Last Week: Athena successfully defended the Women’s World Championship against Skye Blue after Samoa Joe made short work of ROH World Television title challenger Blake Christian for Joe’s gold.
ROH on HonorClub Episode 12
Orlando, FL
May 18, 2023
– Earlier today, Willie Mack and Ninja Mack were in the interview zone with Dasha. Willie was very impressed Ninja and had the idea of trying out something as a tag team. Ninja also thought they would make a great team in the very near future.
ROH World Tag Team champion Rey Fenix w/ Alex vs. Gringo Loco
Big open-hand chop from Gringo Loco off the Code of Honor. Showing his agility quickly was Loco avoiding both Rey’s ripcord roundhouse kick and a running attack in the corner. The masked man recovered quickly, catching Loco with an enzuguri before using the ropes to spring off the top to hurricarana Gringo to the floor. Loco rolled out of the ring, unable to avoid the springboard double jump cross body block. When the action returned inside, Loco caught his opposition rolling for the ace crusher by pressing him overhead for the slam. Loco showed some a dishonorable nature of his style as he tried to unmask his foe. Fenix found himself almost being pinned off the inverted power slam as the fans rallied behind him.
Fenix used the fans’ energy to fire him up and land that running PK from the top rope after kicking an incoming Gringo in the face when they were in the corner. Frog splash connected for Rey, resulting in a two count in the champ’s favor. Loco’s super kick-enzuguri combo sent Fenix into the ropes where he rebounded with that ripcord roundhouse kick. Both men were slow to get up, but when they were vertical Loco countered that rolling ace crusher with a cutter of his own … to earn a near fall!
Rolling forward as Loco hit the ropes, Fenix spiked Gringo courtesy of a hurricarana. Placing Loco on the top rope after failing to pin Gringo, Rey executed a springboard super hurricarana … to gain a near fall as well!
Rey had a superplex in mind when Loco knocked him backward. Corkscrew Canadian destroyer from the top rope to Rey who was standing on the mat! Fenix seemed out of it until he slipped behind Loco to execute a poison-rana. Loco was stunned, leaving him prone to that rolling ace crusher to finally pin his long-time rival.
Winner: Rey Fenix
Match Review: As expected this was a fun lucha encounter where the mileage will vary from fan to fan depending on if they appreciate the style. There were no noticeable botches or multiple instances where they were waiting around for each other to perform certain maneuvers. The only issue with Fenix appearing on ROH programming is the fact he and Penta have yet to defend the Tag title on ROH on HonorClub even though they’ve both been on episodes.
– The Wingmen (Pretty Peter Avalon & Ryan Nemeth) were in the interview zone with Dasha to mock their opponents for the night: The Iron Savages. The plan for them tonight is to show everyone why ROH is going to become their spot.
Willow Nightingale vs. Madi Wrenkowski
The fan favorite in Willow Nightingale found herself getting hair slammed when trying to free herself from a waist lock. Using a shoulder block-senton splash combo, Nightingale seemed to have everything going her way when Wrenkowski suddenly locked in the figure-four headlock while hanging from the ropes. Madi tripped and used the ring’s apron to tie up her opponent for some Finlay-like offense. Backing Wrenkowski into the corner off the failed cobra clutch, Nightingale used the hip attack to set up a savate kick. Madi had to stop the Babe With the Power Bomb after feeling a spine buster. Shoulder ramming Willow into the corner, Madi mounted her for some punches. Willow countered the strikes with a power bomb attempt, only for Wrenkowski to convert it into a face buster. Madi had something big in mind when Willow broke free of her grip and hit the ropes for the pounce … period!
Nightingale quickly grabbed her game opponent, hitting the Babe With the Power Bomb to pin another competitor.
Winner: Willow Nightingale
Match Review: The commentators put over Madi as someone with the experience to handle the force of Willow and she really lived up to that by dominating the dominant Nightingale. While it’s fun to see Willow run through opponents, her actually having a challenge and overcoming it was a nice change of pace on her potential road to another shot at the Women’s title.
The Wingmen (Pretty Peter Avalon & Ryan Nemeth) vs. The Iron Savages (Beefcake Boulder & Bear Bronson w/ Jacked Jameson
Jacked Jameson came in with a very verbose introduction where they got the fans to chant The Iron Savages’ tag name. It was Bear Bronson starting off with Peter Avalon with the prior getting caught early with a double team off the blind tag. When Ryan Nemeth tagged in and slapped Bronson, the Savage slammed and suplexed Ryan around while screaming maniacally. Boulder became the legal man, hip swiveling his way into a whoopee cushion on Ryan. Nemeth found himself on the wrong part of town until the now-legal Bronson got jumped by Avalon after Pretty tagged in. Spending too much time pelvic thrusting, Ryan took a spine buster from Bronson after a successful double team.
Boulder grabbed both opponents when tagged in, using a double flapjack on both Wingmen. Boulder missed the double jump moonsault, allowing Avalon to splash Beefcake. Kicking out, Boulder was pressing his opponent overhead. Boulder came off the ropes via the Irish whip, double cross blocking both adversaries. Grabbing his partner, Boulder pulled the legal Bronson with a reverse electric chair drop so his partner splashed and pinned their opponents.
Winners: The Iron Savages
Match Review: The former Bear Country/now Iron Savages are definitely some unique personalities and the fans are getting into schtick more and more. The match itself was mostly forgettable, but the personalities involved shined.
Christopher Daniels & Matt Sydal vs. Cole Karter & Zack Clayton
It was the former ROH World champion Christopher Daniels getting his head gripped by Cole Karter. Catching a running Cole with his patented leg lariat, Daniels tagged in his partner so they could assist each other in performing moonsaults on their downed opponent. Zack Clayton tagged in, but didn’t do too well just like his partner as he got taken down and his left arm worked over. It wasn’t until an illegal shot from Cole did things turn around for his team as Sydal almost got his head taken off by a Clayton clothesline.
Sydal attempted to fight his way out of the wrong part of town, getting shoved into a Clayton power slam topped by Cole’s frog splash. Clayton made the cover, but Sydal kicked out and eventually turned a slam into a tornado DDT. Sydal clawed his way across the ring, tagging out to a fired-up Daniels. “The Fallen Angel” not only hit some of his signature maneuvers, but also double teamed his opposition. Using a hurricarana to dispose of Karter, Sydal almost got knocked out by Clayton. Daniels helped his partner recover, sending him over the top rope for a plancha on Cole at ringside. Before Clayton could recover, Daniels crushed him with the Best Moonsault Ever to pick up the three count in Sydal & Daniels’ favor.
Winners: Christopher Daniels & Matt Sydal
Match Review: Glad to see they haven’t just dropped the idea of Daniels & Sydal teaming after their loss to Aussie Open and them not being seen together afterward. Cole & Zack were fine foils, but somewhat unremarkable.
– 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 tonight in a Fight Without Honor.
Miranda Alize vs. Lady Frost
Big kick to the ribs of Lady Frost off a head scissors allowed Miranda Alize to corner and bite her opponent. Frost found herself cornered and prone to a running face wash. Butterfly suplex by Alize didn’t give her but a one count. Popping off at the mouth was Alize before she got popped in the mouth by a flying knee strike. Cannonball splash in the corner nearly ended Alize’s night if not for the fact she was so close to the ropes. Reversing a suplex was “The Lucha Baddie” that allowed Alize to utilize a tiger driver seconds later. Signaling for the end, Alize found herself getting pulled into a cartwheel air raid crash. Frost quickly climbed the ropes, pulling off her Temperature Drop moonsault. The pin fall was elementary in Lady Frost’s favor.
Winner: Lady Frost
Match Review: Rather quick exchange with Alize being her greatly antagonizing self before falling to the impressive offense of Frost who was due for a win in ROH. Hopefully Alize can pick up a victory in the near future in a rematch or against someone else as well.
Eli Isom & Cheeseburger vs. Spanish Announce Project (Angelico & Serpentico) w/ Luther
The masked Serpentico squared off and started stomping the life out of Cheeseburger. Cheeseburger quickly recovered and almost made Serpentico tap out. Angelico ran in, clobbering Cheeseburger from behind. Cheeseburger had to kick his way to Eli Isom before sending his opponents into each other. Rope-assisted shoulder ram from Isom to the masked man allowed him to pull off a flapjack neck breaker. Isom dove on Serpentico on the floor after Cheeseburger tagged in. Luther clobbered Eli on the floor as Angelico turned Cheeseburger’s pinning combination into a modified Indian death lock. Cheeseburger had no choice but to tap out.
Winners: Spanish Announce Project
Match Review: Another quick, though unremarkable encounter. While Isom & Cheeseburger have never been high on the ROH totem pole, they were starting to really grow & rise during the last days of ROH under Sinclair. Similar to Rhett Titus & Tracy Williams, the come across as the most inferior competitors from the old era who just can’t win.
New Japan World Television Championship: Zack Sabre Jr. (c) vs. AR Fox
The champ got a little surprised by the grappling acumen of his challenger as he was insulted after taking a snap mare. Head-butt to the incoming stomach of Fox didn’t knock the wind out of AR, giving him the chance to recover and send ZSJ to the floor for one of his patented dives over the top. Springboard missile dropkick from Fox gave him a two count. Just when it seemed Sabre was on the verge of losing, AR got his left arm bent & slammed. Some short European uppercuts and kicks aimed at Fox’s left arm allowed the champ to enjoy himself that much more. Surviving an arm bar, Fox used his legs to pull off the momentum-shifting offense including the pump kick, Spanish fly, and leg lariat. Looking to put ZSJ down resulted in AR getting yanked to the match with a divorce court. Avoiding a shoulder ram in the ropes, the challenger planted the champ with a DDT … for a near fall!
Fox placed the champ on the top rope for something when ZSJ reversed whatever he had in mind by locking in a kimura. Fox survived; knocking Sabre to the floor with those thunderous kicks. Fox somersaulted atop Sabre, looking to 450 splash him in the ring. Sabre avoided the maneuver, eventually getting his opponent in the spladle. AR was all kinds of tied up when Sabre turned the submission into a stretch muffler. AR submitted quickly afterward.
Winner: Zack Sabre Jr.
Match Review: Very different than anything else on the show thus far with ZSJ having to withstand the incredible fortitude and explosive offense of AR Fox before submitting him. While the bout was solid, the post-match stuff proved more interesting.
– Dasha joined ZSJ in the ring where a bloody happy Sabre stated he was the active Television champion in wrestling today. Those words brought out the ROH World Television champion Samoa Joe. With microphone in hand, Joe welcomed his fellow titleholder back to ROH before informing him there can only be one king of TV. Joe was ready to find out who is the true king … tonight!
Before we could get an answer, Matt Sydal’s music hit to bring out Sydal & Christopher Daniels. Daniels stated Sydal is long overdue to wear singles gold. Sydal stated he’s only here for the big matches and is ready to face either man. ZSJ had another idea: The TV champs vs. Daniels & Sydal where if Sydal & Daniels win Matt gets his shot. Sabre made sure Joe understood that after they deal with Daniels & Sydal, we may get the battle of the TV title holders.
ROH World Six-Man Tag Team champions The Gates of Agony w/ Prince Nana vs. Dalton Castle & Boy Brandon
Dalton Castle was fired up like never before as he insulted the dishonorable champions. Confronting Kaun was none other than Boy Brandon. Avoiding Kaun’s strikes, Brandon got tossed around with ease. Feigning a tag, Kaun blindsided Boy when Brandon thought the match was about to reset, Toa Liona became the official man, splashing Boy in the corner to set up Kaun’s backbreaker. Using Dalton’s rapid-fire splashes on Boy left him prone to the rear chin lock. Freeing himself of the submission didn’t help Boy as he knocked into the ropes opposite of Castle. Using his uncovered foot, Liona choked the life out of Brandon. The fans rallied behind Boy as he tried to pop the left arm of Brandon out if its socket. Liona drug Boy near the ropes for a rope-assisted splash. Boy got his legs up, low blowing Toa. Boy made it to his corner, tagging out “The Peacock”.
Castle was taking his opponents to Suplex City, but Liona refused to stay down for those follow-up pin attempts. Castle wanted to toss his Boy into Toa on the floor. Brandon got caught in Toa’s arms, getting pitched into the ring as Kaun knocked Castle out of the ring with the double-knee gut-buster. The champs finished off Boy with Opening the Gates … but Castle was the legal man. The referee called the match in the titleholders’ favors.
Winners: Gates of Agony
Match Review: This got a lot more time than expected with the champs mostly obliterating Brandon before the hot tag & big comeback. The ending leaves things open for a rematch whenever Brent is ready and could provide a huge upset if the referee is able to keep tabs on who is the legal man. It also can’t be understated how over Dalton & The Boys are.
Shane Taylor & The Workhorsemen (Anthony Henry & JD Drake) vs. Schaff, Eddie Pearl, Ricky Gibson
Ricky Gibson initially found himself overwhelmed by Anthony Henry until he could pull off some arm drags. Eddie Pearl tagged in, getting too excited and was roundhouse kicked in position for JD Drake’s version of the Vader Bomb. Shane Taylor found himself getting a piece of Schaff after his partner were wiped out. Huge head-butt from Taylor laid out Schaff. The Workhorsemen used double brain busters on Pearl and Gibson before Schaff got a taste of Taylor’s Marcus Garvey Driver that ended his night and gave Taylor & his duo the pin fall.
Winners: Shane Taylor & The Workhorsemen
Match Review: A very dominant display by Taylor & The Workhorsemen. In a landscape where The Embassy are the Six-Man division’s most dominant trio, a clash between them and this match’s winners would be like irresistible forces meeting immovable objects in the best way possible.
– The Righteous was confronted in the interview zone by Stu Grayson. Stu wanted to know why The Righteous have been hounding him. Vincent declared Stu’s talents were being taken for granted. This brother out The Dark Order to stop this brewing situation. Stu interrupted the intervening Dark Order and, specifically, Evil Uno to tell him no one speaks for Stu. Apparently, Grayson is up for working with The Righteous for one night.
Mercedes Martinez vs. Ashley D’Amboise
Ashley D’Amboise showed some impressive agility to complement her grappling acumen. Getting outclassed on the mat, Mercedes Martinez responded with a slap after freeing herself from the head scissors. Martinez lit Ashley up with suplexes. Big chops and forearms from Martinez had Ashley cornered and unable to fight back until a failed corner attack allowed Ashley to catch her opponent with a float-over neck breaker. Mercedes stopped a follow-up attack by utilizing the spine buster. Countering the fisherman’s suplex, Ashley almost got a huge upset. D’Amboise was game and able to fire some forearms until Martinez was in position for and dropped by the Burning Hammer … that ended in a near fall!
Just when it seemed Ashley had all the momentum, Martinez tripped her into the curb stomp. Ashley was stunned and unable to stop the Dragon Sleeper that forced the submission in Martinez’s favor.
Winner: Mercedes Martinez
Match Review: A very game Ashley wasn’t able to overcome the former World champ’s tenacity and ingenuity. It’s nice to see Martinez back in ROH and Ashley definitely could add something to the division with her talents and obvious aesthetic appeal.
Fight Without Honor: The Kingdom (Mike Bennett & Matt Taven) w/ Maria Kanellis-Bennett vs. Darius Martin & Action Andretti
It was Action Andretti setting up a Pearl Harbor job from Dante Martin by confronting The Kingdom by himself with a Singapore cane in hand. Double team suplex on both members of The Kingdom. Bringing The Kingdom to ringside, Action & Darius started throwing plunder into the ring. The first example of this weapon usage was Action dropkicking a chair into Mike Bennett’s face before he used an open chair to hurricarana Bennett. Putting a trashcan on Matt Taven, his opponents beat the can with a chain and a lead pipe. Pulling out a ladder, Action got the object dropkicked against him thanks to Maria’s interference. Darius got up, getting cracked in the face with a chair by Bennett after he took a low blow courtesy of Maria. Martin fell off the apron, landing on the fallen ladder!
The Kingdom placed the ladder in the corner, whipping Martin against the steel. A bleeding Bennett used the spine buster to drive Andretti through a trashcan. Holding the ladder in front of a seated Darius, Taven unleashed Just the Tip that hurt him just as much as it hurt Darius. Signaling for the end with the Doomsday Device at ringside was The Kingdom. Martin freed himself to send Taven into his own partner. Two tables ended up in the ring after Action dove on Bennett. Setting up one of the table in the ring’s middle, Darius didn’t know Taven was up and had a chair ready. Martin’s back got rattled by the chair shot. The Kingdom had Hail Mary while standing on four chairs. Unfortunately, one of the chair’s legs gave way and caused a failed attempt at The Kingdom’s finisher.
Action stopped the Proton Pack, using the wheelbarrow bulldog on Taven. Placing Matt on the table, Andretti came off the top with a 450 splash … that didn’t break the table! So Action just used a suplex to put Taven through the wood … for another near fall thanks to an intervening Bennett!
Bennett speared Action, picking him up & using the Death Valley driver through a table in the corner!
The fans were chanting, “This is awesome!” as Martin got up swinging for the fences. Missing a haymaker, Martin got lifted and dropped across the top of an open chair with Purple Thunder … that gave Taven a near fall!
Maria retrieved a steel pipe, cracking Martin on the back. Maria demanded her husband to chop the life out of Dante as she held him. Bennett went for that rope-assisted forearm on the floor when Dante ducked and caused Bennett to knock out his wife!
Action used a low blow on Taven as Matt declared Darius would end up just like his brother. Martin & Action hoisted Taven up, using a double team spine buster to send him through an open chair! Bennett was alone, demanding that his opponents hit him. Buzzsaw kicks from Andretti & Martin resulted in a stunned Bennett getting hoisted up and taken down with the Doomsday Device. Making the cover on Bennett, Action and Darius won this brutal Fight Without Honor via a pin fall.
A dejected Kingdom rose to their feet, extending their hands. As the fans chanted, “That was awesome!” The Kingdom followed the Code of Honor before Bennett declared, “This is what Ring of Honor is all about!”
Winners: Action Andretti & Darius Martin
Match Review: This was a wild brawl where one mistake cost The Kingdom in the end as Maria’s interference – a running theme in this feud – actually backfired and caused Bennett to get distracted and Taven left alone to be wiped out; spelling Mike’s demise as well. If there’s one critique about this one it’s how certain moments didn’t get a chance to breathe. A few less matches and more time given to this one would’ve alleviated that pacing problem. It’ll be interesting to see what happens with both teams going forward and if it results in the winners challenging for the Tag Team title in the near future. This may be one of, if not the best ROH on HonorClub main events yet.
Overall Review: A bloated episode yet again with some very high peaks and shallow valleys. The main event was wild in the best way possible, but could’ve benefited from being on an episode with less matches so some of the bout’s craziest moments had a chance to breathe and register before something else happened. The follow-up from this main event could be monumental for Action & Darius if done right and The Kingdom’s road to redemption can continue.
The other standout matches were the opening contest and the TV title match with both delivering something different from everything else on the card. Daniels & Sydal, Mercedes, Frost, and Taylor & The Workhorsemen got much-needed victories while some stories were advanced including the issues between The Embassy and Dalton & The Boys, as well as Stu and The Righteous with The Dark Order being pulled into the unexpected. The main event is definitely worth your time and one of the best matches from the new era or ROH programming while the rest of the episode is solid or forgettable.
