We open up with a rundown of the card, as tonight we’ve got an ROH World Tag Team Title match, but we’re opening with an ROH debut, so it’s right to the ring!
MATCH 1 – Dark Order (Alex Reynolds & John Silver) vs. Dustin Rhodes & Sammy Guevara
This of course is coming off of last week’s show closing angle, where Sammy returned to save Dustin from a Dark Order attack. Since then he’s told Dustin and The Von Erichs he wants to team with them and earn their respect and trust. We recap the attack on last week’s show before the match gets started. Sammy gets some “Welcome back” chants and, but Silver responds to the Code of Honor with a middle finger. As Ian points out, this is indeed Sammy’s ROH in-ring debut. Sammy’s athleticism is apparent right away, and he and Dustin get some good double teams. Dustin tweaks the knee that Dark Order attacked last week, but is able to work through it, until Evil Uno catches him with a chair shot to the hip as Dustin goes to getb back into the ring. Sammy chases off Uno, but the damage is done. Reynolds and Silver tag in and out a few times, continuing to work on the left knee. Sammy gets a hot tag and runs wild, with dives galore, but Silver avoids a Shooting Star Press and takes back over with a superkick. Dark Order hits a double stop/draping DDT combination that I haven’t seen before. Dustin breaks it up, and Sammy gets a Dustin assist to set up a GTH for the win.
Dustin Rhodes & Sammy Guevara def. Dark Order (Guevara pins Silver) with GTH in 12:02.
Back to Death Before Dishonor, as a video package details Red Velvet defeats BIllie Starkz to win the ROH Women’s World TV Championship, while Athena retained the ROH Women’s World Title.
Backstage, Athena is tired of being angry because she’s getting used to Billie’s disappointment. Athena wants to rule on top with Billie alongside her and Lexy. Athena is revoking her MIT diploma, and she is a Minion in Training again. Queen Aminata and Red Velvet interrupt and discuss the way Athena retained her title. Queen Aminata has spoken to the Board of Directors, and we’ve got a tag match, with she and Red Velvet against Athena and Billie. AThena reminds Bilie that if she’d have won her match, that wouldn’t have happened.
MATCH 2 – Taya Valkyrie vs. Hyan
Hyan returns to ROH for the first time since a loss to Willow Nightingale way back in Episode 13. She was also involved in the re-launch of the women’s division in 2021, and is, of course, a Texas native. This is, however, a first time match. Taya runs her mouth and gets a forearm for her trouble. A bit of a slugfest develops, but Taya drops Hyan with a spear to set up Shania Pain.
Taya Valkyrie pins Hyan with Shania Pain in 2:35.
Backstage, Melissa Santos is with Griff Garrison and Maria. Melissa asks when we’ll see Cole Karter again, but before they can answer, Angelico and Serpentico interrupt. They want one more match for Serpentico’s mask. Garrison agrees, but says since his partner is missing, Angelico is banned from ringside. And Maria adds one more stipulation. If Serpentico loses, he unmasks. Serpentico accepts.
MATCH 3 – The Infantry vs. The Undisputed Kingdom – ROH World Tag Team Title
This is The Infantry’s second shot at the ROH World Tag Team Titles, and Bennett and Taven’s fifth defense. Bennett and Taven follow the Code of Honor, which is not that surprising, given what we know of their characters, but attack before the bell. The Infantry quickly recovers and clears the ring. Kingdom grabs their belts and heads back up the ramp, but The Infantry catch them and bring them back to the ring. Kingdom takes back over after, and Bennett traps Shawn Dean in a corner with fists, and gets to deliver the Bryan Danielson Memorial “I’ve got till five, referee.” Well, I mean, no one in current Ring of Honor is doing it, why not? Bennet snap mares Dean down and hits the ropes three or four times to culminate with an eye poke. I love it. Hot tag Carlie Bravo who runs wild, hits a scissor kick and tags back in Dean for a top rope splash for a good near fall. Taven takes back over on a tired Dean, and Kingdom hits a Spiccoli Driver and Just The Tip for two. Taven goes up top and Bennett gets slingshotted into him, and The Infantry takes over. They go for Boot Camp, but Taven hooks the leg on the outside, and while Aubrey is distracted, Bennett punches Dean below the belt, setting up the spike piledriver for the win.
The Undisputed Kingdom def. The Infantry (Bennett pins Dean) with a spike piledriver in 11:45.
MATCH 4 – Rachael Ellering vs. Brooke Havok
This is Rachael’s first appearance since Episode 64 (a loss to Skye Blue). She also suffered up a loss against Thunder Rosa about a month ago on Rampage. Havok appeared back in Episode 38, in a tag team loss to Athena and Billie Starkz. The match sets up as Ellering’s power and technique against Havok’s speed. Havok is able to avoid Ellering’s offense for a bit, and hits a nice swinging fisherman’s neckbreaker for two. She fires up bit eats a diving back elbow from Ellering, and a Boss Man Slam finishes things.
Rachael Ellering pins Brooke Havok with a Boss Man Slam in 4:45.
Backstage, Lee Moriarty says that this situation with Shane Taylor Promotions and Top Flight has gone on too long. Moriarty lays down a challenge to Action Andretti for the Pure Title. Meanwhile, Taylor says Andretti has done nothing since his win over Jericho, and Top Flight has done nothing, despite being one of the most talented, high flying teams going. They just do this for fun, Shane says, while STP does this to survive.
MATCH 5 – The Outrunners vs. Stephen Wolf and Barrett Brown
This is the ROH debut for both Wolf and Brown, though he bears a striking resemblance to a fella known as Americos. Anyway, not much to this one as The Outrunners bust out a new finish, with a bodyslam into a sliding neckbreaker.
The Outrunners def. Stephen Wolf and Barrett Brown with a bodyslam/neckbreaker combo (Magnum pins Brown) in 2:18.
An absolutely over the top celebration with new corner woman Erica Leigh also follows. Very good.
MATCH 6 – Robbie Eagles vs. Darian Bengston
Robbie was last seen in ROH challenging Claudio Castagnoli for the ROH World Title way back in Episode 10. He also showed up representing Bullet Club at a couple of the Honor Rising shows in Japan back in 2019. Now, obviously, he’s representing TMDK. Bengston lost to Lance Archer on Episode 55. Some innovative offense between these two, as Eagles hits a low tiger feint kick in the corner to take out Bengston’s left leg, and makes big impact with shotgun knees for a two count. Bengston tries to kick off a Figure Four, and Eagles gets cocky and asks for another. Bengston obliges with gusto to stagger the Sniper of the Skies. Bengston tries to string together a few pinning combinations but can’t find the answer, but hits a big European uppercut. Eagles counters another into a backpack stunner, and hits a 450 special to the leg. The Ron Miller Special finishes.
Robbie Eagles def. Darian Bengston by submission with the Ron Miller Special in 5:20.
MATCH 7 – Tony Nese vs. Tomohiro Ishii
Mark Sterling announces that he’s working with the Texas Athletic Commission to have The Conglomeration’s win over the Premier Athletes stricken from the record. Sterling says that The Conglomeration will be barred from ringside, making this a straight one-on-one match with no shenanigans. Prior to Death Before Dishonor, Ishii’s last ROH appearance was at the G1 Supercard show at Madison Square Garden in 2019. Nese tries to fire away, but it doesn’t particularly bother Ishii, who seems to enjoy it, walking into it. One forearm wilts Nese in the corner. On the outside, Daivari distracts allowing a cheap shot by Nese, but it doesn’t last long as Ishii gets back in control quickly. Continued distractions and interference let Nese finally take control fully.
Tomohiro Ishii pins Tony Nese with a brainbuster in 6:22.
Backstage, Melissa Santos is with Rachael Ellering. She’s glad to be back, but while she is a cat mom, she’s got that dawg in her. Harley Cameron interrupts, introduces herself, negs Rachael, and leaves. “There she goes, wow. What an experience for us, huh?” Ellering says to Melissa Santos as Cameron leaves.
MATCH 8 – Johnny TV vs. Fuego Del Sol
Fuego picked up a victory over Jacoby Watts last week, while Johnny was involved in the Survival of the Fittest match at Death Before Dishonor. Fuego brings the high flying, while Johnny has some interesting counter wrestling and pinning combinations. Johnny’s capacity to work with luchadors should not be discounted. After a solid back and forth match, Johnny hits a reverse Finlay roll, before Starship Pain for the win.
Johnny TV pins Fuego Del Sol with Starship Pain in 6:36.
MATCH 9 – Queen Aminata & Red Velvet vs. Athena & Billie Starkz
Lexy Nair is handling ring announcing. Despite the matching gear, Billie is also in a long trenchcoat, looking like she’d rather be anywhere else in the world. Athena turns around at the bell and sees Queen Aminata across from her, and immediately tags out to Billie. They go back and forth for a couple minutes until Aminata misses a charge, allowing Starkz to tag out. Velvet hits a standing moonsault on Athena and brings back in Aminata, causing Athena to flee again. Athena finally tags in with Aminata when she’s got her in a compromised position, as Gorilla Monsoon would say. Starkz and Athena take turns softening up and working over the arm of Aminata, using some classic heel tag team shenanigans. When she gets in Velvet takes out Athena with a tornado DDT, and then a hockey fight ensues with Billie. Billie counters Velvet’s finisher by biting the arm, so the faces hit a lungblower/German suplex combo for two. Billie escapes a double team move, and gets Athena in. Athena picks up Aminata in a fireman’s carry, and then catches a running cross body from Velvet, throwing them both in an impressive fallaway slam, setting up Billie for a Swanton Bomb for a two count. Athena goes for the microphone from Lexy again, but gets caught this time. Billie uses the distraction to get the World Title belt from Lexy and bash Red Velvet for the pin.
Athena & Billie Starkz def. Queen Aminata & Red Velvet (Starkz pins Velvet) after a belt shot in 12:13.
Athena, Billie, and Lexy make their way up the ramp while Ian wishes us HAPPY WRESTLING, EVERYBODY!
THE NUMBERS
Total Show Time: 1:45:25
Total Match Time: 1:03:56 (60.6%)
Avg. Match Time: 7:06
