We are less than 24 hours away from Final Battle, and we’ve got one last stop on Honor Club, with the semifinals of the Women’s Pure Title Tournament tonight! After the intro music, Ian and Caprice run down the big matches on the card for Final Battle, and then it’s TO THE RING.
MATCH 1 – The Beast Mortos vs. Komander
Mortos made relatively quick work of Gravity on YouTube earlier this week. Tonight, he takes on another participant in the Survival of the Fittest match. No Code of Honor, and Mortos backs Komander into a corner and immediately starts laying in standing short clotheslines, corner charges, and a powerslam. Komander is able to hit a couple of flying headscissors and a gamengiri kick, with a missile dropkick following. Komander tries some fancy footwork with a wristlock on the ropes but Mortos pulls him into a fireman’s carry, into a backbreaker. Mortos starts unlacing Komander’s mask, while Ian points out that unlike Mexico, there are not rules in ROH against unmasking. In Mexico (or in CHIKARA, when that was a thing), unmasking a luchador is an instant disqualification. Caprice points out that even if it’s not a disqualification, it works as a distraction. Komander gets a quick two count out of a victory roll, and starts dodging and using several flash pins, all unsuccessful. Komander thumbs the eye, heads up again and hits a sort of dragonrana, sends Mortos outside and follows with a tope. Back in, Komander misses the ropewalk shooting star press and runs into a pop-up Samoan drop for two. Komander is able to recover and hits a running crucifix bomb for two. Komander heads up for a leaping top rope hurricanrana, and Mortos catches him into a powerbomb backbreaker and a discus lariat for two. Komander is able to block a discus lariat and hits a poison rana. He goes up for the ropewalk shooting star, and Sammy Guevara pushes him off the top for the DQ.
Komander def. The Beast Mortos by DQ in 9:40.
Post-match, Sammy lays out Komander with a superkick and rips off the mask! The beat down is on until Bandido comes out for the save. But just when you think it’s done, here comes Don Callis. “In the immortal words of Mil Mascaras, ‘Donde esta mi pantalones blancos.'” If you’re not in on the joke, that translates to “Where are my white pants?” Of course, he’s there to introduce Hechicero. The whole segment is saved by Ian earnestly insisting that “Mil Mascaras never had white pants!” Hechicero attacks from behind, including his spinning hammerlock backbreaker on Bandido. Mortos poses with the belt, but Hechicero takes umbrage. Sammy breaks up the tug of war between Mortos and Hechicero, and poses with the belt himself. We get a quick video package of Blake Christian, whom Ian says has headed to Columbus ahead of everyone else and is resting up ahead of tomorrow night.
MATCH 2 – The Premier Athletes (Tony Nese, Ariya Daivari & Stori Denali) vs. Philly Collins, Marino Tenaglia & Zoey Lynn)
The crowd helpfully informs the Premier Athletes that they, in fact, suck. Glad to have that sorted. Daivairi and Tenaglia start. Denali tags in and just beats up everyone, man or woman, Nese settles in after order is restored against Collins. Nese messes around and Collins fires up with some right hands and a springboard kick, before tagging in Tenaglia. Who eats a kick from Nese and a hammerlock lariat from Daivari. He tags out to Zoey Lynn who is immediately chokeslammed to death by Denali.
The Premier Athletes def. Philly Collins, Marino Tenaglia & Zoey Lynn (Denali pins Lynn) with a chokeslam in 2:53.
MATCH 3 – Rosario Grillo vs. Sidney Akeem
Grillo was last seen pledging to The Frat House on the special YouTube episode, when he was left to be dismantled by their opponents. I guess he didn’t make it in. Akeem was last seen in ROH in October in a win over Alex Zayne. Grillo puts him down with a shoulder tackle, but Akeem is able to use his athleticism to score with an up kick and a dropkick. Out on the apron, Akeem gets some impressive dodges of a kick and a clothesline, but tries to springboard and eats a punch to the face. Grillo misses a charge and falls outside, but when Akeem shoots him back in, Grillo is able to use a thumb to the eye to take over. Sidney ducks a charge and hits a corkscrew standing cross body, then a series of kicks, including a snap mare/step over kick combination. Grillo catches a back handspring something, and tries to send him into the corner, but Akeem is able to dodge a charge with a double back handspring into a cutter for the win.
Sidney Akeem pins Rosario Grillo with a double back handspring cutter in 4:30.
MATCH 4 – Dalton Castle & The Outrunners vs. Jake Omen, Ashton Adonis & Josh Crane
I’ve seen it for a while now, and I’m genuinely not sure about The Outrunners and their Marlboro themed gear. Dalton follows the Code of Honor, but with Rick Knox. Reminds me of a well-off young man that looks A LOT like Dalton Castle, “Smooth Sailing” Ashley Remington. Whatever happened to that guy? The Outrunners handle business early, and tag Castle in for his low splash. Castle grabs a waistlock and deadlifts one of his opponents from the mat into a gutwrench suplex. The squash continues unabated until Castle tags in and then it’s SUPLEXES FOR EVERYONE. We’re four minutes in and it occurs to me that we have not actually named any of the opponents specifically and I have no idea who is who. Two of them are sent outside, bodyslam, YOU SON OF A BITCH double elbow, and Bangarang finishes. Some googling says it was Josh Crane who got pinned. Works for me.
Dalton Castle & The Outrunners def. Jake Omen, Ashton Adonis & Josh Crane (Dalton pins Crane) via Bangarang in 4:40.
Post-match, Ricochet enters, and the Gates of Agony attack from behind. The Outrunners get taken out and it’s now 3-on-1. Dalton eats a shot from the National Title belt to the back, then the Spirit Gun, and Ricochet stands tall.
MATCH 5 – Daniel Garcia & Wheeler Yuta vs. Damien & Damon Reel
Interesting to see these two popping up in ROH. Both former ROH Pure Champions, and former rivals now teaming with the Death Riders. Damien and Damon are known as Highlight Reel on the Midwest independents. You may have seen them in Black Label Pro, for instance. That said, I have no idea which is which. Hot tag for Highlight Reel, but Garcia quickly cuts it off with a lariat, and then it’s continuous corner charges for a solid 30 seconds. Elevated Hart Attack, and Garcia locks in the Dragon Tamer for the tap out.
Daniel Garcia & Wheeler Yuta def. Damien & Damon Reel via Dragon Tamer in 3:52.
Post-match, we have some breaking news about the Women’s Pure Title tournament. Aminata requested this time, and while this is not how she wanted her tournament to end, she has not been cleared coming off the neck injury that kept her out of Blood and Guts. Therefore, Deonna Purrazzo will have a bye to the finals. Deonna says this is not how she wanted to reach the finals either, and wishes a speedy recovery. She promises that when she wins the title and when Aminata is cleared, she will be waiting.
MATCH 6 – Mercedes Mone vs. Lovely Miss Larkan
Needless to say, this is not for the ROH Women’s World TV Title. But Mercedes is making her ROH debut ahead of her title defense at Final Battle tomorrow night against former champion Red Velvet. Larkan has done the bulk of her work in OVW. Off the Code of Honor, Mercedes throws Larkan down. Larkan is able to score with an upkick, but Mercedes catches a kick, hits a kneelift. Then it’s backstabber, crossface for the tap out.
Mercedes Mone sub. Lovely Miss Larkan via crossface in 0:32.
MATCH 7 – Billie Starkz vs. Yuka Sakazaki – Women’s Pure Title Tournament Semifinals
As established earlier, the winner here gets Deonna Purrazzo in the finals at Final Battle. Yuka has actually won the last two singles matches these two have had, in Tokyo Joshi Pro in 2022 and on Dark Elevation in 2023. Off the Code of Honor at the bell, Billie calls for a knuckle lock but is too tall for Yuka to reach. Yuka pouts a bit. Lockup, and Billie grabs a waistlock and runs Yuka into the ropes to force a rope break. That still feels like a hole in the rules that needs to be worked on, but you’re getting into the weeds a bit there legislating intent. In any event, Yuka is able to hit a rolling cradle with multiple repetitions around the ring, eventually stopping for a two count. Headscissors sends Billie outside. Out on the floor, Billie gets sent into the ringpost. But Billie gets sent back in the ring first and is able to catch Yuka coming in with a sleeper in the ropes and throwing her down back in the ring. Billie with a corner charge and DDT for two. Billie uses a closed fist to rack up a warning but knowing it will help her take advantage. Billie uses a chinlock and Yuka uses her second rope break. Caprice points out the fact that Yuka used a rope break for a simple chinlock means she is in a bad way. But she’s able to come back and hit a northern lights bomb for two, and grab an ankle lock. She steps over the trapped leg, just short of an STF, but doesn’t grab it. Billie uses her second rope break. Yuka goes up to the top, but Billie brings her down with a slam. Billie goes up and misses a Swanton. Yuka goes up and hits a twisting splash for two. Yuka goes up for the Magical Girl Splash but Billie kicks the rope to mess up the balance. Billie brings her in, and hits a vertical suplex into a neckbreaker over the knee. Billie goes for an elevated single leg Boston crab, and Yuka kicks her down, but Billie holds on to the kneebar. Yuka simultaneously grabs an ankle lock. They trade forearms and eventually we get a simultaneous rope break–the first time Ian or I can remember that happening in a Pure match. Both women have exhausted all three rope breaks. We start exchanging forearms and Billie is able to catch Yuka with a rollup and puts her feet on the ropes–perfectly legal given that both women had all three rope breaks used–and gets the pin.
Billie Starks def. Yuka Sakazaki with a roll-up in 10:43.
Post-match, Billie celebrates her way up the ramp as Ian wishes us HAPPY WRESTLING, EVERYBODY!
THE NUMBERS
Total Episode Time: 1:02:13
Total Match Time: 36:50 (59.2%)
Average Match Time: 5:16 (for those wondering, it would have been 6:03 without the Mercedes match)
CURRENT FINAL BATTLE CARD
- Ricochet(c) vs. Dalton Castle – AEW National Championship
- Deonna Purrazzo vs. Billie Starkz – Women’s Pure Title Tournament Finals
- Athena(c) vs. Persephone – ROH Women’s World Title
- Shane Taylor Promotions (Shane Taylor & The Infantry) vs. Skyflight (Scorpio Sky & Top Flight) – ROH World Six Man Titles
- Mercedes Mone(c) vs. Red Velvet – ROH Women’s World TV Title
- LFI (Sammy Guevara & The Beast Mortos) vs. Tommy Billington & Adam Priest – ROH World Tag Team Titles
- Lee Moriarty vs. Nigel McGuinness – 30 Minute Iron Man Match
- Bandido(c) vs. Sammy Guevara vs. Komander vs. Blake Christian vs. Hechicero vs. The Beast Mortos – ROH World Title, Survival of the Fittest Match
