Last Week: Athena successfully defended her Women’s World title against Kiera Hogan after Katsuyori Shibata did the same with his Pure Championship on the line against protege Alex Coughlin.
ROH on HonorClub Episode 15
Orlando, FL
June 8, 2023
Christopher Daniels vs. Kyle Fletcher
Code of Honor followed before the first bell as the crowd rallied behind one-half of Aussie Open. The headlock was proficient for Christopher Daniels until he got shoved off the ropes and taken down by two should blocks. When Daniels tried to retaliate with something similar, the taller Kyle Fletcher ran through the former ROH World champion. Deep arm drag by Daniels after he avoided another shoulder block. Stopping Daniels from working over his arm too greatly, Fletcher slammed his way out of a bad predicament. Neck breaker from Daniels as a counter to stop the incoming offense; putting Kyle on the apron as he tried to use the ropes to potentially save himself from something damaging.
“The Fallen Angel” had the cravat cinched in; using it as a way to set up some blistering chops to the back of his opponent’s neck. Using his opponent’s own arm to twist Kyle’s neck, the standing hammerlock choke didn’t stop Fletcher from fighting back. Reversing a suplex, Fletcher turned the momentum in his favor as he rocked the rising Daniels with forearms. Big belly to back suplex off the running forearm gave Kyle a two count. Daniels’ leg lariat didn’t hinder Kyle from keeping the flow going his way as he caught Daniels coming in with a Michinoku driver … to earn a near fall!
Jumping off Bret’s rope, Daniels caught an unsuspecting Kyle with the flatliner “The Fallen Angel” converted into a Koji clutch. Thankfully for Fletcher, the bottom rope’s nearness allowed him to survive the submission. Coming off the ropes, Daniels threw a clothesline as Kyle did the same to cause a double down. Big German suplex from Daniels only fired up Kyle. The former World champion showed his fighting spirit by Saito suplexing Kyle almost immediately. Countering the uranage, Fletcher came running in with a successful enzuguri. Blocking the hammerlock tombstone piledriver, Daniels went for Angel’s Wings. Fletcher back dropped his way out of the maneuver, grabbing a running Daniels to spike him with the hammerlock tombstone piledriver. Making the cover, Fletcher picked up another pin fall win in ROH.
Daniels seemed conflicted about following the Code of Honor after the match.
Winner: Kyle Fletcher
Match Review: As expected considering the talents, a really good opener given a good amount of time. Kyle has become one of the best things about this new era of ROH and, hopefully, plans are in places to really capitalize on his growing popularity. There’s also a chance we have a brewing story of Daniels’ growing frustration with his recent loses. Where it could lead to is anyone’s guess, but, hopefully, it’ll be intriguing.
Matt Sydal vs. Zack Clayton w/ Cole Karter
For some reason, Zack Clayton mocked Matt Sydal’s height; to which Sydal retaliated with kicks and a hurricarana. Climbing the ropes for something big, Sydal got distracted by Karter at ringside. When Sydal was able to dive, Clayton caught and power slammed “The Guru” out of midair. Clayton made a big mistake letting Sydal get his legs underneath him as he was able to turn a suplex attempt into a tornado DDT. Buzzsaw kick from Sydal set up the super Meteora. Sydal turned the collision into a pinning combination for a much-needed pin fall win for Matt.
Grabbing the microphone, Sydal stated he is the best in ROH and it ready to become the next TV champion. Sydal put the challenge out: Samoa Joe vs. Matt Sydal for the TV title.
Winner: Matt Sydal
Match Review: A nice showcase for Sydal where it seemed he was that much better than his inexperienced foe. Sydal has a mission and, if given enough time, he and Joe could make some magic.
Willie Mack vs. Dralistico w/ Jose the Assistant
No Code of Honor from the luchador, but a dropkick to the chest of Willie Mack that put him at ringside for a somersault plancha. Dralistico was starting off strong by slinging Mack against the steel ring steps before pushing him into the ring for a springboard senton splash. Mack was being eaten alive as Jose beat on the mat in celebration. Mack used Dralistico’s parading around to recover and catch him coming in blind with the flying kick. The masked man fell out of the ring, with him and his second getting wiped out by a somersault plancha.
The fans were going wild until Jose tripped Mack into position for a springboard dropkick to the side of Willie’s head. Dralistico decided he wanted to see what Willie was made of by demanding a chop off. Big forearm into the spinning heel kick from Mack after Dralistico decided he was done chopping. With the crowd in his corner, Mack’s hips were moving as he tried to get his wits about himself. Mack caught a jumping Dralistico to Samoan drop his opponent in position for that standing moonsault press … to earn a near fall!
“This is awesome!” chants broke out as Willie came off the top with the frog splash. Dralistico got his knees up, putting Willie in position for the Incinerator Knee … that gave the luchador a two count!
Calling for the end, Dralistico found himself getting lifted into a pop-up forearm. Jose jumped onto the apron, distracting the referee from a low blow by Dralistico. Incinerator Knee from Dralistico knocked out Mack for those precious three seconds.
Winner: Dralistico
Match Review: Absolute fire match with a disappointing ending. The fans got into this one, but the ending took them out. It wouldn’t be a problem if Willie tries to avenge the loss in the near future or aligns with Ninja Mack to take on LFI, but moments like villains cheating to win and the babyface letting it slide has been a thing nine times out of ten in this version of ROH.
– Tony Kahn arrived with microphone in hand. Making it official, it will be Samoa Joe versus Matt Sydal for the Television Championship. According to Tony, it was time to form a Board of Directors in ROH to manage issues Kahn may not have the chance to settle. First was none other than Stokely Hathaway. Hathaway stopped himself from lying about the “beautiful” crowd after embracing Kahn. The other member of the Board was none other than former ROH World champion Jerry Lynn who promised to do the best job possible.
NJPW Women’s Strong Championship: Willow Nightingale (c) vs. Rachel Ellering
Showcasing her grappling acumen, the challenger actually matched size and power with the champ until Willow Nightingale knocked her down in position for the senton splash. Low cross body connected for Willow; setting up a trio of suplexes topped by the fisherman’s suplex. Blocking the Babe with the Power Bomb, Ellering started firing off chops & elbows until she was able to STO Willow in position for a springboard leg drop. Arm wringer slam from Ellering allowed her to land a single-leg dropkick into the senton splash of her own.
Rachel didn’t take kindly to the fans chanting for the champ, lighting Willow up with chops. Turning her back on Nightingale cost her as Willow came out of the corner firing off strikes including an enzuguri that put Ellering in the corner for a missile dropkick. Ellering took a short-arm clothesline not once, but twice before ducking the third to Boss Man Slam Willow … for a near fall!
Pump kick from Ellering gave her some space for something off the ropes when she ran into the pounce … period!
Willow’s cannonball didn’t put Rachel away, nor did the spine buster. Cinching in the camel clutch, Willow made Rachel humble by forcing her to submit.
Winner: Willow Nightingale
Match Review: Another fine match given the time so two great wrestlers could work. Ellering matching Willow’s usual size & strength advantage while being a great grappler really gave the champ a tough challenge that she overcame in unique fashion for her as she’s not one to win with submissions – adding another layer to her arsenal. Here’s to not only a rematch, but Rachel also appearing more in ROH.
Proving Ground Match: ROH World Six-Man Tag Team champions The Embassy Brian Cage w/ Prince Nana vs. Cheeseburger, Eli Isom & Marcus Kross
Brian Cage found himself trying to catch Eli Isom after the bell, getting struck and outmaneuvered including taking a dropkick. Running after the kick, Isom got popped up and super kicked. In came Toa Liona after the tag for shoulder rams and head-butts. Huge hip toss across the ring by Liona before the islander knocked Marcus Kross off the apron. Missing a splash in the corner, Toa inadvertently allowed Eli to tag out.
Unfortunately for Cheeseburger, he ran into the figurative immovable object and almost immediately cornered so Kaun could do some damage after tagging in. Getting a kick out of chopping Cheeseburger, Kaun let his opponent get some distance and tag out to Kross. Running and striking, Kross had Kaun reeling until Kaun threw up a big clothesline. Kross felt the turnbuckle backbreaker from Kaun as Toa and Cage took out his partners. The triple team slingshot power bomb by The Embassy ended Kross’ night via a pin fall.
Winners: The Embassy
Match Review: Though the challengers did work hard, they were just fodder for the dominant champions. Who will be able to step up and really push the champs is the biggest question in this rather shallow division.
Mercedes Martinez vs. Vertvixen
Arm drag into the dropkick from Vertvixen gave her too much confidence early as she ran into a big boot that left her in position for an early submission. Vertvixen attempted to fight back, only to get clobbered by a forearm. Rolling out of the ring, Vertvixen tripped Mercedes in position for a slingshot stunner followed by the blue thunder bomb that gave her a two count. Countering a clothesline, Martinez executed a half-nelson suplex and then the anarchist suplex. Vertvixen showed great heart kicking out of what seemed to be a three count. Running forearm to the back of Vertvixen’s head put her in prime position for the Brass City Stretch. Vertvixen had no choice but to submit.
Winner: Mercedes Martinez
Match Review: Similar to her most recent showcase, Martinez overcame a slight disadvantage in the early minutes to eventually obliterate her opposition.
Lee Moriarty vs. Griff Garrison
“Welcome back!” chants for Griff Garrison before he locked up and actually shoved Lee Moriarty across the ring. Lee recovered quickly, only to get caught by a big boot to the jaw. Stopping a big drop, Lee landed on the apron to yank Griff left arm-first across the top rope while busting his own backside. Lee was firing off right hands to Griff’s face between arm attacks.
Rallying to his feet, Griff ducked a clothesline to land some of his own including a modified short-arm version. Big power slam connected for Garrison, but didn’t end this one in his favor. Lee kicked Griff away to stop a discus forearm. When Moriarty went for a counter, Griff still unleashed that discus forearm. Clawing at Griff’s eyes when his opponent picked him up for a belly to back suplex, Lee was able to cradle Garrison with a handful of tights to hold him down for the three count.
Winner: Lee Moriarty
Match Review: The returning Garrison looked good, had nice fire, and the fans enjoyed what he had to offer. If they follow up on him being cheated out of the victory, this could be a solid undercard rivalry for ROH programming.
Kiera Hogan vs. Robyn Renegade
Shoulder block off the ropes by Robyn Renegade saw her give Kiera Hogan the chance to recover as she celebrated a small victory. Getting tripped into the ropes and clobbered with knees, Robyn felt that step-up leg drop to the back of her head. Kiera missed a shoulder ram in the corner, getting her left arm & shoulder cranked after it collided with the turnbuckles. Mixing chops with arm-based attacks, Robyn was mouthing off as she wore down the former title challenger. Blocking a forearm, Hogan unleashed a series of forearms & clotheslines. Hip attack in the corner connected for Hogan, as did the sliding dropkick. Robyn collapsed to the floor when her sister Charlette came out. Hogan prevented some twin magic, sending giving them a noggin knocker before rolling Robyn back in for a roundhouse-super kick combo to knock Renegade out for the three count.
Athena blindsided Kiera. Grabbing a Singapore cane, Athena went for a swing that ended with Hogan avoiding the strike. The cane bounced off the top rope, ricocheting and hitting Athena instead. Hogan got the kendo stick, breaking it over Athena’s back until the champ fled the ring.
Winner: Kiera Hogan
Match Review: Though they are both extremely talented and had a solid outing, the big story was the post-match stuff where Athena, once again, got one-upped by Hogan. We’re definitely getting a rematch between these two and it’ll be interesting if Hogan is the one who figures out the formula to overcome the champ.
The Dark Order (Evil Uno, John Silver & Alex Reynolds) vs. Shane Taylor & The WorkHorsemen (Anthony Henry & JD Drake)
The Dark Order came out firing after Anthony Henry went for the dishonorable attack following the handshake. Shane Taylor and John Silver became the legal men with the latter actually rocking the big man enough that he had Taylor cornered and Alex Reynolds could almost knock him out of of the ring. Sadly for Reynolds, an illegal sweep from Henry put Alex in position for Taylor’s knee strike. Slingshot splash from JD Drake after tagging in. Using a splash in the corner, Drake pulled off a belly to belly suplex on Reynolds to set up Taylor’s running splash. Reynolds felt a double team Tower of London by Drake & Taylor topped by Henry’s double stomp off the top. Somehow, Reynolds kicked out of Anthony’s follow-up pin attempt. Reynolds fought & rolled his way to a tag to Evil Uno.
Firing off chops against The WorkHorsemen, Uno was obliterating the pair until Henry was the last man in the ring to feel his watch of clotheslines and a big suplex. Taylor tagged himself in after stopping a pin on Henry, starting a fistfight with the former TV champion. Uno’s plans of knocking out Taylor didn’t work initially, but causing a miscommunication did as Taylor got sent into a Drake big boot. Henry in after Uno & Silver downed Drake. Triple team T-Gimmick from The Dark Order on Henry disposed of him. Drake was alone and prone to a series of
Winners: The Dark Order
Match Review: Showcasing more of a mean streak this week, The Dark Order took the fight to a very game trio that, safe to say, haven’t been up to the same standard of Shane Taylor Promotions from the old ROH. The next part in the story between The Dark Order and The Righteous & Stu Grayson is anyone’s guess.
– The Righteous & Stu Grayson were in the interview zone with Dasha. Both Dutch and Stu agreed The Dark Order aren’t willing to kick the door down. Vincent is seeing the growing aggression in The Dark Order … an aggression that will rise to a new level thanks to The Righteous next week.
TrustBusters (Slim J, Jeeves Kay & Sunny Kiss) vs. AR Fox, Action Andretti & Darius Martin
Slim J confronted AR Fox as the representatives of their respective teams. Showing some incredible agility was both men as they countered everything the other had in mind with flips & cartwheels until an elementary shoving contest broke out. AR feigned a leap frog to pop Slim in the mouth. J survived the big slam, tagging out to Jeeves Kay. Sadly for Kay, he was getting triple teamed yanked & kicked by his opponents. Action Andretti’s shotgun dropkick in the corner put Kay in position for split-leg moonsault. Sonny Kiss saved her partner after he avoided the moonsault, sending Andretti shoulder-first against the steel ring post. Kiss tagged in, laying in some big right hands topped by the hussy slap to a cornered Action. Powering Action overhead, Kiss dropped Action in position for a standing moonsault press for a two count.
Split-leg drop from Kiss gave her a two count; causing her to tag out to Slim. Though Action was on the wrong part of town, he fought his way to a tag to Darius Martin. Martin was a house of fire, pulling off a flapjack rotating face buster on Slim. Kiss tagged herself in, landing a spinning kick on the unsuspecting Darius. J & Kiss pulled off an assisted sliced bread topped by Kay’s frog splash … to give them a near fall on Darius!
AR ran in, using the cutter on Kiss before Action wiped out Slim. Kay couldn’t stop that washing machine double team super slam by Darius & Action; resulting in him being pinned.
Winners: AR Fox, Action Andretti & Darius Martin
Match Review: The new trio of Fox, Action & Martin are able to overcome the consistent losers of The TrustBusters. The action was good, but the result was never in question and the fans reacted in kind.
The Kingdom (Matt Taven & Mike Bennett) w/ Maria Kanellis-Bennett vs. El Dragon & El Cobarde
Matt Taven and El Cobarde locked up, leading to a quick exchange where Taven got overwhelmed by the speed of his masked opponent leading to him taking a dropkick. Taven had enough, tagging out. Instead of trying to go flip for flip with El Dragon, Mike Bennett decided to demand a forearm exchange. Between the exchange, Bennett got caught and started bleeding from his face. Dragon got attacked from behind by Matt Taven, only for him and his partner to get taken to the floor. Taven took the dive from Dragon before Dragon got hit by Bennett’s Boston Bayonet. El Cobarde dove over the top to stop a moving Bennett. When Dragon tried to follow up in the ring, The Kingdom stopped him and put him in position for Taven’s frog splash after he felt the Purple Rain bomb. Cobarde tagged in, helping his partner hit Taven with a modified 3D … for a near fall!
A stunned Cobarde didn’t stay on top of his hurt opponents, resulting in Bennett spearing him. Just the Tip to Cobarde set the stage for the Proton Pack on the luchador and the pin fall in The Kingdom’s favor.
Winners: The Kingdom
Match Review: The Kingdom are on a roll, picking up another win; though against a debuting pair of obviously talented wrestlers who would’ve gained a lot more from winning than The Kingdom considering the latter’s status and the newcomers’ lack thereof.
– The ROH Board of Directors arrived alongside Tony Kahn to let Stokely Hathaway to give his idea: Action Andretti vs. The Embassy. Jerry Lynn & Tony Kahn came up with another idea: The Embassy defending the Six-Man title against Andretti, AR Fox & Darius Martin. Kahn revealed that Bandido’s brother is here tonight: Gravity. So to give the fans a real treat, it’ll be Gravity vs. Rey Fenix.
ROH World Tag Team champion Rey Fenix vs. Gravity
The referee was out of position as Gravity turned a lock up into a modified crucifix in the first twenty seconds. Gravity had a little trouble with his mask as he tried to counter the attempts at submissions. The pace quickened with Gravity suddenly slowed down to lure Rey Fenix into a head scissors. Fenix fell out of the ring; quickly reentering to dropkick the running Gravity before his opponent could dive atop him. Fenix’s kicks were downright lethal as he grounded Gravity. Tapping Fenix as a way to prove he wasn’t giving up got commentator Nigel McGuinness questioning if the newcomer submitted. Recovering after Rey gave up on the holds, Gravity used the ropes to arm drag Fenix out of the ring for a springboard plancha where he came down with his arms behind his back.
Like his brother, Gravity muscled Fenix into a slam for the moonsault press. Fenix not only survived the moonsault, but also an inverted falcon arrow. Fenix recovered, kicking his opponent into another submission. Countering with a roll up, Gravity initiated an exchange of pinning combinations that ended with Gravity hitting a sit-out power bomb off the cradle. Fenix not only avoided the pin, but also the 450 splash. Gravity stumbled to his feet, getting kicked in the masked face by Rey as the champ ran across the top rope. Fenix hoisted Gravity up, only for Gravity to reverse whatever he had in mind to execute a crucifix driver.
Rather tired kicks from Gravity only fired up the champ. Rey was blistering Gravity’s chest as his opponent tried to retaliate. Pop-up ace crusher into the modified Michinoku driver put an end to Gravity’s night and gave Rey a pin fall victory.
At ringside doing timekeeper’s work was LSG. Rey motioned for a bout between them before shaking hands with the former TV title contender.
Winner: Rey Fenix
Match Review: Like many of these lucha matches in the past, the mileage may vary from fan to fan in regards to how much someone will enjoy this. Gravity looked good mostly throughout, but started slowing down and showing his inexperience by the match’s end. Rey kept the match from falling apart and showed a more intense side of himself; leading to the win. It must be stated again, though, it’s been months since the Lucha Brothers won the ROH World Tag Team title and not only have they not defended the gold on ROH programming, but they haven’t even teamed in two-on-two competition since “Supercard of Honor”. Hopefully that eventually changes in the very near future.
Overall Review: This proved to be an episode of two halves split almost perfectly between the two hours. A majority of the episode’s best matches happened during hour one including Fletcher-Daniels, Dralistico-Mack, and Nightingale-Ellering. Between those bouts was a great Sydal showcase to establish him as a TV title contender and the establishing of ROH’s onscreen Board of Directors. Hour two fell into a pattern of short, mostly forgettable matches with The Dark Order six-man and the main event being the only bouts to break up the monotony.
The episode’s biggest issue beyond the card’s unevenness has to be the logic gaps especially when it comes to title contenders. Matt Sydal gets one win and proclaims himself the best, gets a TV title shot. Mark Briscoe, who has been claiming his destiny is to win the TV title, is on a bigger win streak than Matt, yet isn’t rewarded a shot first. Kyle Fletcher has been winning more than almost anyone and hasn’t sniffed a singles title shot.
Like Sydal, Fox, Action & Darius only win one match and already have a title opportunity. The story of Dalton Castle & The Boys trying to get revenge on The Embassy for taking out one of The Boys hasn’t been mentioned or referenced since. And then there’s the ROH Board of Directors. The idea, in premise, could work in giving some time for character work as personalities could bounce off Hathaway and Lynn with Kahn being the tie breaker like he was on this episode; or it could devolve into the same story of squabbling authority figures that leads to nothing – hopefully that’s not the case.
The crowd also must be commended for really bringing some excitement to the show that’ll, hopefully, continue in the future even though episode’s will be taped in front of mostly AEW audiences. A very good first hour and inconsistent second hour makes this an episode worth checking out, but nothing someone needs to rush to see immediately.
