It’s Global Wars, an event that has history in ROH dating back to 2012, although until now the only foreign country it’s been held in is Canada. And the first two years, it was called Border Wars. It became Global Wars in 2014, as it featured cross promotion with NJPW. It was generally less an international show and more a platform for international talent in ROH, working mostly with NJPW and occasionally CMLL. But now, it’s more or less another straight ROH show, but happening in another country.
We open up with a rundown of the card tonight. We’ve got three titles on the line, including the Women’s World Title, as ROH makes its Australian debut. But it’ll be ROH World Champion Chris Jericho out first, in trios action.
MATCH 1 – Chris Jericho, Big Bill & Bryan Keith vs. Bandido and Los Outrunners
The Outrunners come out in pink masks as “Los Outrunners.” Meanwhile on the outside, Big Bill demands that they get The Outrunners out here because they have a match with The Outrunners, and no one knows who these men are. Tremendous. Jericho does not shake Bandido’s hand to follow the Code of Honor, instead waving. A second try results in a middle finger. Because of course it does. Bandido responds with a kick to the gut sending Jericho scurrying to Bryan Keith. But in short order Australia VERY much wants Big Bill. Jericho unmasks Truth Magnum, but a wind up punch gets the mask back to the delight of the Brisbane crowd. More wacky hijinx until Jericho is able to tag Big Bill, and wow. Bill gets to be very impressive, but soon, Turbo Floyd starts walking the top rope with a knuckle lock on Big Bill, and as he walks around the entire ring, we’re firmly in comedy match territory. But the crowd’s happy, so whatever, I guess. After a full rotation, Turbo comes down with an armdrag and then runs the ropes several times until Jericho and Keith take him down, allowing Bill to take over from the distraction. However, Ian wins my undying affection by name dropping both the Killer Bees and their mask gimmick in the span of 30 seconds. Bandido tags in and instantly reminds everyone how amazing he is, and in the melee, Turbo (sort of) bodyslams Big Bill and we get YOU SON OF A BITCH. Jericho catches Bandido in the Walls of Jericho, but The Outrunners save, hit Total Recall on Keith, and as the chaos continues, Bandido is able to dodge a belt shot and hit the 21-plex for the pin on the champ.
Bandido and The Outrunners def. Chris Jericho, Big Bill, and Bryan Keith (Bandido pins Jericho) with the 21-Plex in 14:11.
Post match, The Learning Tree goes for the beat down, but as Jericho gets a chair, Powerhouse Hobbs is out for the save. Jericho chairs him in the back and only succeeds in pissing him off. But Hobbs gives up the goozle on Jericho, excited to face off with Big Bill. But Bill decides not right now and bails. The two big takeaways here are (1) Bandido is now really getting an ROH World Title shot, as though that wasn’t clear, and (2) Big Bill and Powerhouse Hobbs have a Street Fight set for Wednesday on Dynamite in Phoenix that you should watch.
Backstage, Athena runs down all her nicknames, and while she seems a bit annoyed at the idea of Alex Windsor getting a title shot, she says it’s fine because it’s a great learning opportunity to show everyone why she is the best champion in the business. She’s going to break this one so badly that no one will even know her name.
MATCH 2 – Lee Moriarty(c) vs. Robbie Eagles – ROH Pure Title Match
Weird pauses in the rules, allow the crowd to react to each rule in real time. Robbie Eagles is one-half of the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Champions, with Kosei Fujita in NJPW. Fujita, by the way, just had a banger IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title match against El Desperado on one of the Road to New Beginning shows, so if you have NJPW World, be sure to check it out. For his part, Eagles has previously also challenged for the ROH World Title against Claudio Castagnoli (Ep. 10) and the TV Title against Atlantis Jr. (Ep. 77) and appeared on the Honor Rising tour in Japan in the Sinclair days in 2019. They actually follow the Code of Honor, which is shocking in itself. In a bit of a shock, Eagles forces a rope break for Moriarty in the first 50 seconds. Moriarty proves how much Nigel has influenced him by sneaking a closed fist to the face when referee Mike Posey was in a compromised position. Eagles gets angry and fires one back thus using up his closed fist warning. After some slick chain wrestling, Moriarty catches the Border City Stretch forcing a rope break from Eagles at about 3:30. Reversals over a wristlock see Eagles caught in a sort of kimura forcing Eagles’ second rope break at just under 5:00. A few leg kicks and the Ron Miller Special from the slightly faster Eagles result in Moriarty using his second rope break at around 5:30. Eagles shoulder is still in bad shape, so he’s focusing more on speed and striking. Moriarty counters a sliced bread with a finger snapping and a straitjacket facebuster into the Border City Stretch, forcing Eagles to use his third rope break at around 7:30. Eagles uses a tiger feint kick to the legs, a springboard dropkick to the knee, and locks in the Ron Miller Special to force Moriarty to his third rope break just before the 8:30 mark. Then the pace quickens dramatically, as they fight over the Ron Miller Special, the Border City Stretch, and multiple pin combinations, with some VERY close nearfalls for the challenger. But Moriarty is able to block a wheelbarrow roll through and catch Eagles in a roll-up, holding the ropes (legally, as Eagles had used up his rope breaks) for the win.
Lee Moriarty pins Robbie Eagles via roll-up in 10:27.
Post-match, Eagles offers the hand, Moriarty accepts, and Eagles seems to say he’d love another shot. I would not complain about this in the least.
MATCH 3 – Mark Davis vs. Tommy Knight
All of a sudden we’ve got a Mark Davis squash on ROH. You know what, sure, why not. Tommy Knight apparently teams with former ROH talent Slex, so that’s a fun connection. Davis scores with a vertical suplex, then hits forearm facewashes in the corner before a sliding forearm, in a nice combination I don’t recall seeing before. Davis grabs a chinlock as Ian discusses how functional they can be. In a promotion which featured CM Punk’s pursuit of headlocks and chinlocks in the course of a one-hour draw, that seems a fair assessment. Knight scores with a Spicolli Driver but Davis kicks out instantly. They exchange strikes but Davis is able to score with a pendulum piledriver for the win.
Mark Davis pins Tommy Knight with a pendulum piledriver in 5:20.
Backstage, Alex Windsor is with Lexy Nair. Alex understands why Athena might underestimate her, and encourages it, because it might lead to the biggest mistake of Athena’s career and a new ROH Women’s World Champion.
Then we get a video package of two weeks ago as MxM Collection attacked Sammy Guevara, and stole his Tag Team Title belt.
MATCH 4 – The Sons of Texas(c) vs. MxM Collection – ROH World Tag Team Titles
The belt is even MORE altered, as now the two side plates feature photos of Mansoor and Mason. Tremendous. No notes. Mansoor wants a Tip Touch of Honor, but no dice. And Ian rightly points out that “Dustin is no stranger to histrionics.” That’s an understatement. Mansoor challenges Dustin to kip up, but Dustin tags Sammy who revs up the crowd who wants to see it, and tags back in Dustin. Dustin tries (with help from Mansoor to get down. Because he’s old, you see), but is wise to the shenanigans and moves from the elbow drop. Sammy tags in and gets the kip up to the crowd’s delight. But Madden comes in with a knee strike to clear house. More hijinx result in Dustin doing Sammy’s pose to distract MxM while Sammy comes off the top with a 450 plancha to the outside. Back in, MxM is able to regain control, keeping Dustin away from the corner. Mansoor missing elbows over and over and over again is sending me. Sammy finally gets the hot tag, and is flying everywhere taking out both members of MxM. Mansoor is able to counter GTH with a slingshot into a Black Hole Slam for two. Dustin breaks up the Centerfold, and hits a running destroyer on Mansoor. He sets up Shattered Dreams, and Madden accidentally distracts Stephon Smith allowing him to hit it. Guevara hits GTH on Madden, Mansoor eats a superkick, an elevated Twist and Shout, and Sammy hits a Swanton for the win.
The Sons of Texas def. MxM Collection (Guevara pins Mansoor) with a Swanton Bomb in 12:54.
Post-match, MxM steals their blinged out belt again and heads for the hills. So apparently THE FEUD MUST CONTINUE.
MATCH 5- Athena(c) vs. Alex Windsor – ROH Women’s World Championship
Interesting that there’s no Billie Starkz. Fairly sure she just didn’t make the trip, but they do address it in commentary later, with Caprice theorizing that she didn’t make the trip as a penalty for her failure on the cruise. But you know who did? Momo Watanabe, who is again sitting ringside. For those who do not remember, Momo won the International Women’s World Cup at Wrestle Dynasty by pinning…you guessed it…Athena. Speaking of whom, Athena is sporting the spinner belt tonight. Code of Honor followed, and we’re underway. To my knowledge this is a first time match, though this is not Windsor’s ROH debut. She appeared as part of a trios match on Ep. 68, teaming with Diamante and Marina Shafir (remember when she wrestled?) against Abadon, Lady Frost, and Leyla Hirsch. Windsor follows Athena to the outside, but Athena dodges a kick and turns it into a one handed powerbomb into the apron. Athena sends her back in, and just pounds away. Back to her feet, Windsor powers through a clothesline and hits her own to ground Athena, before hitting a hanging neckbreaker for two. A lot of Athena’s typical offense is getting countered by Windsor’s power, but she’s able to survive it. Athena is able to slingshot into her Canadian Backbreaker/Lungblower combo, and hits her knockout forearm for two. Athena is not happy that didn’t get it done. Windsor cuts off The O Face twice, and brings her down from the top rope the second time. Windsor sits herself on the top rope and after they fight for position, hits a spinning fisherman buster for two. Athena counters a rolling forearm with a DDT, and shotgun dropkick and The O Face finish.
Athena pins Alex Windsor with The O Face in 11:52.
Athena celebrates as Momo Watanabe looks on. The two lock eyes before Athena leaves. Ian thanks us and wishes us HAPPY WRESTLING, EVERYBODY!
THE NUMBERS
Total Show Time: 1:23:59
Total Match Time: 0:54:44 (65.1%)
Average Match Time: 10:57
