Ian and Caprice welcome us to Ring of Honor, as we run down the card. Tonight’s Main Event is a Pure Title match, as Lee Moriarty defends against AR Fox. But beyond that, hope you like tag matches! Because we have a lot of them, including a Proving Ground match, as the Sons of Texas take on The Frat House duo of Griff Garrison and Cole Karter. And that’s where we head to the ring to start!
MATCH 1 – The Sons of Texas vs. The Frat House (Griff Garrison & Cole Karter)
I’m lukewarm on this whole deal, but I have to admit that The Frat House having branded ping pong balls is honestly kind of a fantastic touch. Karter officially made his return three weeks ago, but this is only his second match since August of last year, due to injury. For those unaware, the Proving Ground concept is simple: beat the champ(s) or last the ten-minute time limit, and you get a future title shot. The Frat House controls the bulk of the first 5-6 minutes, but Dustin’s hot tag completely changes the game, as he takes out both Garrison and Karter. Sammy gets back in the mix with a top rope springboard moonsault to he outside onto Vance and Jameson, then a springboard cutter to Garrison. Dustin sets up Shattered Dreams on Karter, and Vance and Jameson inexplicably get up on the apron to protest, allowing Dustin to finish the move without the referee seeing. Dark Order comes out for a distraction too (as they still have issues with Vance joining up with these guys), and Dustin’s Anarchist Suplex leads to a Swanton Bomb from Sammy for the three.
The Sons of Texas def. The Frat House (Guevara pins Garrison) with a Swanton Bomb in 7:50.
We get a video package from this past week’s Collision as Athena showed up to confront Mercedes Mone after a match with Robyn Renegade. This coming Saturday, Athena will team with Julia Hart to take on the…shall we say, unique…team of Mercedes and Harley Cameron.
MATCH 2 – Gates of Agony vs. Deonn Rusman and Cal Bloom
Yes, Bloom is indeed the former Von Wagner, who sometimes looks too much like Richard Kiel for my tastes. I know that’s an old reference and I don’t care. Per Cagematch at least, this is also only his second match since leaving NXT in April of 2024. Anyway, Bloom takes over quickly on Kaun with his power, but Kaun is able to slide free and score with a dropkick. Rusman and Toa Liona tag in, and dominate Rusman. Bloom tags in and his power is a game changer against the Gates, who it would seem are not quite used to fighting power with power. As we hit the four-minute mark, Kaun is actively in trouble. Both tag out, and Liona mauls Rusman. Bloom gets sent to the outside by Kaun, Liona pounces Rusman who delivers an absolute ragdoll sell, and sits on his chest for the three count.
Gates of Agony def. Deonn Rusman and Cal Bloom (Liona pins Rusman) with a POUNCE in 5:57.
We go back to last week, when The Premier Athletes seemingly merged with The Frat House. We’re still not 100% sure where that stands, but that’s okay because The Premier Athletes are out for our next match. Smart Mark Sterling informs the crowd that, “(s)tatistically, Milwaukee is the capital of deadbeat dads. But that’s okay, because we hate your kids too.” Amazing. Nevertheless, despite Sterling’s specific and very clear instruction, the crowd informs the Athletes that they suck.
MATCH 3 – The Premier Athletes vs. The Outrunners
Magnum and Daivari start, and the Code of Honor is followed, so kudos are in order there. No real advantage, so Turbo Floyd tags in and we get a TEST OF STR…nope, Daivari kicks him in the gut and tags in Nese. The Outrunners clear the ring. Sterling gets on the microphone and claims that in Milwakuee it is illegal to do dropkicks, “especially when you’re as ugly as you are, pal.” Magnum goes on the chase and when he gets back in the ring, Nese cuts him off with…you guessed it…a dropkick. I appreciate the hypocrisy. Floyd’s hot tag with BIG RIGHT HANDS, and a series of bodyslams. Northern Lights Bomb gets two. Again, with them spending a lot of time in OVW with Al Snow, I appreciate that becoming part of Floyd’s repertoire. They set up for Total Recall, but a Sterling distraction lets the Athletes score with a couple of big moves and set up Daivari’s splash for two. The Outrunners fight back and set up Total Recall again on Daivairi,but Nese breaks it up. Daivari nearly steals one in the ropes, but Floyd escapes. Sterling gets in, and gets punched in the face for his trouble (with a big wind up too, natch), and that sets up Total Recall for the win. So last week, we have the Premier Athletes win a match (albeit with chicanery), and immediately declare themselves tag title contenders. This week? They’re back to being losers.
The Outrunners def. The Premier Athletes (Floyd pins Daivari) with Total Recall in 8:24.
MATCH 4 – The Infantry vs. Dark Order
Code of Honor followed again, warming my heart. Reynolds and Bravo start. This is where I mention again that I very much need the tag titles on The Infantry. Dean tags in, and soon after Uno comes in, with a double slingshot back suplex and a double dropkick with Reynolds. Reynolds tags back in as Dark Order’s double team game remains on point. Ian and Caprice talk about how the change to LED boards on the outside might be a change for the better. I have no doubt it is for the talent, because those old sheet metal signs were likely a massive hazard, but man, the sound of people banging on the guardrails was one of one. Anyway, back in the ring, Dean catches Reynolds in a sort of standing choke, before tagging in Bravo again. Reynolds fights his way out of the corner and Uno comes in a house of fire. He cleans house on both of The Infantry culminating with a DDT/Flatliner combo on both men. Dark Order sends Dean to the outside, and as they hit their Gory Special/Lungblower combination on Bravo, The Frat House comes out, upset at earlier events. In the course of the confrontation, we get a low blow on Uno by Bravo, and Two to the Head finishes.
The Infantry def. Dark Order (Bravo pins Uno) with Two to the Head in 7:20.
MATCH 5 – Lee Moriarty(c) vs. AR Fox – ROH Pure Title Match
This is Fox’s first shot at the Pure Title, but he also challenged then-champion Claudio Castagnoli for the ROH World Title way back on episode one. Moriarty kicks off a figure four early and catches Fox off the rebound into a cross-arm breaker for a rope break in the first minute. Just before the three-minute mark, Fox gets baited into a closed fist to the face, bringing a warning. Then Moriarty is able to catch a unique standing stomp to the shoulder to take over, including a hammerlock slam. Moriarty is of course looking for the Border City Stretch, but catches a Kimura lock and Fox has to use his second rope break just before the four-minute mark. Fox continues to use his high-flying acumen to maintain control, with what brought him to the dance. Swanton Bomb gets two. Interesting that Moriarty has faced a variety of styles during his reign. High flying like Robbie Eagles and AR Fox, power like Preston Vance, well rounded like Matt Taven, and Pure wrestlers like Angelico and yes, Nigel McGuinness. Moriarty scores with a front strait jacket slam into the Border City Stretch, but Fox slides backward to use his final rope break. Fox is able to take back over, and scores with an avalanche destroyer out of the corner, but Moriarty uses his second rope break to escape the pinfall. Fox misses a 450 and gets rolled up for two, but catches a low cutter. Fox goes for his springboard Spanish fly, but Moriarty catches him, dumps him to the apron and locks in a rope-assisted crossface chicken wing for the tap out.
Lee Moriarty def. AR Fox by submission with crossface chicken wing in 8:41.
The two men follow the Code of Honor, and Moriarty celebrates as Ian wishes us HAPPY WRESTLING, EVERYBODY!
THE NUMBERS
Total Episode Time: 0:57:11
Total Match Time: 38:12 (66.8%)
Avg. Match Time: 7:38
