Last Week: Shane Taylor overcame Gravity to become the number one contender to Samoa Joe’s ROH World Television Championship in the finals of the ROH World Television Championship Contender Eliminator Tournament.
ROH on HonorClub Episode 25
Greensboro, NC; Columbus, OH
August 17, 2023
Gravity vs. Gringo Loco
Instead of going for something fast, Gringo Loco looked to settle the masked man down early. Gringo’s plan failed quickly as Gravity got his feet underneath him in a running manner to execute a head scissors topped by a single-leg trip into a standing version of his Gravity Fall’s finishing splash. Gringo made Gravity pay for doing the slow motion walk, knocking his opponent down before using a gorilla press slam. Gravity found himself twisted up in a modified Indian deathlock arm bar, but the luchador refused to submit. Using an Irish whip to his advantage, Gravity ran up the ropes to rebound power slam his opposition.
Before Gravity could follow up with Gravity Falls, Gringo shoved him to the floor for a double jump corkscrew moonsault. Following a failed pin attempt, Gringo pulled off a double jump twisting senton splash that knocked the wind out of his opponent, but didn’t keep him down for the three count. Placing Gravity in the corner, Gringo spent too much time playing to the crowd and got caught with a back drop to ringside. Gravity came off the top rope, using a slingshot hurricarana after doing the Flair turnbuckle flip. As if that wasn’t enough, Gravity pulled off an inverted Gravity Falls off the apron to splash Gringo on the thinly-padded floor. Instead of going for the pin in the ring, Gravity used a headstand in the corner for the Vader Bomb … to earn a near fall!
Gravity had a 450 splash in mind, but met a Spanish Fly instead that gave Gringo a two count of his own. Gravity attempted to turn a pop-up power bomb into the Canadian Destroyer, but they collapsed with them landing on their backs. The match reset after the mistime, resulting in both men climbing the same corner for something big. That something turned out to be Gravity being driven into the mat with a super reverse Olympic Slam … to give Loco a two count!
Hoisting Gringo onto his shoulders to place the masked man on the top, Gringo signaled for the end. Gravity blocked whatever Loco had in mind by executing a super Samoan drop. Quickly climbing to the top rope, Gravity performed Gravity Falls to finally pin Gringo.
Winner: Gravity
Match Review: As expected, a very fun lucha bout to open the episode with some big moments at the end that will take some years off both competitors’ careers. Gravity has to be commended for not only improving a lot since his ROH debut, but also upgrading his gear – he doesn’t look like some discount backyard wrestler any more.
Pure Rules Match: Josh Woods vs. Silas Young
The judges for this one were former ROH World champion Jerry Lynn, multi-time ROH World Tag Team champion Jimmy Jacobs, and Pat Buck.
Former tag team partners collide in one with the reason for Josh Woods’ serious attitude coming from Silas Young’s encouragement (or berating depending on how someone sees it). After a quick showcase of their grappling abilities, Josh Woods found himself actually outmaneuvered by the veteran. Instead of following the Code of Honor, Woods refused to shake his old ally’s hand. They tied up again with Woods accidentally grabbing the ropes to stop a drop toe hold, losing a rope break in the process.
Young mocked Josh after the mistake, angering “The Technical Beast” enough that he started manhandling Young much to the anger of the fans. Countering Chaos Theory, Silas almost rolled up the former Pure champion while avoiding that elevated kneeling Indian deathlock. The crowd was rooting for Silas as Woods jumped through the ropes as he grabbed onto Young’s wrist to perform a rope-assisted arm breaker.
The left arm became Woods’ focus as he attacked “The Last Real Man”. The fans were not pleased with Woods stomping Young’s arm into oblivion. Mouthing off at his opponent, Woods got caught by a series of failed pinning combinations. When Woods got free of Young’s attempts, he threw & landed an illegal right hand. The referee immediately called out Woods; issuing a warning. But the punch staggered Young and allowed Woods to execute the Anarchist’s Suplex against the turnbuckles. Pulling Woods away from the ropes, Josh Woods picked up the pin fall.
Winner: Josh Woods
Match Review: This is not what was expected of Josh Woods after his want to do things on his own going forward, but in the best way possible as Woods understands how to make the Pure Rules work for him while also being strong and technical enough to overwhelm the best the division has to offer en route to challenging for the Pure title once again.
– Maria Kanellis-Bennett was in the interview zone to talk about her journey through the wrestling business – a business that continuously wants more. In her effort to protect her legacy, she wants to build an even greater Kingdom. Speaking on Leyla Hirsch brought forth “Legit”. Hirsch seemed confused as to what Maria can give to Leyla that she can’t get herself. Maria’s answer: a match against Rachel Ellering. Hirsch seemed fine with having the same goal as Athena: worthy competition.
Athena vs. Brittany J.
Huge ovation for the champ and she seemed rather happy with getting a positive response during her entrance. Waving to her minions almost cost Athena as she was yanked into a cradle. Quickly rising, Athena got sent to the floor where Brittany joined her with an attempted running kick off the apron. Sadly for J, Athena caught the leg and yanked her back-first to the floor. Picking J up, Athena slung Brittany against the steel guardrails; demanding a rap from commentator Ian Riccaboni like he does for Willow Nightingale. Rolling Brittany in, Athena pulled off a pop-up power bomb into that rolling elbow for the pin fall.
The Renegades hit the ring, attacking Athena until Billie Starkz chased them away. Athena didn’t take kindly to Starkz’s help.
Winner: Athena
Match Review: Obliterating Athena is a scary Athena. While Brittany didn’t get out of the gate, The Renegades made their stand against the Women’s champ and her would-be ally.
– 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.
Samoa Joe & Stokely Hathaway vs. The Boys
“Big Stoke” cut a promo on the way to the ring, putting over the champ and “The Ruff Ryder” himself. Promising to be right on the apron if Samoa Joe needed him, Stokely Hathaway called for the bell as Joe used a pair of clotheslines to wipe out both Boys. Boy Brandon got punched down to leave him prone to Hathaway after Joe tagged him in. Lucha-style arm drag by Stokely impressed the fans and himself. Sadly for “Big Stoke”, he ran into the corner when trying to follow up with an attack. Running into a dropkick instead after Boy Brent tagged in, Hathaway refused to tag out when he caught his opponent with a jaw breaker.
The Boys were dominating Hathaway after a failed suplex. Stokely got the referee’s attention, distracting him so Joe could illegally clothesline Brent. Hathaway made it to his corner, letting the champ run wild until Boy Brandon was prone to the Muscle Buster. Hathaway got Joe’s attention because he wanted to double team Brandon. Joe held Brandon for a Hathaway double axe handle, only for the champ to move at the last second so Stokely hit nothing but canvas. Joe choked out Brandon for the victory for this first-time pairing. Sadly for Stokely, he was still unconscious by the time the champ left.
Winners: Samoa Joe & Stokely Hathaway
Match Review: There was nothing about this match that someone should’ve expected a long, competitive encounter. What occurred was the obvious hilarity and Joe not caring a bit about Stokely’s health. Where this story is going will be interesting as both Hathaway and Joe are personalities second to none.
– The Renegades interrupted Billie Starkz’s interview with Lexy Nair. The sisters promised to handle Starkz before she can find out why Athena wasn’t appreciative of her help earlier.
ROH World Six-Man Tag Team champions The Gates of Agony (Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona) vs. Christopher Daniels & Matt Sydal
The former ROH World & World Tag Team champion Christopher Daniels found himself standing across the ring from Toa Liona. Trying to take down the wild-man proved ineffective for Daniels as he made sure the ring was cut off against him. Big shoulder block sent Daniels to the mat as Prince Nana reminded “The Fallen Angel” of where he is currently. Bishop Kaun tagged in, wearing out the legend with simple, though effective right punches. Using a drop toe hold to stun Kaun, Daniels tagged out so he could help slam Kaun in position for Matt Sydal’s moonsault into the corkscrew senton splash. Double team drop toe hold into Sydal’s sliding dropkick didn’t end Kaun’s night; causing “The General” to being a knife-edge chop assault. Sadly for Daniels, his momentum was stolen by an illegal clothesline by Toa from the apron after Kaun elbowed his way out of the uranage.
Cornering Daniels, Toa set up a running head-butt that left Daniels trying to regain feeling in his arms. The fans weren’t too pleased with the beat down on Daniels including Kaun’s sliding forearm into the rear chin lock and a uranage backbreaker; giving him the energy to stop Toa’s assault with the flatliner after avoiding a splash in the corner.
Tagging out to a fired-up Sydal, Daniels recovered as his partner was able to rock Liona via a buzzsaw kick after walloping Kaun with his patented Meteora. Sadly for Sydal, he ran into the clutches of an illegal Kaun who had their finisher in mind after he & Toa hit a Total Elimination clothesline. Sydal flipped out of the maneuver, tagging out to Daniels who had enough energy to chop both opponents backward, caused a miscommiuncation so Kaun clotheslined Toa, and hit Angel’s Wings on Bishop … for a near fall thanks to Toa’s interference.
Discus Polish hammer from Toa into Kaun’s double knee gut-buster on “The Fallen Angel” after Toa disposed of Sydal with the Samoan drop. Kaun made the cover, pinning the former champ.
Winners: The Gates of Agony
Match Review: As much as Athena gets credit for carrying ROH as of late, The Gates of Agony’s run can’t be dismissed. They’ve been having great matches with a variety of opponents that continued with another win over a pair of former ROH champions. It would’ve been even better if, say, they actually had a little bit of build before the match occurred to get fans interested while questioning the outcome.
Madison Rayne vs. Dani Mo
Apparently this match was taped in Columbus as Madison Rayne got a hometown welcome during her entrance. After a quick grappling exchange, Rayne almost pulled off a pin off the jackknife cradle. Slipping through the ropes to avoid a running attack in the corner didn’t help Madison as she was caught by a modified hotshot. Pulling Rayne back in, Mo used the cartwheel to add some torque to her shining wizard. Rayne not only survived the pin, but also mounted a comeback topped by the cutthroat neck breaker. Mo stopped Madison’s finisher, using a series of kicks to apparently stun her opponent. Ducking the roundhouse kick, Rayne caught Mo spinning with the CrossRayne. Making the cover, Rayne picked up a victory in her return.
Winner: Madison Rayne
Match Review: That was rather rough and uninspired with the pro-Rayne fans quickly losing interest until the inevitable outcome.
The Dark Order (Evil Uno, Alex Reynolds & John Silver) vs. Isaiah Broner, Lord Crewe & Corey Calhoun
Big slap from Evil Uno off the Code of Honor to Isaiah Broner. But Broner started firing off chops that Uno responded in kind. Alex Reynolds tagged in, landing a lariat off Uno’s Irish whip that rocked Broner. Using a chop block when Broner tried to turn the tides, Reynolds double stomped his downed opposition before tagging out to John Silver. The fans were pleased with Silver almost caving Isaiah’s chest in with kicks. Stu Grayson suddenly arrived on the top of the entrance, leading to a distraction so Corey Calhoun could pull off a cradle. Reynolds kicked out, leveling Calhoun with a right forearm. The Dark Order quickly sent their opponents to the floor except Calhoun so they could finish him off with the Portal to Darkness.
Under the encouragement of Uno, Silver punt kicked Isaiah after the match to the joy of Stu.
Winners: The Dark Order
Match Review: Once again, the outcome wasn’t in question, but the fans enjoyed seeing The Dark Order in action. Sadly, the story that followed seems redundant following their big clash with The Righteous at “Death Before Dishonor”.
– ROH World champion Claudio Castagnoli was walking through the backstage area to mention that he knows everyone is talking about how he hasn’t been around ROH as the World champ. Calling down Eddie Kingston, Mark Briscoe and PAC, he is proud to be the face of Honor. But becoming the face has forced him to lose naivety in relishing in being a World champion for the promotion he once loved. According to Claudio, his job is to prevent people from defiling the World title. There is no personal attachment to being a World champion or ROH, just another day at the office; and he is very good at his job.
Cole Karter vs. Griff Garrison
A very aggressive Griff Garrison found himself getting chopped in the throat after laying in some big chops. Big boot off a counter hip toss allowed Griff to Stinger Splash Cole Karter into the falcon arrow … for a two count!
Signaling for the big rolling forearm, Griff got sent into the turnbuckles face first. Garrison staggered out of the corner into a dropkick. Some Randy Orton-like posing from Karter before cinching in the rear chin lock. Garrison muscled his way out of the hold, only to run into a power slam. The fans didn’t take kindly to all the posing and blowing of kisses by Karter before and after every move. Garrison countered a suplex with the small package. When Karter kicked out, Griff pulled off that rolling elbow. Instead of going for the pin, Griff went for something big. Karter clawed his way out of the maneuver, pulling off that rolling DDT off the shoulder breaker not once, but twice for the pin fall.
Maria Kanellis-Bennett arrived, apparently telling Karter to follow the Code of Honor.
Winner: Cole Karter
Match Review: After a rather hot start, this one regressed into a very generic encounter with ROH’s answer to 2003 Randy Orton winning and getting some orders from Maria.
Billie Starkz vs. Charlette Renegade w/ Robyn Renegade
Big forearm off the Code of Honor by Renegade. Hoisting Starkz up, Charlette got caught by a series of back elbows before she sent Billie to the floor for a distraction by her sister. Billie couldn’t avoid the dive by Charlette off the apron. Rolling Billie back in, Renegade turned a camel clutch into a face rake. Starkz kicked her way out of the corner, only for Robyn to jump onto the apron as Charlette distracted the referee. Renegade joined Billie on the top rope, using a superplex. When Charlette went to pick her up, Billie turned it into a Last Shot … for a two count!
Robyn pulled off another distraction, allowing Charlette to claw her opponent’s face and execute a Michinoku Driver … for a near fall!
Renegade went for another attack when Starkz avoided it and yanked Charlette into a straight-jacket pancake facebuster. Starkz made the cover, pinning another Renegade two weeks in a row.
Athena ran out, helping Billie fight off the sisters including saving Starkz from a back attack. Looking at each other, Athena and Billie dove on the Renegades at ringside before the champ retrieved her title to motion for a fight right now between the two. Starkz was game, but offered the handshake instead. Athena made fun of the idea, telling her new minion to follow. Starkz was bewildered, letting the champ go ahead.
Winner: Billie Starkz
Match Review: They worked hard to get a lot in a short period of time. They really are cramming a lot of the story/relationship progression between Athena and Billie into this episode.
– The Varsity Athletes of Tony Nese & Ari Daivari were in the interview zone to explain to Lexy Nair that their goal is to turn all the fans into true athletes. With the promise they wouldn’t be interrupted with group training this week, Tony expected Lexy to be there as well.
Lee Moriarty & The WorkHorsemen vs. Action Andretti, Darius Martin & Lee Johnson
The battle of the Lees started off this one with Lee Johnson actually doing well on the mat with “Taiga Style”. The pace quickened with Lee landing a dropkick off the high-low. Darius Martin and Action Andretti tagged in, sending all of their opponents to the floor. Double team hip toss on Moriarty by Action and Darius allowed them to isolate Moriarty. Lee Johnson found himself fighting too close to the wrong part of town, taking a clothesline from JD Drake.
Downed by the ropes, Johnson got splashed by Drake’s slingshot senton splash. With Johnson trying to fight to his feet, Anthony Henry slapped him around before setting up a cradle Michinoku Driver. Johnson flipped out of it, tagging in Andretti so Action could wipe out the entering Moriarty and Henry. Drake entered, landing a Sick Kick on Action. Drake & Henry had something in mind, double team power bombing Action for a two count when Johnson saved his partner from a sure pin. Everyone was hitting a big maneuver with the conclusion coming when Henry almost pinned Action off a cradle. Action countered, pulling off a jackknife pin to reverse Henry’s Chaos Theory. The referee’s hand slipped on the third count, calling for the bell as Action & his team were declared the winners.
Winners: Action Andretti, Darius Martin & Lee Johnson
Match Review: Another episode, and another week The WorkHorsemen lose even if the ending was somewhat confusing. Darius Martin & Action Andretti’s rotating partnership with people to create a formidable trio to dethrone the Six-Man champs continued in better fashion here than their losing effort on ROH programming. Once again, though, there needs to be an explanation as to why these trios come to be. Why is Lee Moriarty suddenly joining forces with The WorkHorsemen? What united Andretti & Martin with Johnson?
– Lexy Nair called Athena into the interview zone. Ushering “Billie Goat” into the scene, Athena gave her a minion number that’s much lower than yours truly (Minion 804, here). Speaking up, Starkz wanted a tag match with The Renegades alongside her new mentor (?) next week. Athena retorted, stating Starkz doesn’t call the shots; demanding she be driven to the mall by her new follower. Starkz didn’t take kindly to the idea, but did follow the exiting champion.
Trish Adora vs. Lady Frost
The early going saw both trying to roll each other into a pinning combination that didn’t work too well in terms of smoothness. What was smooth was Adora avoiding a maneuver in the corner to land a roundhouse kick that left Frost prone to a submission where she had her opponent’s arms behind her own back while Trish did splits on said back. Frost used the ropes to save herself, exiting the ring to set up a dive on Adora when Trish failed to follow her to the floor. Adora quickly recovered in the ring, landing a cross body block and that kneeling German suplex. A Tower of London-style gut-buster didn’t end Frost’s night, so Adora went for Lariat Tubman. Frost avoided the Lariat, knocking Adora in position for that Frost Bite corkscrew moonsault to pin Trish in something of an upset.
Winner: Lady Frost
Match Review: They did what they could with the time given. Very questionable outcome though as it seemed Trish was getting on a win streak after rediscovering herself alongside The Infantry. Hopefully this doesn’t mean she’ll disappear off ROH programming for several weeks again.
– Kiera Hogan was in the interview zone with Lexy Nair where she was apparently watching Lady Frost. Why? Because fire always melts ice and she plans on burning Frost down in the very near future.
Leyla Hirsch vs. Rachel Ellering
Though she was outmatched in terms of size, Leyla Hirsch showcased how strong she is early by waist lock slamming her opponent. Rachel Ellering quickly retaliated by body slamming Leyla into the senton splash. Showing some awkward agility, Leyla pulled Ellering to the mat with a sunset flip used to not pin her opponent, but kick her left arm. Hirsch’s focus on Rachel’s left arm saw Ellering fighting out of a Fujiwara arm bar. Smooth as butter, Hirsch turned Rachel’s counter roll into a cross arm bar. Ellering looked to put herself in a triangle choke that proved ineffective thanks to Rachel getting her legs underneath her to power bomb Hirsch.
Rachel’s comeback saw her left arm inhibit her from making an effective lateral press after executing a northern lights bomb. Hirsch used an Irish whip into the corner as a way to leap over her incoming opponent and put her in an octopus stretch. Ellering fought through the submission, Boss Man slamming her opposition. Hirsch countered Ellering’s follow-up pin by cinching in the cross arm bar for another submission victory.
Winner: Leyla Hirsch
Match Review: While Ellering was, once again, very game, she couldn’t overcome the force that Leyla has become since her return to the ring in ROH. They got more time to work than the last match, but the crowd struggled to care and the outcome was out of the question.
Dalton Castle w/ The Baby Chicks vs. Peter Avalon
Peter Avalon’s heart fluttered upon seeing the pageantry of his opponent’s entrance. Dalton promised to set the ring on fire in an attempt to get the rather quiet crowd into this one. Avalon found himself getting waist lock slammed almost immediately, elbowing he way out of Castle’s clutches before using the ropes to headlock takedown his opponent for a subsequent dropkick. Avalon rushed the rising “Peacock”, taking a t-bone suplex. Avalon was stunned after Castle’s corner combo of flying knee strike-back elbow. Sending Avalon into the ropes, Castle caught his opponent in a big Bang-A-Rang on the rebound for the subsequent pin fall.
Winner: Dalton Castle
Match Review: Dalton is still on his road to another TV title shot. It’s sad the match happened so late in the taping because the fans who would usually be going crazy for Dalton sat on their hands a majority of his time onscreen.
– Shane Taylor had his chance to talk to Lexy Nair in the interview. Running through his accolades as a former champion in ROH both by himself and as a unit. But his legacy thus far has lived in the shadow of the old guard. To truly leave his mark in ROH, Taylor promised to put Samoa Joe to sleep and become the baddest champion in the world yet again.
Tony Nese w/ Ari Daivari vs. Metalik
Of course, Tony Nese ran down the health choices of the people in attendance while rallying off North Carolina standout eating & beverage choices. So Nese & Ari had some exercises ready instead of actually having a match. After some stretching, The Athlete’s exercise plans were hindered by Board of Director Jerry Lynn who had a “blast for your past” ready to fight Tony Nese in the form of Metalik (a surprise spoiled by the viewer as the promo card for this match was shown directly before it like every match).
Big shoulder block not only downed Tony’s opponent early, but also gave him the chance to perform some jumping jacks. Nese’s attempted hip toss was turned against him as he used the nearby ropes to flip & arm drag his opponent for a big dive after walking the ropes seconds later. Nese exited the ring to get some strategy time with Ari. That conversation resulted in Nese distracting the referee so Ari could grab a running Metalik’s legs. Nese charged after Daivari let go, using a body roll to trip his opponent before yanking him to ringside by his horizontal legs. Metalik tried to counter an Irish whip in the ring by sunset flipping Nese, only for Tony to roll through and buzzsaw kick the masked man. Of course, after putting Metalik in the tree of woe he used those rowboat kicks to his opposition’s torso.
A few fans rallied behind Metalik, resulting in him fighting through the figure-four waist lock. Nese went for another leg trip to the floor when Metalik jumped up and flipped off the ropes for a moonsault. Sadly for Metalik, his right shin hit the floor hard as Nese was too far away. Metalik recovered quickly, flying and rope walking to cross body block, slingblade clothesline, and missile dropkick Nese. The crowd wanted Metalik to walk the ropes again for an attack, only for Nese to almost forearm his mask off to set up the Liger Bomb for a two count. Elbowing his way off Nese’s shoulders, Metalik super kicked Nese into the Metalik Driver for the pin fall.
Winner: Metalik
Match Review: Beyond the fact Tony Nese’s scheduled group exercise being interrupted by Jerry Lynn and a match with Metalik being made was spoiled by the promo card before Nese’s promo, this was a solid encounter that didn’t feel like it should’ve been in the main even slot mostly because it featured two people the visibly tired fans weren’t that keen on or, in the case of Metalik, didn’t recognize/remember.
Overall Review: Definitely the tale of two halves regarding the action quality, storytelling, and necessity of matches. The show’s first half (or little under with the episode going 135 minutes this week) was its best featuring an exciting opener, character-driven Pure Rules encounter where Josh Woods showed a ruthless and dastardly side to himself, Athena destroying unworthy competition before getting a continuation to the uneasy alliance between the champ and Billie Starkz against The Renegades, a comedic tag team bout where the TV champ showed how uncaring he is regarding Hathaway’s health as long as it helps Joe, and a highly enjoyable bout with The Gates of Agony overcoming the former ROH World Tag Team champions. This half is really the only portion that’s required viewing.
The the rest of the show happened and it fell into the same pattern of other sub-par ROH on HonorClub episodes featuring a bunch of short matches with either obvious or questionable outcomes (Karter, Rayne, The Dark Order, Leyla, and Castle in regards to the prior; Frost and Metalik associated with the latter as both of their opponents were just getting a winning streak started). Starkz and Charlette attempted to cram a lot in a short time and the second six-man tag, while the best bout of the show’s second half, came across as just another match due to a mix of the lacking crowd participation and, once again, another obvious outcome as The WorkHorsemen never win.
There was some storytelling and character development, but some of it seemed questionable in presentation. Athena and Billie Starkz’s budding relationship got three segments and, arguably, could’ve been stretched across a couple of episodes instead of stuffing so much into this one between the two. The question of whether or not Athena will turn on Billie for not becoming a good minion is definitely there and, hopefully, the answer isn’t given in quick fashion. On the opposite end is the potential continuation of whatever is going on between The Dark Order and Stu Grayson where there interactions seem no different than what was happening before The Dark Order’s Fight Without Honor with The Righteous at “Death Before Dishonor” a month ago.
And then there was Claudio’s promo. While definitely well done by the champ, his reasoning as to why he hasn’t been around defending the title or even participates in Proving Ground matches is flawed for one reason: the ROH Board of Directors. Board of Director Jerry Lynn is happy to make Tony Nese fight in an “impromptu” match, but won’t demand the World champion to do more than show up once every couple of months to be a fighting champion. There’s a big inconsistency as to how champions and the title divisions are handled especially with authority figures now involved in the show.
We have little stories going such as Maria’s recruitment drive, Dalton’s quest to get back in the TV title picture, and Kiera Hogan sudden problems with Lady Frost because they are apparently the Scorpion and Sub-Zero of ROH’s Women’s division; but there isn’t a white-hot story or feud happening to get people truly emotionally invested.
In the end, this is an episode hindered by excess as quantity doesn’t always equal quality; and the obvious exhausting taping scheduled burned out a crowd that, when the episode started, were hot & excited. Having a show that’s anywhere between eighty and 100 minutes a week isn’t a bad thing especially now that ROH is being taped alongside AEW programming.
