Chris Jericho welcomes us, and does so in Spanish. At least, the greeting anyway, because the Jericho Cruise headed to the Dominican Republic, and this week’s episode features matches that were held on the cruise. He says that his opening up ROH to this kind of new environment and atmosphere makes him easily the number one among all ROH champions, and bids us to enjoy the episode–but not before getting a plug in for next year’s cruise.
After the title sequence, Ian and Caprice run down the card. In tonight’s main event, the ROH World TV Title is on the line as Komander defends against
MATCH 1 – Mason Madden vs. Jay Lethal
MXM still has the ROH Tag Team title belt they stole from Sammy Guevara last week. And Mansoor is in a Speedo. Because cruise, you see. And they are demanding Lexy announce them as “the Ring of Honor Tag Team Champion.” Singular. The belt is also blinged out, which is a fun addition. And Jay Lethal is not Jay Lethal. He’s BLACK MACHISMO. With Pomp and Circumstance to enter. You know what, sure, why not. It’s a cruise episode, everybody’s having fun. The Mega Power tip touch is teased, but Madden instead buries the knee to the gut, so no Code of Honor. Pretty standard to start, but picks up when Madden catches a top rope double axe handle and turns it into a sit out choke bomb. Lethal adjusting his moveset slightly to mirror Savage that way as well is an underrated part of the gimmick. Madden responds with the Hogan point and comeback, complete with big boot, but a missed legdrop. Lethal then scores with the Lethal Injection and Hail to the King for the win.
Jay Lethal pins Mason Madden with Hail to the King in 6:03.
We then go to footage from last week, with Athena completely dressing down Billie after their match, insulting her parents, her hometown, and just completely abandoning all pretense of care which previously characterized her manipulation at an earlier point in the angle.
MATCH 2 – Billie Starkz vs. Harley Cameron
Cameron is announced as from The Gold Coast of Australia. Gold Coast is a city. But that’s okay, because we still love Lexy here. The crowd chants “Both these girls.” I can’t disagree. Cameron goes to the ropes from a waistlock, and Billie responds with an open hand strike to the glutes. Yeah, that’s what I’ll say. Fine. A slap to the ass. Some quick chain wrestling and Harley responds in kind. Billie for her part looks equal parts hurt and horrified. Billie seems to get sidetracked jawing with the crowd, and given that it’s people drinking in the sun on a boat, my immediate assumption is that someone said or did something awful. Someone on the cruise could verify. Solid back and forth, until Harley scores with a pumphandle back suplex for a nice near fall. Billie takes back over with a knee strike, and the rebound enzugiri. Billie keeps pressing the advantage but misses with a second rope senton atomico, Harley to roll her up with a crucifix for the win!
Harley Cameron pins Billie Starkz with a crucifix in 7:32.
MATCH 3 – Konsuke Takeshita vs. Tommy Billington
We flash back to July of 2024, when these two met in the Saddledome in Calgary, where Takeshita’s power drive knee got him the win over Billington. Back on the boat as Billington makes his entrance, and several hours appear to have passed between the last match and this one, judging by the light level. That’s the problem with pre-taping matches outdoors. This is technically an Eliminator Match for the AEW International Championship. Back and forth to start, but Takeshita produces a plastic spoon and uses it to dig into Billington’s face. It’s not Homicide’s ghetto fork, but sure. Takeshita instantly makes me happy by not just sitting in a chinlock, but elevating himself to increase pressure. Ricky Steamboat used to do it, so you know it’s good. But Billington comes back with a clothesline, back elbow, and missile dropkick. They fight over a tombstone piledriver, which Billington eventually hits. But he misses the Dynamite Kid diving headbutt. Power drive knee and Blue Thunder Bomb finishes.
Konosuke Takeshita pins Tommy Billington with a Blue Thunder Bomb in 5:54.
MATCH 4 – The Outrunners vs. Grizzled Young Veterans
This is stemming from these two teams being on opposite sides of an eight-man tag on ROH last week. Lexy announces them as Truth Turbo and Floyd Magnum, which I can only assume is a rib somehow, because she’s very good at this, and that’s a pretty entry level mistake. The GYV defeated The Outrunners on Rampage in August of last year, but lost to them on Collision in October. This would be the rubber match, technically. GYV is 4-3 in straight tag matches in AEW/ROH since their arrival. The Outrunners score with a double airplane spin, followed by double atomic drops. Delightfully old school. Truth gets isolated as the GYV does their thing, and Turbo revs up the crowd. Magnum dodges a corner clothesline and springs off Gibson to get Floyd in, who runs crazy and hits the dreaded DOUBLE NOGGIN KNOCKER. Gibson avoids Total Recall with a thumb to the eye and rolls up Floyd for two. Floyd hits a Snow Plow–well, they did spend a lot of time in OVW, with Al Snow. But Drake catches Floyd around the neck with the GYV scarf to take back over. But The Outrunners are able counter a Doomsday Device looking setup into Total Recall for the win.
The Outrunners def. Grizzled Young Veterans (Floyd pins Gibson) with Total Recall in 9:15.
Earlier this week, Lexy backstage with Queen Aminata. Lexy asks what her plans are for 2025, but Serena Deeb interrupts. Says Aminata is listening to all the wrong people, and too many women are more interested in shaking their ass on TV than winning matches. Serena says she is the best pure wrestling in the world, and she challenges Aminata to a Pure Rules match! Aminata accepts, and to my knowledge, that will be the first women’s match ever conducted under Pure Rules.
MATCH 5 – Serpentico vs. Ricochet
As Serpentico enters, Nyla Rose appears in the crowd to start a Serpentico sucks chant. All is right with the world. Ricochet is not in the Jimmy Rave robe. And while yes, I understand that is an AEW angle, and I don’t ordinarily like those things to cross-over per se, that robe, Nana, The Embassy, and yes, Jimmy Rave, are so inextricably linked to ROH, that I feel like it’s a missed opportunity. Serpentico is able to keep up with Ricochet’s speed, causing him to retreat to the apron. Back in, he hides behind Aubrey Edwards to stop a Serpentico charge, and catches him with an elbow. Serpentico refuses to die, and Ricochet refuses to stop trolling everyone. Ricochet strings together the Tiger Mask backflip, a rolling lariat, and a running shooting star press for two. But he jaws with the crowd and Serpentico counters something out of a fireman’s carry into a Destroyer for a great two. But Ricochet gets knees up on the frog splash. Vertigo and Spirit Gun finish.
Ricochet pins Serpentico following Spirit Gun in 8:01.
MATCH 6 – Komander(c) vs. Nick Wayne – ROH World TV Title Match
Wayne’s boss, leader, and fake dad Christian Cage, has (very brief) history in ROH, working a weekend in May of 2006, teaming with Colt Cabana to defeat Bryan Danielson and Christopher Daniels, then losing to Daniels the next night. The crowd chants “Who’s your dad” and “Where’s your mom” at Wayne. Dueling monkey flips to start, and Wayne and Komander go through a fun lucha sequence, before the INDIE STANDOFF. Komander plays to the crowd and gets attacked from behind. He sends Wayne to the outside ramp and goes to springboard after him, but gets kicked in the gut and PLANTED with a DDT. Back in, Wayne continues to press the advantage, including the KENTA-style mule kick after teasing a double stomp. Komander gets back in control with a couple of headscissors and reversals, and hits a top rope springboard moonsault to the ramp. But Wayne crotches him on the top rope to take back over. Wayne presses with a Dragon Suplex, a roundhouse kick, but Komander counters Waynes World with a Destroyer. The Tiger Feint Kick and the ropewalk shooting star press finish for a successful title defense.
Komander pins Nick Wayne with the ropewalk shooting star press in 9:21.
Komander celebrates with the title in the ring as Ian says he hopes we’re on land next week, because he needs some electrolytes and some rest. Honestly? Same. Anyway, as Komander holds up the title, Ian wishes us HAPPY WRESTLING, EVERYONE!
THE NUMBERS
Total Episode Time: 1:14:07
Total Match Time: 0:46:06 (62.1%)
Average Match Time: 7:41
