Last Week: Shane Taylor and Gravity advanced to the finals of the ROH World Television Championship Contender Eliminator Tournament by overcoming Christopher Daniels and Tony Nese respectively, while Katsuyori Shibata retained his Pure Championship against Josh Woods and Aussie Open successfully defended the ROH World Tag Team title when they defeated The Iron Savages.
ROH on HonorClub Episode 24
Greenville, SC
August 10, 2023
Dalton Castle w/ The Baby Chicks vs. Slim J
The Boys weren’t here tonight, bulking up for their match next week against Samoa Joe & Stokely Hathaway. Code of Honor followed with displeasure from Slim J. Making a big mistake was Slim looking for a waist lock. Dalton Castle reversed the position, slamming his opposition for some gator rolling. Using the ropes to help him not only rise, but also leap, Slim pulled off a head scissors on the incoming “Peacock”.
When Castle attempted to fight back, J clawed his eyes. Spinning kick from the middle rope allowed Slim to not only knock down his partially blinded opponent, but also his opportunity to tear open his thousand-dollar tank-top. Using the rear chin lock to keep Castle grounded, Slim took the chance to mouth off at his opponent. Castle got underneath Slim, going for the Bang-A-Rang. The ropes saved Slim from getting planted, but he ended up stuck on the top turnbuckle and prone to a running knee that sent him flying toward the entrance aisle.
Rolling J back in, Castle started unleashing suplexes like they were going out of style. Shoving Slim into the ropes and catching Slim on the rebound, Dalton used the Bang-A-Rang to put J down for the three count.
Winner: Dalton Castle
Match Review: Dalton is on the road to another TV title shot. Slim got in a lot more offense than expected, but it helped produce a good opening contest even if the outcome wasn’t in question.
– Lexy Nair was in the back with Tony Nese and Mark Sterling to talk about Nese’s upcoming match with Pat Buck. Instead of talking about the match, Nese was more worried about the obesity epidemic in Greenville. Sterling confirmed there would be a group exercise tonight instead of a match.
The Iron Savages w/ Jacked Jameson vs. Lucky Ali & Brady Pierce
It was Lucky Ali squaring off with Bronson with the prior being shocked about the power of Bronson during the Code of Honor. After being shoved off the collar & elbow tie up, Ali did the knee crawl to get some comfort from his partner. When Bronson went to hit Ali, Lucky used the double throat thrust strike. Coming off the ropes, Ali felt a power slam that resulted in Bronson taking a Savage Sauce break to fire him up. Boulder tagged in, back dropping Ali off an avalanche splash by his partner. Unfortunately for Boulder, his back drop landed Ali near Brady Pierce who tagged himself in and tried to knock Boulder out with a right hand.
Instead, Pierce ran into a sidewalk slam at the same time as Ali entered off a blind tag so Lucky got caught and slammed, too. Tagging Bronson, Boulder put his partner on his shoulders for a double team splash and the subsequent pin fall.
Winners: The Iron Savages
Match Review: The Iron Savages rebound from last week’s loss in what was essentially a squash that seemed like the type of match that should’ve happened before they got a Tag title shot.
The Infantry w/ Trish Adora vs. Movie Myk & Zicky Dice
Movie Myk in his ROH debut found himself locking up with Shawn Dean. Myk definitely had the gift of gab as he tried to control the action early with the wrist lock. “The Captain” quickly reversed the situation, arm dragging and dropkicking Myk as Zicky Dice begged for the tag. There was a tag, but that came when Carlie Bravo became the legal man. Gotcha Punch in the corner from Bravo rocked Myk. Showing his toughness, Myk rushed Bravo backward into his corner so Dice could tag in and pull off an impressive head scissors out of the corner. Avoiding a double team, Bravo tagged in a fired up Dean.
Left hooks and a clothesline sent Dice over the top rope before Dean pulled off a reverse DDT on Myk. Calling for “Bootcamp”, The Infantry used that running big boot into the side Russian leg sweep double team to put Myk’s lights out and giving Bravo another pin for his team.
Winners: The Infantry
Match Review: A good, though mostly one-sided bout that didn’t last long. The Infantry finally has a winning streak going and that’s a good thing.
– Lexy Nair wanted to know what Leyla Hirsch’s plans were in Ring of Honor. Hirsch staked her claim at a title shot when Maria Kanellis-Bennett arrived. Why? Maria felt Leyla needed to be tested a little further to gain that necessary champion-level confidence. Maria promised to see if Hirsch could live up to her legit status tonight.
Lee Moriarty vs. Andrew Everett
The giant Andrew Everett, in his ROH return, found himself getting stuck in the side headlock before feeling a dropkick. Just when it seemed Lee had Everett reeling early, Andrew used the drop toe hold on his incoming opponent to set up an enzuguri. The fans were behind Everett as he prepared for a move off the top rope. Lee moved out of the way, only for Everett to dropkick after jumping down to the canvas.
Moriarty refused to let Everett stay standing, using the arm bar takedown to begin his intended annihilation of Everett’s left arm. Using some misdirection after elbowing his way out of the arm bar, Everett pulled off an asai moonsault. Big enzuguri into the falcon arrow by Andrew didn’t end this one. So Andrew climbed to the top rope for a shooting star press, but no one was in the figurative pool. Moriarty quickly executed that hammerlock face buster to set up & cinch in the crossface for the submission victory.
Winner: Lee Moriarty
Match Review: It was a treat seeing Andrew Everett back in ROH and he and Lee had some good chemistry. Sadly, the outcome was obvious and, once again, the match doesn’t seem like it means anything in the grand scheme especially when Lee’s biggest success in ROH thus far has been in tag team action alongside Big Bill.
Tony Nese w/ Mark Sterling vs. Pat Buck
Of course, Mark Sterling and Tony Nese ran down the health choices of the people in attendance; bringing forth a Waffle House chant. So Nese & Sterling had some exercises ready instead of actually having a match. After some stretching, the fans were actually doing jumping jacks until Pat Buck made his way to the ring.
Showing his grappling acumen and push-up abilities, Pat Buck embarrassed “The Premier Athlete” to the point he attempted to start a push-up contest. Buck didn’t fall for the trap, pulling off a monkey flip before side headlocking Nese. Sending Buck into the ropes, Nese set up a distraction from Sterling that allowed him to pull off that running hot shot across the top rope similar to Randy Savage. As if that wasn’t enough interference from Sterling, Nese held the ref’s attention after pitching Buck to ringside so Mark could put the shoes to Pat. When Buck reentered the ring, Nese put him in the tree of woe for those rowboat kicks. Nese jumped off Bret’s rope with a lionsault when Buck rolled into the maneuver. Successful, Nese went for another lionsault that Buck avoided. Sky High by Buck … gave Pat a near fall!
The fans wanted waffles and Buck wanted a win; going for the monkey flip again. Nese reversed the position, only for Buck to pull him into a crucifix. Nese kicked out of the pinning combination before the referee could get down, buzzsaw kicking the rising Buck in position for that explosive pump knee strike in the corner. Nese made the cover, pinning Buck in his ROH debut.
Winner: Tony Nese
Match Review: Another solid bout that really doesn’t feel like it means anything in regards to any meaningful storylines other than trying to get over Nese’s disgust for fat people without Rick Rude’s sexiness to truly make him endearing.
– The WorkHorsemen joined Lexy Nair in the interview zone. Stating they are championship material, The WorkHorsemen bought forth laughter from Prince Nana. By Nana’s side was The Gates of Agony. Nana mocked Anthony Henry & JD Drake before telling them that they had a match with Kaun & Toa Liona where if The WorkHorsemen win they’ll get a Six-Man Tag Team title shot. But Nana reminded them that they had to win – something they aren’t used to.
Proving Ground Match: ROH Women’s World champion Athena vs. Rachel Ellering
The champ was game, finding herself having to counter the crisp grappling of the second-generation talent. Countering a clothesline attempt with one of her own, Ellering pulled off a running senton splash that staggered the champ. Stopping an Irish whip out of the corner, Athena used an arm wringer to sling Rachel throat-first across the middle rope. Athena was on fire, beating her opponent while she was dangling across the middle rope. Big boot from the champ put Ellering in position for a standing moonsault press that missed as she took too much time booty shaking to set it up.
“The Fallen Goddess” got up, only to drop down and send an incoming Ellering to the floor for a baseball slide. Athena questioned why commentators Ian Riccaboni & Caprice Coleman don’t rap for her like they do for Willow Nightingale. The fans were rallying behind the would-be challenger as the action returned inside. Surviving a cravat, Ellering used a basement dropkick to get some distance before exploding with the flying back elbow. Boss Man Slam off the slingblade clothesline … gave Rachel a two count!
Ellering was in rough shape as she climbed to Bret’s rope. Pulling the referee in front of her, Athena used this illegal maneuvering to stop Ellering from jumping. When the referee freed himself, Athena rushed Ellering to yank her off the ropes so Rachel’s back collided with the top turnbuckle. Stunned after a running forearm strike, Ellering got drilled by the O-Face. Athena made the cover, picking up another Proving Ground win.
Winner: Athena
Match Review: Rachel Ellering is always a treat to watch especially against some who is cooking as well as Athena has been as of late. Would love to see a rematch and it would’ve been nice to have someone like Ellering actually go the time limit so we could get Athena actually defending the title against a former Proving Ground competitor.
ROH World Six-Man Tag Team champions The Gates of Agony (Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona) w/ Prince Nana vs. The WorkHorsemen
Anthony Henry found himself being out-muscled by Bishop Kaun who had the tiger driver in mind until Henry back dropped his way out of the situation. Dropkick from Henry only stumbled Kaun and caused him to tag out. JD Drake also became the legal man, confronting an entering Toa Liona. Responding to a chop with a head-butt, Toa showcased how hard an islander’s head is by taking a head-butt that didn’t stun him.
What did temporarily stun Toa was Henry’s missile dropkick after Drake got him near The WorkHorsemen’s corner. Toa came off the ropes, shoulder tackling Henry. Kaun tagged in, taking a pair of spinning back kicks to his stomach, some chops, and an Irish whip. Reversing the toss, Kaun sent Henry careening to the floor thanks to his partner pulling the top rope down. Toa squashed Henry against the barricades after Kaun knocked Drake down for trying to save his partner.
Henry made it in before the count-out, getting slammed and kicked by his opponents. Countering a cradle, Kaun pulled off a big backbreaker that almost ended Anthony’s night. Double team senton splashes failed for The GoA, only for Toa to get up and stop Henry from tagging out before executing that intended senton. Henry refused to stay down, avoiding a running splash in the corner from Toa; tagging out to Drake after using an enzuguri on Kaun.
Drake was on fire, slamming Kaun in position for the falling head-butt. Drake was fighting off both opponents; using the Boss Man Slam to almost pin Kaun. The WorkHorsemen called for the end with Kaun countering whatever they had in mind. Henry got caught in Toa’s clutches, freeing himself to stomp Toa after Drake used the clothesline to put Kaun outside. Drake came running, diving through the ropes to down the champions. Rolling Kaun back in, Henry pulled off a frog splash that gave them a two count.
The fans were rallying behind The WorkHorsemen as Henry double stomped Kaun into Drake’s backbreaker. Kaun, after using his left leg to stop a pin fall, avoided Drake’s moonsault from the top rope after Toa disposed of Henry on the floor. Drake was prone to Open the Gates and the subsequent pin by the champs.
Winners: The Gates of Agony
Match Review: Once again, the outcome wasn’t in question, but the fans enjoyed seeing The WorkHorsemen try as they might to overcome the devastating champions during the homestretch.
– Cole Karter was in the interview zone with Lexy Nair with the prior stating that Maria Kanellis-Bennett has the hots for him and that’s why she’s been watching him. Maria arrived to clarify his lack of understanding as to why she’s eying him, but promised to watch his match later on.
Leyla Hirsch vs. Angelica Risk
The undefeated Leyla Hirsch seemed completely unimpressed with her opponent, shoulder ramming her in the corner before kicking her arm out of her arm. Big hip toss out of the corner saw Risk land on her head. Maria arrived at the ramp’s top, watching Hirsch hip toss Risk again with a better landing. Hirsch stopped Angelica’s intended comeback, using the ropes to wrench her opponent’s left arm. Countering a suplex with the small package, Risk came off the ropes after the kick out. Big clothesline only halted the inevitable as Hirsch got to her feet and yanked Risk into the cross arm bar after avoiding a cross body block. Risk had no choice but to tap out.
Winner: Leyla Hirsch
Match Review: Leyla Hirsch has been nothing short of dominant since her ROH debut and that continued here with the potential of her not only getting a title shot soon, but also forming an alliance with Maria.
– Athena felt insulted when Lexy Nair questioned her in the interview zone about this show being the champ’s. Athena didn’t take kindly to the idea that Lexy didn’t believe “The Fallen Goddess” is running ROH right now by being the champion of all ROH champions by working every show. Grabbing Nair’s neck, Athena promised to break someone else tonight.
Cole Karter vs. Rhett Titus
The former Television and Tag Team champion quickly grounded his opponent for the evening. When Cole Karter fought through the grappling acumen of his veteran opposition, he avoided the Hydraulic Dropkick to land a dropkick of his own. Karter looked to find Maria at the top of the entrance; motioning for her to call him. Titus fought through the rear chin lock, pulling off a butterfly suplex that gave him the advantage once again. The lower back was Titus’ target; leading to the Hydraulic Dropkick … that gave Rhett a near fall!
Ducking a forearm, Cole landed a flying knee that left Titus prone to a shoulder breaker into the DDT. Karter made the cover, picking up another win.
Winner: Cole Karter
Match Review: Seems like Maria is trying to start a new stable or potentially add to The Kingdom who have been missing from ROH programming in favor of AEW TV as of late. As for the match itself – another okay bout that’s ultimately forgettable and Titus, sadly, picked up another loss.
Robyn Renegade w/ Charlette Renegade vs. Billie Starkz
Billie Starkz found herself stuck in a top wrist lock early, trying to roll through until she was able to trip her opponent. Starkz got up to find Charlette on the apron. Avoiding the Pearl Harbor job by Robyn, Billie executed a German suplex before heading to the top rope. Robyn met her in the corner, getting kicked away. As Robyn grabbed the referee, Charlette shoved Billie off the ropes for a sickening back drop. Shotgun dropkick into the face wash in the corner by Robyn. The fans were rallying behind Billie by telling The Renegades to go back to Ohio. Adding insult to injury was Robyn by feigning the face wash again before slapping Billie.
Starkz fired up from the slap, using an over-the-knee face buster to set up the Gory Bomb that gave Billie a two count. Robyn avoided the follow-up clothesline by catching Billie and slamming her with the inverted Side Effect. Billie survived the attack, sending Robyn to the floor for a low tope that wiped out both Renegades. Billie climbed to the rope, hitting the Swanton Bomb on Robyn after rolling her back in to pin her opponent.
Of course The Renegades attacked Billie after the match. But to the surprise of everyone, Athena’s music hit to bring out the champ. Robyn ran out, getting kicked in the face by Athena. Charlette also got leveled by the champ; leaving Athena and Billie so the champ could potentially slam her face against the title belt like she does to her fallen opponents. The champ opted to not bust up Billie right now.
Winner: Billie Starkz
Match Review: Robyn’s short winning streak comes to an end in a solid outing against someone who, also, has all the potential in the world of becoming a standout in women’s wrestling and wrestling in general. More interesting than the bout was the post-match involvement featuring Athena not only attacking The Renegades, but also not laying waste to Billie. Maybe the commentators were right in assuming Athena wants the best competition at their freshest.
– Josh Woods was reminded by Lexy Nair in the interview zone regarding his statement last week about something needing to change in his career following the loss to Katsuyori Shibata. Mark Sterling felt it wouldn’t be smart to leave The Varsity Athletes. Woods disagreed as he’s best by himself. Though Sterling agreed that Woods’ greatest success came by himself, Sterling had a vicious present for him next week in the form of former two-time Television champion Silas Young. Woods seemed fine with the match and, apparently, won’t drop Sterling as his manager just yet.
ROH World Television Championship Contender Eliminator Tournament Final Match: Shane Taylor vs. Gravity
Showing his speed & agility early, Gravity avoided the patented right hand of his opponent. It wasn’t until Gravity tried to fly did he fall into Shane Taylor’s clutches for snake eyes. Big clothesline from the former Television champion didn’t end this one, but did ground Gravity long enough for him to cinch in a neck crank. The luchador attempted to fight back, but took a debilitating slam for his trouble. Another body slam followed before Taylor mocked Gravity’s slow motion walk. Missing a leg drop, Taylor allowed Gravity to get to his feet and come off the ropes for a head scissors into a suplex attempt.
Taylor reversed the suplex, only to be pulled into a small package. Taylor kicked out, catching Gravity with STJoe when the masked man rushed him by the turnbuckles. Taylor climbed to Bret’s rope for the big splash when Gravity got up and joined his opposition. Gravity pulled Taylor to the mat with a super Samoan drop. Gravity signaled for the end, only to jump into a pair of knees. Taylor quickly hooked Gravity for the Marcus Garvey Driver. Making the cover, Taylor pinned the would-be title challenger to become the next TV title contender via pin fall.
Winner: Shane Taylor
Match Review: They did what they could with the time given. Even though they had the main event slot, this was one of the shorter matches of the episode and the dramatic David versus Goliath match that could’ve happened was, instead, an abridged version. With that being stated, the right man won and Joe-Taylor should be excellent.
Overall Review: After last week’s championship and championship-oriented episode, this week’s show relied more on having action for action’s sake without much to make someone believe it’s for something greater than just what occurred during this night. The show was book-ended by matches rooted in who will challenge Samoa Joe for his Television Championship. Shane Taylor’s victory over Gravity makes the prior the number-one contender while Dalton Castle is, obviously, getting victories to stake his claim at the title in the very near future even if Joe isn’t the titleholder. The matches involving the two would-be champions were good with Dalton having a more even contest with Slim than expected while Taylor and Gravity didn’t get as much time needed for a main event to really deliver a must-see encounter.
The other standout bouts of the evening were Athena against Rachel Ellering with Ellering really pushing Athena to the limit and could’ve benefited from lasting the time limit to earn a future title shot so every Proving Ground match doesn’t end the same way; and The Gates of Agony versus The WorkHorsemen. The aforementioned tag bout really got the crowd into the action during the closing minutes and, essentially, burned them out as they weren’t as hot for anything following it as they were for the practically impromptu encounter. Though the match was good, how it came about including the stipulation of a victorious WorkHorsemen getting a future title shot reinforced the fact the whole idea of a Board of Directors has fallen short in being effective. It appeared Prince Nana just made the match and it was allowed to happen on this episode without Tony Kahn, Jerry Lynn or Stokely Hathaway agreeing to the match or stipulation.
But the episode’s biggest flaw is the fact a majority of it felt like padding with a bunch of obvious outcomes alongside rather short encounters. Five out of eleven encounters were essentially squashes with Nese-Buck walking that fine line. Starkz’s win may lead to a title match due to Athena arriving after the bout, but as a match itself it was solid while ending a winning streak before Robyn got a title shot. The logic of someone actually winning multiple matches and not getting a title opportunity while Starkz – who is incredibly talented, but hasn’t been consistently winning in ROH – may be the one to challenge for the title in the near future.
Though there wasn’t anything gratuitously bad about this episode, very little, be it in the ring or from a storyline perspective, feels like necessary viewing beyond the tournament’s finale, Castle forging his path to another TV title shot, and Athena potentially letting Billie Starkz know she’s next.
