We open up with Athena backstage with Diamante. The champ tells her new minion that tonight is a big night for her because this is her initiation into MIT. Billie Starkz attempts to get Athena’s attention (earing her MIT shirt), but before we can figure out why, Athena verbally blasts her, says we’ve “been there, done that” and she and Diamante leave together, leaving Billie alone. Then we hit the title sequence and run down the card, before we head to the ring for our CMLL-tinged opener.
MATCH 1 – Dark Panther vs. Okumura
Is that Melissa Santos announcing? It’s not mentioned, and I believe this is one of only a couple matches on this episode where she handles the ring announcing duties. Dark Panther is coming off an excellent match challenging for the TV Title last week. Okumura for those unaware is in his early 50s and is a 30+ year veteran. These two have met in CMLL, NJPW, MLW, and now ROH. Okumura’s ROH career stretches back to the tournament to crown the first Six Man champions, where he teamed with Hechicero and Ultimo Guerrero. Fun fact: Among their first round opponents was a NJPW talent on excursion known as Kamaitachi. Bonus points if you can guess who he wound up becoming without looking it up. I’ll tell you at the end of this match. Pretty by the numbers start picks up as Panther scores with multiple suicide dives to the floor, back in makes his way to the second rope and scores with his low dropkick for two. But as Okumura goes for some kind of a spinning toe hold or figure four type submission, Panther catches him in a roll-up for the win.
Dark Panther pins Okumura with an inside cradle in 6:09.
Oh, and Kamaitachi would wind up becoming none other than junior heavyweight legend Hiromu Takahashi.
We have some clips of Komander discussing what a win at Final Battle would mean to him and his family.
Then we go to a video package of the saga of MxM Collection stealing Sammy Guevara’s Tag Team title belt.
MATCH 2 – MxM Collection & Johnny TV vs. Sons of Texas & Willie Mack
Mack and Johnny start off, and Mack gets some offense in, but Dustin tags in and MxM is able to take back over, including ping ponging Dustin’s head between their hips. They get a nice two count off a side slam/legdrop combination. Eventually, Sammy is able to tag in and goes off with dives and high flying offense. Mason cuts that off, and Willie Mack puts a stop to it, with a clothesline and a stunner to Mansoor. Johnny hits the Flying Chuck kick on Mack, and Dustin hits the running destroyer on Johnny. He sets up and hits Shattered Dreams on Mansoor, much to Ian’s chagrin. Mack saves Guevara from a Madden chokeslam, and hits his standing moonsault. In the chaos, Guevara hits a high knee and GTH on Johnny to get the win.
Sons of Texas and Willie Mack def. MxM Collection and Johnny TV (Guevara pins Johnny) with GTH in 8:32.
Post-match, MxM and Johnny attack, sending Dustin and Sammy to the outside. Johnny hits Starship Pain on Willie Mack, and Mansoor counts the three. Afterward, they steal DUSTIN’S Six Man belt. So we’re just doing this again. Got it.
We get a video package profiling Lady Frost and Taya Valkyrie who headed to CMLL to participate in the tournament to award the vacant Women’s Tag Team Titles. Interestingly, no champion has ever lost those titles. The first champs were Stephanie Vaquer and Zeuxis, and the titles were vacated in July of 2024. Four weeks later, Lluvia and Tessa Blanchard won the vacant titles, only to vacate them a little over four months later. They would stay vacant for three months.
MATCH 3 – Athena & Diamante vs. Jordan Blu and Mazzerati
So is Jordan related to Jacob and Eli Blu? Mazzerati has been in ROH a number of times. Tonight may not end well for her. Diamante plays her role as enforcer perfectly, destroying both opponents. Including taking out Mazzerati, daring Jordan to come in the ring, then attacking her anyway when she doesn’t. Jordan Black and Blue, observes Ian. Athena tags in, Diamante feeds Mazzerati to her for the knockout forearm and that’s that.
Athena & Diamante def. Jordan Blu and Mazzerati (Athena pins Mazzerati) with a forearm strike in 2:48.
Next, we get a video package detailing the Chris Jericho/Bandido situation over the last few weeks. Jericho stole the mask of Bandido’s brother Gravity at Revolution during the Zero Hour, and two weeks later, Bandido got it back relatively easily. In an interview at aired on Dynamite last night, Jericho challenged Bandido to a Title vs. Mask match at AEW Dynasty. It’s fine. It’s not like there’s an ROH PPV event coming up a month later or anything.
MATCH 4 – Premier Athletes vs. Dark Order
It’s Nese and Daivari vs. Reynolds and Uno for those wondering. And The Frat House is at ringside. Without shirts. The Vegas crowd blatantly disregards Sterling’s clear directions to say Athletes Rule AND NOTHING ELSE, by hurtfully informing them that they, in fact, suck. These two teams have met SO many times on Honor Club. Tag team, six man, eight man, etc. It appears Dark Order are more or less set as babyfaces. Pretty standard solid, if unspectacular, tag match ensues. Reynolds is in peril after drilling his knee on the apron on a fall to the floor. Nonetheless, he’s able to fight back, and is about to put the finishing touches on Daivari, when Preston Vance slides in the ring, drills Reynolds with a spinebuster, and Daivari finishes with the frog splash.
Premier Athletes def. Dark Order (Daivari pins Reynolds) with a frog splash in 7:59.
We go back to Revolution Zero Hour when QT Marshall starts an issue with special guest (and REVOLVER and MLW alum) Paul Walter Hauser by throwing a drink in his face. Hauser would go on to tell TMZ that there was alcohol in the beverage, which is particularly bad as he’s three years sober. He says if QT wants a match, he’s not a wrestler, but he’ll kick QT’s ass. After this, we cut to Renee Paquette backstage to get comments from QT. QT insists he deserves an apology from Hauser for reasons that aren’t entirely clear. Regardless, if Hauser shows up, approaches QT like a man, he might get what he wants. This likely isn’t happening in ROH. So why are we dedicating TV time to it? Oh well.
MATCH 5 – Viva Van vs. Queen Aminata
First time matchup here. Some chain wrestling early as Van’s hair extensions come out. Not a whole lot here to speak of, though Van holds her own with some chain wrestling, and even scores with a nice cross arm breaker. But despite her newly minted(?) status as a signed performer, Aminata’s striking is too much and she indeed takes off Van’s head with the Off With Her Head low dropkick in the ropes to get the win.
Queen Aminata pins Viva Van with Off With Her Head in 4:47.
We find the Premier Athletes backstage in a very echo-y hallway. Certainly a choice, and I’m sure your sound editor is thrilled. The Athletes say they’re been one of the best tag teams in the business for the last eight years. Nese says it’s inevitable that they will be ROH World Tag Team Champions because Athletes Rule.
Another video clip runs from Komander and Hologram in CMLL as he promises the world will know Los Titanes del Aire.
MATCH 6 – Rugido, Volador Jr. and Barbaro Cavernario vs. Atlantis Jr., Titan and Fuego
Titan, as far as I’m aware, is still including among Los Ingobernables de Japon. I guess I’ll see for sure when Super Jr. Tag League or Best of Super Juniors happens again. Vegas welcomes these six with a “Lucha Libre” chant. Ian points out that at one point, Atlantis Jr. and Volador Jr. were two thirds of CMLL’s trios champions, “before Volador Jr. had a change of heart.” This is, of course, lucha rules, which means tags are not necessary. Leaving the ring is enough to allow someone else from your team to come in and become the legal man. In the first 90 seconds it becomes abundantly clear that this is going to be a bonkers lucha libre showcase. Volador and Barbaro hook Titan’s ankles while running the ropes and the rudos take over. As Atlantis comes in, he gets quickly overwhelmed, with Rugido going for the mask. Ian rightly points out that removal of the mask is instant disqualification. Caprice adds that it has a couple of advantages, in messing with the mask gets your opponent off their game, plus if you can adjust it and affect their vision, giving you more of an advantage. Fuego gets in and has no luck either, eventually eating a nice powerbomb/powerslam combo from Barbaro for two. Atlantis Jr. back in, and the rudos mess with the mask again. Barbaro dangles spit over his face in the corner and bites him. Talk about living the gimmick. Finally Titan and Fuego take back over, and Titan hits a double dropkick on Rugido and Volador. But Barbaro interrupts a dive with a double clothesline. Atlantis takes him out. Titan dodges a Volador charge in the corner and adds several handsprings for effect. And Volador simply thrust kicks him in the face when he stops. Tremendous. After everyone goes down, Titan and Volador go at it, exchanging blows. Then Fuego and Rugido. Then Atlantis and Barbaro. Caprice says he thinks it’s breaking down now. My guy, it’s been breaking down for the last 6-8 minutes. Atlantis counters a sort of Vader Bomb with an upkick, hits a running destroyer and the frog splash gets the win.
Atlantis Jr., Titan, and Fuego def. Rugido, Volador Jr. and Barbaro Cavernario (Atlantis pins Barbaro) with a frog splash in 12:03.
Atlantis and his teammates celebrate as Ian wishes us HAPPY WRESTLING, EVERYBODY.
THE NUMBERS
Total Episode Time: 1:11:47
Total Match Time: 42:18 (58.9%)
Avg. Match Time: 7:03
