Last Week: Rocky Romero overcame Lee Moriarty in the first Pure Rules match of the new ROH era before Samoa Joe successfully defended the ROH World Television title against Christopher Daniels and Claudio Castagnoli overcame a debuting Robbie Eagles to retain his ROH World title respectively.
ROH on HonorClub Episode 11
Orlando, FL
May 11, 2023
Shane Taylor vs. Mark Briscoe
Following the Code of Honor, Mark Briscoe found himself getting run over with a shoulder block. When Shane Taylor informed Mark he was going to whoop the former Tag Team champ just like he did Jay Briscoe, “The Sussex County Chicken” went off with some Redneck Kung Fu. Getting back dropped over the top, Mark got yanked over the ropes and drilled with Taylor’s version of the Tower of London. Mark kicked out of Shane’s lateral press, punching & kicking until Taylor fell out of the ring and was prone to the blockbuster off the apron. Mark was in complete control, looking to dive on Shane at ringside. When Mark went running, Taylor slipped into the ring; almost taking Briscoe’s head off with the lariat.
Taylor was still going off at the mouth as he laid in some rattling forearms and illegal chokes. The referee found himself out of position when Taylor went for the pin off another clothesline. Mark reversed a suplex, landing on his feet and forearming the big man. Taylor responded with a forearm of his own, leading to an exchange that ended with Mark hitting the Sick Kick. Blocking another kick didn’t help Taylor as he got knocked out of the ring for that Spicy Dropkick. Retrieving a chair from underneath the ring, Mark set it up by the ropes to execute a somersault plancha that had the fans going wild. The action returned inside as Mark stopped Taylor from climbing the ropes, pulling off a very impressive rolling Death Valley driver. Mark quickly came off the top with Froggy Bow. Taylor avoided the maneuver, using Welcome to the Land … to earn a near fall!
Shane had the splash off Bret’s rope in mind, but hit nothing but canvas. Mark pulled off a uranage when Taylor got up, gaining another two count. Mark wasn’t deterred, going for the Jay Driller. Taylor blocked the Driller, kneeing, choke slamming and big splashing Mark … for another near fall!
Taylor hooked Mark in an attempt for the Package Piledriver. Flipping out of the maneuver, Mark started throwing haymakers with Taylor retaliating in kind. Big clothesline from Mark dropped and stunned Taylor. Dragging Shane off the mat, Mark pulled off the Jay Driller to finally put Taylor’s shoulders to the mat for those precious three seconds.
Winner: Mark Briscoe
Match Review: As expected, fantastic opening contest with two men very familiar with each other. If this isn’t proof there needs to be more Shane Taylor on ROH programming going forward, I don’t know what is.
Blackpool Combat Club (ROH World champion Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta) vs. The Foundation (Rhett Titus & Tracy Williams)
It was Wheeler Yuta locking up with Tracy Williams at the bell’s first sound. Showing his pure wrestling skills, the former Television champion in Williams found himself getting forearmed when he outclassed Yuta on the mat. “Hot Sauce” cinched in a knee bar as a way to stop the assault, only for Claudio Castagnoli to illegally enter and stomp Williams. The ROH World champ demanded Yuta to tag out so he could show the former Pure champion what to do.
Surprisingly, Claudio almost got caught with a crucifix. Rhett Titus tagged in, only for his arm drag to fail as Claudio pitched him overhead. When Yuta tagged in, The Foundation found a chance to regroup and get Wheeler in the corner for a double team. Claudio reentered illegally, distracting Williams upon failing to kick Tracy so Yuta could chop block that left leg. Once again, Yuta struggled to maintain his team’s momentum; needing Claudio to restore their dominance with slams, kidney punches, and insulting slaps. Avoiding a shoulder ram in the corner from a charging Claudio, Williams had the chance to tag out to a fired up Titus.
Hammerlock belly to back spinning suplex by Titus was topped by a power slam both on Yuta. Things were breaking down when Titus put Claudio on the floor with that Hydraulic Dropkick. Dropkick-Lariat combo by The Foundation to Yuta seemed to be the end when Claudio broke up a sure pin. Recovering, Yuta was able to shove the approaching Williams into the referee. Tracy stopped the unintentional collision, turning around and getting thumbed in the eyes by Yuta. Williams couldn’t stop Claudio’s European uppercut that put him in prime position for the Rocket Launcher. Yuta held Tracy down for the pin fall.
The Code of Honor was only followed between the winners.
Winners: The Blackpool Combat Club
Match Review: Beyond a great match (though it is a little disappointing the former ROH World Tag champs can’t get a win in ROH since the company’s return) there was a very interesting story of Claudio being a very aggressive mentor to Wheeler. Yuta has been so proud of his time as a part of the BCC, but are the seeds being planted for the day he gets sick of the abuse and becomes his own man again?
ROH World Television Championship: Samoa Joe (c) vs. Blake Christian
The challenge tried to use a hit & run approach, landing an enzuguri after avoiding Samoa Joe’s clutches. Getting Joe tied in the middle rope, Blake Christian attacked the champ’s left leg. KneeDT connected for Blake, setting up a figure four leg lock that had the champ grabbing the bottom rope. Joe avoided a basement dropkick, senton splashing Christian when he hit the mat. Right jabs & kicks from the champ set up the Joe Striking Combo Special. Escaping a power bomb resulted in the challenger getting power slammed. Reversing STJoe with an arm drag, Christian quickly climbed the ropes. Before Blake could dive, Joe slapped him and pulled him off the top for the Muscle Buster. The pin fall was elementary.
Winner: Samoa Joe
Match Review: Similar to his match with Daniels last week, this was a shortened version of what could’ve been a classic if given more time. Blake has been on a roll in the new era of Honor and it seemed he and Joe had some great chemistry. Would love a lengthy rematch down the road.
– In the interview zone was Mark Sterling & the Varsity Athletes. According to Sterling, he was sick of The Dark Order and planned to end them tonight. Ari Daivari was ready to give the annoying Dork Order a beating.
The Righteous (Vincent & Dutch) vs. The Infantry (Sean Dean & Carlie Bravo)
Instead of shaking hands, The Righteous hugged their opponents with Dutch flicking his tongue at both men; much to their disgust. Vincent gladly tied up with Sean Dean. Coming off the ropes off a side head lock, Dean shoulder blocked and arm dragged Vincent around the ring until he was prone for a double team rolling splash-elbow drop. Stu Grayson suddenly appeared at the entrance ramp’s top. The Infantry were in complete control until Dean got illegally clotheslined by Dutch as Vincent distracted the ref. Dutch tagged in, using a t-bone suplex on Bravo to earn himself a two count. Kneeling flatliner by Vincent after tagging in resulted in a failed attempt at Autumn Sunshine. Dutch ran in, hitting Bravo with the Boss Man Slam. Dean couldn’t stop Autumn Sunshine or the three count that followed.
The Righteous confronted Stu, telling Grayson, “You’re one of us.”
Winners: The Righteous
Match Review: The Infantry got a lot of offense in this one instead of this being a bona fide squash. The Righteous are an interesting duo and The Infantry have that special something that could propel them near, if not to the top of ROH’s Tag division in due time. The intrigue of Grayson being courted by The Righteous continued as well and what this may mean for The Dark Order in the near future is anyone’s guess.
– A vignette aired focusing on the feud between The Kingdom and Darius Martin & Action Andretti. For Martin & Andretti, they are tired of wrestling: “We want a Fight Without Honor!” The Kingdom questioned if their opponents know what they’re asking for, but they’re happy to introduce them to what it means to live & die in ROH next week in a Fight Without Honor.
Robyn Renegade w/ Charlette Renegade vs. Vertvixen
Punching her way out of a side headlock, Vertvixen shoulder rammed, leg swept, and almost won in the first minute. Robyn recovered quickly, rushing her opposition into the corner for a distraction by Charlette. The plan worked as Robyn struck the unfocused Vertvixen from behind. Jawbreaker helped Vertvixen not only turn the momentum, but also hit a slingshot ace crusher into the helluva kick-downward spiral combo. Robyn kicked out of Vertvixen’s pin attempt, catching her coming in with an octopus stretch-Koji clutch maneuver to force the submission.
Winner: Robyn Renegade
Match Review: Rather quick exchange with Vertvixen impressing with both her intensity and smoothness against someone who is starting to make some waves on the indie scene alongside her sister. Still don’t know why Willow hasn’t tried to get revenge for the Renegades from laying her out a few weeks ago, though.
– The Gates of Agony stood in the interview zone with Dasha to make fun of The Boys and Dalton Castle. Castle came in screaming about one of The Boys being put in the hospital and the assumption that The Mogul Embassy had a hand in the act. Prince Nana denied it, but Dalton promised retribution. When Castle & The Boy left the scene, Nana waved the other Boy’s mask to prove that The Mogul Embassy was involved in some way.
Willie Mack vs. Ninja Mack
Chants for, “Mack!” before the Code of Honor. Showing his strength advantage early, Willie easily pushed the masked man around the ring while mocking his opponent with the crane pose. Willie grabbed Ninja, using three huge slams off the waist lock before landing a shoulder block. Showing his agility, Willie pulled off a high angle arm drag. The pace quickened and both had head scissors and big maneuvers in mind. Willie landed the enzuguri that put Ninja at ringside for a somersault plancha onto the masked competitor. The fans were going wild as Ninja got clobbered by a very enthused Willie. Ninja avoided the standing moonsault press in the ring, landing several kicks and a spinning uppercut. Figuratively exploding, Ninja almost ended this with a corkscrew splash.
When Willie got to his feet, he caught Ninja coming in with the Samoan drop into that patented standing moonsault. Ninja saw Willie coming his way after the failed pin, sweeping Willie into pinning combinations. Willie not only kicked out of Ninja’s pin, he also caught the masked man flying to Liger Bomb him to pin Ninja in his ROH return.
Winner: Willie Mack
Match Review: Just a fun exchange between two fan favorites. More Mack and Mack in ROH will only make episodes better.
ROH World Six-Man Tag Team champions The Mogul Embassy (Brian Cage, Toa Liona & Kaun) w/ Prince Nana vs. Lucky Ali, Adam Priest, Victor Benjamin
Kaun found himself almost obliterating Adam Priest with some explosive offense including shoulder blocks and headlocks. Brian Cage tagged in, back dropping Priest across the ring. Lucky Ali tagged in, but didn’t fair much better as he got kicked on the head and slammed across the ring. Toa Liona tagged in, running into Victor Benjamin. Adam distracted Toa, allowing Benjamin to pull off a trio of spinning kicks topped by the step-up knee in the corner. Sadly for Victor, he got too excited and got wiped out with a clothesline by Toa. Adam came off the top with a dropkick. When Priest got up, he got knocked through the ropes while Cage power bombed Lucky against the turnbuckles. As if that wasn’t enough, Benjamin got double team power bombed before Priest was slammed on Bejamin’s prone body. Making the cover, Kaun picked up another win for his team via pin fall.
Winners: The Embassy
Match Review: After weeks of wondering why Brian Cage has been squashing people by himself with no fellow Six-Man Tag champs in sight, we finally got The Mogul Embassy in full form destroying people like only they can. The best part of anything involving The Embassy tonight had nothing to do with the match, but the fact it seems there’s actually a story beginning to give us a rematch between the champs and Dalton Castle & The Boys for the title.
Kyle Fletcher vs. Tony Deppen
Tony Deppen showed his grappling acumen, aiming for stretches that worked over the IWGP Tag champ’s abdomen after the latter suffered some broken ribs in the recent past. Kyle Fletcher retaliated by shoulder tackling Deppen to put the former ROH Television champion in the corner for some big chops. Hot shot from Deppen allowed him to jump through the ropes and drill him courtesy of the Codebreaker. When the chops didn’t hurt Fletcher, Tony just punched him in the face. Strikes from Deppen were meant for a big suplex. Tony blocked the attack, hitting a suplex of his own as the fans got behind the Aussie Open member. Fletcher pitched his opponent backward with the dragon suplex. Trying to use an apron-based maneuver failed for Kyle as he was taken to the floor with a cutter. When Kyle got up, Deppen took him down via the somersault plancha. Deppen rolled Kyle back in, unleashing the Hidden Blade … to earn a near fall!
Fletcher demanded Deppen to keep throwing strikes. Instead, Tony swept him into a pinning combination. Knee strike-German suplex combo by Deppen put Kyle in the corner for some shotgun knees. Kyle couldn’t stop the Warrior’s Way, but did kick out of the follow up pin. Avoiding a running Deppen, Fletcher executed a Michinoku driver … for a three count where Deppen kicked out right at three. The referee called it, giving Kyle the win.
Winner: Kyle Fletcher
Match Review: Botched ending aside, really enjoyable encounter between two highly wrestlers who go so hard every time. Similar to Titus & Williams, it would be nice to see Deppen win once in a while, but these type of matches will get him over with those unfamiliar with his talents.
AR Fox vs. Anthony Henry w/ JD Drake
JD Drake distracted AR Fox for a Pearl Harbor job. Fox freed himself of the waist lock, sending Anthony Henry to the floor for two dives. Henry exited the ring on the other side to get some advice from Drake when Fox somersaulted atop both Workhorsemen. Fox avoided a clothesline in the ring, using an enzuguri-spinning suplex combo for a two count. Henry rolled onto the apron, shoving an incoming Fox against the turnbuckles for a piledriver on the apron!
AR barely made it in before the twenty count, taking another piledriver in the ring for a two count in Henry’s favor. Fox somehow got up swinging for the fences with forearms. Sadly for AR, he felt a brain buster for his trouble not once, but twice. On the third attempt at a brain buster, Fox reversed it to a big ovation. Fox was kicking crazy to set up the Swanton bomb. Henry barely kicked out of the pin attempt, getting pitched into a snap German suplex topped by the slingshot suplex … for a near fall!
The fans were behind Fox as Henry used a dragon sleeper to set up something Fox countered by rushing Anthony into the corner. Henry countered Fox’s reversal with the cobra clutch that AR almost turned into a pinning combination. Yanking Henry by his wrists into an ace crusher, Fox gained a two count. Fox left the ring to climb the ropes, but Drake’s distraction caused AR to dive on him instead. When Fox reentered the ring, Henry caught him with a DDT … to earn another near fall!
Fox avoided the Warrior’s Way, pulling Henry off the top with that springboard Spanish Fly. 450 splash followed for Fox as did the pin fall.
Shane Taylor joined The Workhorsemen in beating down Fox after the match. FTR’s music hit, bring out the AEW World Tag Team champions to clean house. Putting Drake in position for Fox’s Swanton proved to be the exclamation point as Henry avoided the Big Rig. Eddie Kingston’s music hit, bringing out “The Mad King”. Kingston forced Henry into the ring to feel the Big Rig.
Winner: AR Fox
Match Review: Well, that came out of nowhere. Fox and Henry went out there and had a match where they worked like it was a main event right down to the crazy amount of, arguably, unnecessary near falls. Hopefully this actually sets up a six-man tag featuring FTR in ROH because those guys just keep showing up to save people during ROH events and we don’t get FTR in a ROH ring afterward.
The Dark Order (Evil Uno, Stu Grayson, Alex Reynolds & John Silver) vs. The Varsity Athletes (Slim J, Jeeves Kay, Josh Woods & Sonny Kiss) w/ Mark Sterling & Ari Daivari
Evil Uno faced off with Josh Woods as the former ROH Pure champion mocked The Dark Order’s patented pose. Uno made him pay, knocking Woods down with shoulder block. Instead of tagging in Stu, Uno opted for Reynolds and Silver to do the heavy lifting. Sterling jumped onto the apron, allowing Jeeves Kay to attack Silver from behind as they tried to remove Sterling from the arena. Sonny Kiss became the legal competitor, kicking the life out of Silver before tagging in Slim J and Kay for some double team punching action. Silver forearmed his way out of the wrong part of town, using a wheelbarrow suplex on Kay. J ran in, knocking The Dark Order off the apron to prevent a tag. But Silver’s leg strength allowed him to kick J & Kay out of the way before rolling to a tag to Stu.
Grayson somersaulted on his opposition before setting up Slim J for the caperana off the swing-out face buster slam. J somehow kicked out before the three count, bringing in Uno for some intended double team action. Instead, Slim shoved Stu into Uno. Evil Uno was getting all the action as he was hip attacked by Sonny, felt Sliced Bread from Slim & splashed by Kay … for a near fall thanks to his partners breaking up the pin!
Grayson tagged in, then tagged out to Reynolds so he could get the pin off the Fatality on Slim to give The Dark Order the win. But Reynolds going for the pin saw shove Grayson out of the ring to get that three count, upsetting Stu in the process.
Winners: The Dark Order
Match Review: Considering the amount of bodies involved, this didn’t get that much time and didn’t overstay its welcome. Really, the overarching story of Stu Grayson being confused about where his loyalties lie was the most interesting aspect and how The Dark Order may be losing out on one of their original members.
– Last week, Skye Blue made the challenge to Athena for the ROH Women’s World Championship. That match happens … now!
ROH Women’s World Championship: Athena (c) vs. Skye Blue
Code of Honor followed before the champion landed a sneaky forearm when Skye Blue assumed they were going to tie up. Missing a follow-up haymaker, Athena got kicked and swept into a lateral press. Using the cartwheel to stop a head scissors, Athena laughed at her challenger before slamming her opponent face-first against the canvas. Athena didn’t take kindly to the referee telling her to get off the ropes to stop an illegal choke. Clubbing forearms from “The Fallen Goddess” between intimidation attempts from Athena directed at the referee. Pitching Skye through the ropes, Athena essentially slammed her opponent from inside to outside. Blue found himself having to reverse a whip against the steel ring steps to avoid something devastating.
Blue broke the count, looking for a PK off the apron. Athena caught the incoming kick, yanking Blue so she slammed the thin ringside pads back first. The champ hoisted her opposition and carried her to the top of the entrance for something big. Blue countered, using an arm drag and a head scissors to stop whatever the champ had in mind. Athena stopped herself from falling off the entrance stage, using a super kick on Blue to send her careening to the unprotected floor below!
“The Fallen Goddess” dragged Blue back to the ring, working over her challenger’s back with knee drops and the bow & arrow submission. Blue got a burst of adrenaline when countering the bow & arrow, leading to a pinning combination exchange that almost ended in a double pin when in the small package. Blue got to her feet, landing running attacks including a single-leg dropkick that put Athena in the corner. The champ couldn’t avoid the cross body block from the top rope, but didn’t get pinned. When Athena got yanked off the canvas, she landed a big forearm … that gave the champion a near fall!
Blue saw Athena climbing to the top, sweeping her before pulling off a super hurricarana. Athena stumbled to her feet, feeling the super kick-Sliced Bread combo … that gave Skye a near fall!
The fans were rallying behind the challenger as Athena caught Skye when she went for another cross body. “The Fallen Goddess” turned a fireman’s carry throw into a backbreaker. Instead of going for the pin, Athena insultingly slapped her opposition; to which Blue responded in kind. Forearms from Blue ended with her getting yanked into the inverted version of her own Skye Fall … for a near fall!
Blue staggered into the corner, catching Athena coming in with a pair of boots. The champ turned around, taking an ace crusher from the middle rope. Blue quickly grabbed a stunned champion, hitting Skye Fall … for another near fall!
Athena wisely rolled out of the ring, meeting Blue on the ring’s edge. Blue ducked a left hook, hitting a downward spiral on the apron. Rolling Athena atop the turned-over stairs, Blue climbed to the rope for something. Athena met Blue on the ropes before she could get balanced, power bombing Skye on the stairs!
Rolling Blue into the ring, Athena pulled off Go to Valhalla … for a one count!
A surprised champion ran at her rising opponent, only to get swept into a small package … for another near fall!
Athena quickly grabbed Blue when they got up, pulling her into the crossface. Blue tried everything she could to claw her way to the ropes, but “The Fallen Goddess” pulled her trapped adversary to the ring’s middle. Blue had no choice but to tap out.
In a show of dishonor not surprising of her recently, Athena feigned respect to clothesline the wannabe champion before slamming her face against the title belt.
Winner: Athena
Match Review: If there’s one thing a someone can guarantee when it comes to a big Athena title defense is high quality. Athena and Blue worked extremely hard to deliver a stellar main event with the outcome eventually coming into question as it seemed a new champ was on the verge of being crowned before Athena submitted her latest victim. Similar to her successful defense against Willow, it would be nice to see a rematch down the line.
Overall Review: The amount of matches announced for this episode seemed like quantity over quality due to the fact it would be impossible for every bout to get the time it deserved. While some matches suffered from a lack of time like the TV title bout, eight-man tag, and the Mack battle; a majority of the show definitely didn’t do wrong by the match-ups and the talent involved. Briscoe-Taylor was a fantastic opener followed by a really strong tag match. Fletcher-Deppen proved to be an explosive exchange, as was the shockingly lengthy Fox-Henry encounter. Last, but not least was, arguably, the match of the night as the main event delivered on a few weeks of build and Athena being the hardest working champion in ROH right now.
Beyond some good to great matches, there was storytelling and necessary match announcements associated with this episode including Stu’s relationships with The Dark Order and The Righteous, Martin & Action challenging The Kingdom to a Fight Without Honor, The Embassy poking “The Peacock” by attacking a Boy, and FTR potentially setting the stage for a six-man tag match down the line. The crowd at Universal Studios definitely added to the show’s quality and made this a must-see episode.
