS Lee down, then rolls Lee to a cover, TWO! Arm-drag! Darius grinds the arm but Lee fights up. Lee headlocks, then he KNEES Darius! Darius kicks but Lee blocks to sweep the leg! The fans cheer, and Lee tags in Shawn Dean. Darius dodges Dean to DROPKICK him down! Darius wrenches Darius, tags Komander, and Komander springboards to STOMP the arm! Komander salutes, then he whips Dean to a corner. Dean reverses, but Komander goes up and over!

Komander handsprings and flips, then he DROPKICKS Dean again! Carlie Bravo is upset but Komander drags Dean up. Dean swings, but into a knuckle lock! Komander CHOPS Dean, goes for a corner, but Dean grabs the mask! The fans boo and the ref reprimands but Dean RAMS Komander into the corner. Bravo joins in and they mug Komander! The ref reprimands again, Carlie laughs as he lets off, and Dean brings Komander back around. Tag to Bravo, the Infantry mugs Komander, and Bravo HEADBUTTS Komander to a corner. Bravo JABS, JABS, JABS, then stops to argue with the ref. Bravo whips Komander hard into the corner!

Bravo runs up and LARIATS, then he whips corner to corner again. Komander hits buckles again, but the fans rally up. Bravo runs in, Komander puts him outside, but Bravo SCRAPES Komander against the ropes! Dante Martin is there, Bravo tells him to back off, and the ref has them both back up. Bravo then slingshots to CUTTER Komander! The fans boo but Bravo drags Komander to a cover, TWO! Komander toughs it out but Bravo clamps on with a chinlock. Daniels & Abrahantes rally the fans for Komander but Bravo tells them to shut up. Komander fights up, but Bravo CLUBS him down! Bravo then powers Komander to the STP corner.

Bravo tags Dean, The Infantry double whip to DOUBLE HIP TOSS, then they stomp away! The ref reprimands, Bravo backs off, but Dean CHOKES Komander! The ref misses that, and then he has to keep Top Flight back! Bravo CHOKES Komander, Dean tells Top Flight to learn the rules. Tag to Bravo, Infantry double whip Komander for a double military press and DROP! Bravo tags Lee, Lee drags Komander up, and Lee whips. Komander turns pop-up into arm-drag, roll, DRAGON’S LAIR! TWO, and Lee ducks a roundhouse, only for the WHEEL KICK to hit! The fans rally up, hot tags to Dean and Dante!

Dante CLOBBERS Dean with John Cena Shoulder Tackles! Dante whips, Dean reverses, but Dante slips out, goes up and around, then ducks a shot to GAMANGIRI! Dean staggers, Dante springboards, CROSSBODY! Cover, TWO! Dean sputters but Dante hoists him up. Dean fights the suplex, spins Dean, then SOUTHPAW LARIATS! The fans rally as both men crawl, hot tags to Darius and Bravo! Bravo catches Darius hesitating and UPPERCUTS! Bravo runs, then he catches Darius with the CARLIE CROSSOVER! Cover, TWO! Bravo calls to Captain Dean, the Infantry regroups to hoist Darius up. Darius fights the lift, Dean trips Dean!

Darius headlocks for a takeover, then a scoop, BLUE THUNDER BOMB! Cover, Lee basement dropkicks! Komander jumps in, Lee ducks a roundhouse but the SOBAT and DDT hit! Lee bails out, Dean ROCKS Komander! Dean whips Komander to Bravo, lift and NECKBREAKER BACK SUPLEX COMBO! But Dante springboards, DOUBLE CROSSBODY! Darius joins in, Bravo breaks free, but into a SHOTGUN GERMAN SUPLEX COMBO! The fans fire up and Top Flight hooks Darius up, DOUBLE PEDIGREE! Cover, Komander & Top Flight win!

Winners: Komander & Top Flight, by pinfall

What a way to start the New Year! Darius & Dante pin a Six Man Champion, will that mean they and Scorpio Sky can change course and head back for the gold? Will Komander earn himself another shot at the Pure title? Or will they all learn how to rumble, bad man, rumble?

Deonna and Madison regroup backstage.

The Queen Bee says, “This business is all I’ve known for 20 years. It’s brought me all over the world, it’s given me best friends that’ll last a lifetime. But tonight was exceptionally emotional, because this is the end of an era for Madison Rayne. And… I knew it was coming. This time comes in everyone’s career. But when I lost my dad earlier this year, I lost a piece of myself, too. But I’m re-finding that purpose and that self back here. Coaching, helping, with the next generation. And that’s you (Deonna). That’s this (ROH Women’s Pure Championship). That’s not me anymore. I couldn’t have asked for a better partner, I couldn’t have asked for a better moment, a better night.

“And to ride this wave out and end this era with you as my partner and my best friend, my goodness, it was perfect. It was the perfect way to end a 20 year ride and I love you.” The two hug it out, and then Madison tells Deonna that the champ still has work to do so dry those tears. It was incredibly emotional in all the right ways. The Queen Bee proverbially leaves her boots in the ring, but will she still be in Deonna’s corner as she blazes that new trail?

Six Man Fight Without Honor: Dalton Castle & The Outrunners VS MXM TV!

It has been a storied rivalry between The Peacock and Johnny TV, wins and losses back and forth, and we even lost some Boys along the way. But this might be the most violent and insane chapter yet as Castle has the Youngest Men Alive, Johnny has Mansoor & Mason Madden, and no one has to hold back anymore! Who wins not only the first ROH main event of 2026, but ROH’s first 3v3 Fight Without Honor?

While it is New Year’s, The Peacockrunners want to finish off some Christmas leftovers as they bring gifts and wear Santa hats. But that makes it all the more fitting since they’re facing Johnny Grinch, and his equally grinchy goons! And as if their ridiculous outfits aren’t awful enough, they THROW DOWN THE CHRISTMAS TREE! One week is far too soon to take down the decorations, and certainly not like this! Castle & The Outrunners rush back up the ramp to fight MXM TV! Taya Grinch gets outta the way and the bell rings, time to Fight Without Honor!

The fans cheer as Castle & Outrunners save what’s left of the tree, and Castle stomps away on Mason while Turbo stomps Mansoor. Truth scoops Johnny to SLAM him down! Castle TOSSES Mason down the ramp! Then they get the fans to chant “CHRISTMAS! CHRISTMAS!” They raise the tree back up! The fans cheer as the tree stands again! But then MXM TV attack and knock it back down! It’s broken in half! Mason KICKS Truth down the ramp, Taya adds on, and then Mansoor helps Johnny put Castle in the Santa bag! They stomp away on Castle, then things move to the ring. MXM Collection hoist Turbo up, LEG LARIAT SPINEBUSTER!

Johnny DECKS Truth while MXM POSE! Johnny tells Taya, “Get the onion!” What does that mean?! Oh, wait, she has an actual onion! MXM TOSSES Turbo while Taya… takes a big bite of the onion?! She SPITS it right in Truth’s face! Then Johnny takes a bite, and he KISSES Taya?! There’s onion all over the place now! The fans boo just for how gross that is, but Johnny SPITS the onion at Truth! Castle’s boys hurry to free him from the bag, but Johnny says he’s got something for the boys! He brings out gift wrapped kendo sticks! Johnny SMACKS boy after boy to get after Castle, but Castle SMACKS him with a big ornament!

Mason runs up the ramp, but Castle CHUCKS another ornament to knock him down! Then one for Mansoor! Talk about decking the halls! Taya runs away so not to get hit by the big red ball! Castle manages to get his ball into the ring and the fans fire up! “BALL! BALL! BALL!” Johnny runs up, ducks ‘n’ dodges, but into a BALL CHECK! The Outrunners return and the fans fire up again! They hurry to CLUB Johnny down, and then Turbo and Mansoor get in the ring, each armed with a gift box. Mansoor says wait, gift exchange! The fans say don’t trust that, but Turbo says ’tis the season. But then he avoids the cheap shot, and PUNCHES right through the box!

The fans fire up as Turbo then grabs his gift, holds it up, and Mansoor PUNCHES it, but his hand gets hurt! Then Turbo CLOBBERS Mansoor with it! Surprise, it was a box of rocks! The fans fire up but Taya panics. Truth puts Johnny in the ring, but Mason CLOBBERS Castle with what’s left of the tree! But then Truth DROPKICKS the tree into Mansoor! Turbo lifts the tree, the fans cheer for “TREE! TREE! TREE!” Turbo airplane spins the tree to SMACK Johnny, SMACK Mansoor, and repeat! The fans fire up, but then Mason UPPERCUTS Truth down! And he KNEES Turbo in the face! Mason picks up the tree, and he THROWS it at everyone!

Down goes Castle, The Outrunners AND Johnny, talk about season’s beatings! Mansoor hurries to put Castle in the ring, then he and Mason stand over Castle. “Mason Madden, you son of a GRINCH!” They finger boop, and ELBOW FLOP! Castle avoids their horrible parody, but Taya grabs him! The fans boo, but Johnny has a pie! Johnny winds up, but Castle DUCKS! The pie hits Taya!! It’s a Boston cream pie in New York City! Taya freaks out, Johnny says he’s so sorry, he meant to pull back! But then Castle SHOVES Johnny into Taya, Taya falls, and Castle GERMAN SUPLEXES Johnny! Mansoor is back, atomic drop to SPINEBUSTER!

The fans boo but Turbo scoops Mansoor! TOTAL RECALL!! But Mason LEG LARIATS Truth, and guzels Turbo to go SOUTH OF THE NORTH POLE! Then Mason grins and skulks around. He goes under the ring, and he brings out a stocking! Mason pours out… LEGOS!! The fans go nuts already, telling him he’s sick! But Mason drags Turbo around, reels him in, but Truth saves Turbo! Then the Outrunners DOUBLE SUPLEX, only for Mason to fight it! Mason tries, the Outrunners fight it, but Mason fights free! Turbo blocks a boot, and SNATCHES that Grinch boot right off Mason! Truth snatches the other boot! The fans already dread what they’re planning!

Mason runs up, The Outrunners dodge, and Mason stops himself! But then The Outrunners ATOMIC DROP Mason on the Legos! Mason screams in agony, the fans lose their minds, but Turbo has one more gift! SMASH onto Mason’s head! Mason FALLS on the Legos! The fans cheer, because here’s the proper way to do it! “Turbo Floyd! YOU SON OF A B*TCH!” Handshake and DOUBLE ELBOW DROP! The fans fire up as The Outrunners then shout, “Let’s get the tables!” The fans cheer for “TABLES! TABLES!” The Outrunners spot one under the ring and bring it out! They put it in the ring, then add ANOTHER TABLE!

The fans fire up as the tables are set up very carefully in a drop zone. There are even some Legos on the tables. But then Mansoor & Johnny return! DOUBLE LOW BLOWS!! The fans boo, but then Mansoor scoops more Legos onto the tables! They move these to a different drop zone, and they put Turbo on one table. Johnny takes that table on the outside and sets it up near the ring. Johnny PUNTS a present into Truth, then puts him on that table. Mansoor climbs a corner, Johnny climbs up to join him, but Castle CHUCKS the ornament at them! The fans fire up as Johnny and Mansoor both land on their jingle bells!

Truth slips away from the table, and Castle SHOVES Johnny off the corner! Johnny crashes through the table on the outside! The Outrunners have Mansoor up top, DOUBLE SUPERPLEX down through tables!!! Triple cover, Castle & Outrunners win!!

Winners: Dalton Castle & The Outrunners, by pinfall

Now this was a violent night! The holiday season ends with a bang, but will Castle & The Outrunners make sure 2026 is the Year of the Peacock?

My Thoughts:

A very good episode of ROH at an hour and 13 minutes, and a good amount of material that mattered. Bandido & Lethal VS The Swirl opening was quite the surprise, but then they surprised us by having Jay Lethal turn Heel! I thought we were at least getting a friendly Bandido VS Lethal first, but perhaps a promo explains Lethal and Blake were playing up being at odds just to lure us into this false sense of security. I suppose we’ll get a Six Man Tag out of this now, and then that match leads us to Bandido VS Blake for the title. As I’ve been saying for AEW, I don’t see Bandido winning the AEW World Championship, so I would think Bandido retains the ROH title.

Very good showings in all the filler/squash matches, especially from Aaron Solow against Hechicero. Though, fans don’t seem to accept that Solow’s a Face now, they were still trolling him. Steve Gibki shows some promise, he’s got good charisma and facial expressions, and you can’t teach size so he’s also got that going for him. Very good tag rematch that of course Billie & Diamante won to redeem themselves. Madison Rayne announcing her retirement from in-ring was surprising, but again, she looked 75% as fast and sharp as she should be, just saying… I’m pretty sure we get Deonna VS Billie as Deonna’s first defense of the Women’s Pure title, and that’ll be really good.

Very good Six Man Tag of Komander & Top Flight VS STP, and a great win for Komander & Top Flight. I would think this does position Komander for another match with Lee and Sky Flight for another match with Shane & The Infantry. Just not sure who wins those rematches, either. And a great Six Man Fight Without Honor with the Christmas theme (since this was prerecorded as part of Dynamite on 34th Street and Christmas Collision). I still wish AEW had held onto THE Boys, Brandon & Brent Tate, but oh well. Great win for the Faces to give the show a happy ending, and maybe Castle & Outrunners head for the Six Man titles.

My Score: 8.7/10