Last Week: Claudio Castagnoli successfully defended the ROH World Championship against Rocky Romero before AR Fox bested Tony Nese in the episode’s main event.
ROH on HonorClub Episode 30
Cleveland, OH
September 21, 2023
– Last night, Eddie Kingston became the Ring of Honor World champion. His post-match promo saw Eddie dedicate his win to the second ROH World champion Xavier (RIP) – the title win happened exactly twenty-one years ago as of this episode’s airing.
ROH Pure Championship: Katsuyori Shibata (c) vs. Nick Wayne
The judges for this one were former ROH World champions Jerry Lynn & Dalton Castle, and multi-time ROH World Tag Team titleholder Jimmy Jacobs.
As expected, the early moments saw the champion trying to tie up his opponent for a flash pin or the cross arm bar. Mounting his challenger, Katsuyori Shibata slapped & stomped Nick Wayne until he was able to get up and avoid the PK. An errant kick witnessed Wayne getting caught in an ankle lock. Wayne had to sacrifice a rope break to free himself and exit the ring. Shibata was all over his challenger, almost kicking him into the front row after whipping him against the barricades. Kicking the life out of his opponent in the ring, Shibata seemed to be toying with the young man.
Wayne surprised the champ with a corkscrew uppercut after chopping his way off mat. Shibata stumbled into the corner, getting dropkicked hesitation style. The champion got up, demanding Wayne to give him his best strikes. The strikes were ineffective. Nick attempted to man up, but ended up getting dropkicked in the corner. Cobra twist by Shibata forced another rope break usage by the challenger. Blocking a waist lock, Wayne grabbed the top rope to exercise his final rope break.
But the leverage was all Wayne needed to pull off a modified neck breaker as he freed himself from the champ’s grip. Ripcord roundhouse kicks by Wayne gave him the space to come off the ropes for a springboard ace crusher. Instead, Wayne jumped into the Sleeper. Sitting the fading Wayne down, Shibata executed the PK to pin another would-be champion.
Winner: Katsuyori Shibata
Match Review: Nothing out of the ordinary for a Shibata defense, but Wayne definitely showed something more in him than in his losing efforts in AEW. Wouldn’t mind seeing Wayne stick around in ROH for a while.
– Lexy Nair was in the interview zone to ask Lee Johnson about facing Lee Moriarty tonight. Before Lee could say anything, Moriarty and Shane Taylor arrived with the prior offering the Code of Honor right now. When Johnson refused, Taylor threatened to knock him out just like last week.
Diamante vs. Catie Brite
Knocking the newcomer down with a forearm, Diamante tied Catie Brite in the ropes for some chokes & chops. Avoiding a rushing Diamante in the corner, Brite almost got a two count before feeling a dropkick when Diamante kicked out. Big ace crusher off the rebound by Diamante ended this one via pin fall.
Winner: Diamante
Match Review: A squash is a squash. Really, the biggest problem with the match had nothing to do with the action, but the fact it feels Diamante’s character development is completely lost to those solely watching ROH as the last time she was seen Athena wanted her to find something more in herself. Now she’s back with an alliance with Mercedes Martinez doing the same thing she was doing before her failed title shot.
– The Infantry & Willie Mack were in the interview zone with Lexy Nair to talk about how successful they’ve been since joining forces. Willie was intrigued & excited about getting their first and potential best shot at the ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Championship.
Lee Moriarty vs. Lee Johnson
It was a battle of control over the hammerlock for the first few minutes until Lee Moriarty backed his fellow Lee into the nearby corner for an illegal back elbow. Lee Johnson made his opponent pay by dropkicking him after avoiding a running attack in the corner. Moriarty left the ring, finding right fists & chops coming his way. Reentering the ring, Moriarty caught Johnson running with the kitchen sink. Johnson freed herself from the seated abdominal stretch, landing clothesline after clothesline to set up the neck breaker. Blue thunder bomb by Johnson gave him a two count.
Taking too much time following up, Johnson got sent into the corner. Johnson retaliated by kicking Moriarty in position for a frog splash that gave him a two count. Stopping short off an Irish whip, Moriarty used the stungun to put Johnson in position for the leg lariat. Moriarty made the cover, pinning Johnson in the process.
Winner: Lee Moriarty
Match Review: A solid encounter. Lee Moriarty has so many tools to really shine if given the opportunity, while Lee Johnson is a solid had that’s missing that bit of fire & energy both in the ring and on the microphone to take him to the next level.
– It was time for Minion Training as Athena had Billie Starkz and Lexy Nair practicing cheering & booing (booing Willow Nightingale when they crossed her path backstage), climbing stairs, and trying to scare The Renegade Twins. Eventually, Lexy earned a passing grade, but, according to the Minion Overlord, Billie still sucks as a Minion.
Mercedes Martinez w/ Diamante vs. Trish Adora
After getting the better of Mercedes Martinez on the mat, Trish Adora found herself distracted by Diamante that led to Martinez attacking from behind. Diamante wasn’t done with the interference, choking Adora when she fell into the ropes. Adora felt the Anarchist suplex, rallying to her feet to German suplex Mercedes in position for a running pump kick-senton splash combo. Ducking the clothesline, Martinez executed a half-nelson suplex into the bayonet running forearm. Adora was stunned and prone to the Brass City Sleeper. Trish had no choice but to tap out.
Winner: Mercedes Martinez
Match Review: While a lot less one-sided than Martinez’s match from last week, Adora got mostly trounced by the former champion. The argument can easily be made that both competitors should be winning constantly on the road to a title shot.
ROH Women’s World Championship: Athena (c) w/ Billie Starkz vs. Angelina Love
A big argument broke out when both claimed the other puled their opponent’s hair off the collar & elbow tie-up. When they settled down, the champ did quite well grappling. Athena’s celebration dance was interrupted, only for Love to get sent to the floor for an intended sneak attack by Billie. Starkz couldn’t follow the order, getting shoved into an approaching champion. Love tossed the champ back into the ring, kneeing her opposition for a sidewalk slam. Finding herself in the rear chin lock, Athena forearmed her way off the mat.
Clothesline-oriented comeback by Athena as Billie cheered on the champ with pom-poms. Handspring back elbow in the corner saw Love knocked in position for the O-Face. Unfortunately for Athena, Starkz’s cheering distracted her long enough for a shove to the mat by the challenger for the Pump Kick … that ended in a near fall in Angelina’s favor!
Starkz performed a successful distraction, allowing Athena to pick up the unsuspecting Love for that double knee face buster. Athena made the cover to pin another challenger.
Winner: Athena
Match Review: A solid title defense with Love actually falling more because of the number’s game than Athena’s skills. Billie getting a little more comfortable being a better Minion is an interesting circumstance and may or may not lead to more Minion Training to reinforce her budding skills.
– Lexy Nair had Maria Kanellis-Bennett to answer the question if she was ready to present Griff Garrison & Cole Karter. While Garrison claimed this was just a trial, Maria and Cole believed Griff will test himself instead in a quest for success.
Willow Nightingale, Skye Blue & Kiera Hogan vs. Leyla Hirsch & The Renegades
Kiera Hogan found herself having to hurricarana Robyn Renegade in position for a dropkick in the corner topped by double knees to Robyn’s face. Skye Blue tagged in, landing a running knee to set up Hogan’s hip attack while Robyn dangled in the ropes. Charlette Renegade ran across the ringside area to dispose of Hogan and Willow Nightingale so they could isolate Blue. Maria Kanellis-Bennett arrived to watch someone (most likely Leyla). Leyla Hirsch tagged herself in after The Renegades were spending the match dominating Skye. Going for the cross arm bar, Leyla almost got her the submission.
Skye freed herself from the submission, knocking Leyla backward while tagging in Willow. Double suplex on The Renegades by Willow alone. Uranage to Robyn from Willow before Leyla felt Nightingale’s pounce … period! Charlette was alone and prone to Blue’s Code Blue. Skye held her opponent down for the pin.
Maria didn’t seem too pleased with the outing.
Winners: Willow Nightingale, Skye Blue & Kiera Hogan
Match Review: A rather quick encounter for a tag match with some actual story attached to it. On an episode with less matches and given more time, this could’ve been a fantastic outing instead of a solid, yet forgettable encounter.
– Tony Nese and The Spanish Announce Project were in the interview zone to talk about how their partnership came to be: Tony Nese wants to exercise his partners through victory. Nese seemed to have control issues by telling his allies they’ll have to follow his lead to the point they can’t even come out to the ring with him saying so.
Ethan Page vs. VSK
Getting his ears clapped, Ethan Page found himself having to block an Irish whip to running power slam his opponent. Page’s attitude was the first thing to really get the crowd responding as he failed to hit the Ego’s Edge after rallying the fans behind him. Regalplex into the sidewalk slam by Page allowed him to execute a slingshot ace crusher for the pin fall.
Winner: Ethan Page
Match Review: Similar to Mercedes Martinez when comparing her opposition from last week to this week, Page had to slightly struggle a little more on this episode even if the outcome was inevitable. Once again, Page is perfect for this era of ROH.
El Hijo del Vikingo, Metalik & Gravity vs. Tony Nese & The Spanish Announce Project (Angelico & Serpentico) w/ Mark Sterling
As per the norm, Tony Nese ran down the town for being out of shape before organizing some group training. And, unsurprisingly, the fans barely reacted until Nese’s partners cam out to interrupt Nese’s encouraging word.
The early exchange between Metalik and Serpentico ended with the SAP member getting to his main partner in Angelico. Gravity also tagged in, using some impressive maneuvering to arm drag Angelico not once, but twice before performing a feigning dive. Slow-motion tag to El Hijo del Vikingo as Tony Nese attempted to put his partners in check. Coming off the top rope, Vikingo used a corkscrew moonsault Nese to the floor as his partners did the same via somersault planchas to their other opponent opponents. Sadly for Metalik, he ran into a Sterling trip and Nese sliding in the ring after tagging in; allowing the Premier SAP to isolate “The King of Ropes”.
Using a sunset bomb to stop a superplex by Angelico, Metalik tagged out to a fired-up Gravity. Going wild, Gravity set up Metalik’s power bomb on Serpentico that almost ended this one. Nese wanted to unmask Gravity, actually angering Serpentico to the point he left alongside Angelico. Nese couldn’t stop the double team from Gravity and Metalik before the latter squashed Nese via the swanton bomb.
Winners: El Hijo del Vikingo, Metalik & Gravity
Match Review: With reports of Vikingo getting hurt in this match and seeing him hit his right hip on the floor so hard during his corkscrew moonsault (a move he never returned to the ring from), this match lost a lot of steam with concern over the AAA Mega champion’s health. From a story perspective, Nese being an annoyance to anyone beyond Sterling works even though he was just paling around with Ari Daivari & Slim J just weeks ago.
– Impressed was Lexy Nair in the interview zone regarding Ethan Page’s winning ways. Reflecting on his recent years, Page strategy he wrestled for wrestling’s most prestigious prize in the AEW World title – a moment that reinvigorated his career. Nair popped Page by saying he’s gotten his groove back.
Action Andretti & Darius Martin vs. Griff Garrison & Cole Karter w/ Maria Kanellis-Bennett
It didn’t take long before Cole Karter found himself backed into the wrong part of town; looking for his partner to save him. Griff Garrison tagged in after Cole broke free of Darius Martin’s grip, getting kicked and double stomped into a double team suplex. Double team dropkick sent an entering Karter out of the ring. Garrison took advantage of Maria’s distraction by grabbing at Darius to big boot his foe. Garrison didn’t take kindly to Maria’s interference, but refocused quickly. Unfortunately for Griff, Darius refused to stay down and kicked both opponents before tagging in a ready Action Andretti.
Action had everything going his way, calling for an end when Karter sent the partners into one another. Karter cradled Action, throwing his feet on the ropes. Griff stopped his partner from winning by illegal means, angering both Cole & Maria. Action came sailing over the top, taking out an arguing Griff before using the springboard 450 splash on Karter after Darius knocked him in position for his partner’s finisher. Andretti held down Karter for the three count.
Griff gladly wanted to follow the Code of Honor, but Maria & Cole were having no parts of it.
Winners: Action Andretti & Darius Martin
Match Review: Solid encounter with Griff trying to be an honorable competitor costing his team in the end definitely changes the potential of his teaming with Cole going forward. Will Garrison fall in line or can Maria & Karter convince him there’s a different way to success in ROH? Also, when are Andretti & martin going to get a ROH World Tag Team title shot? They’ve won so much in this era of ROH, yet no title shot.
ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Championship: The Mogul Embassy (c) w/ Prince Nana vs. Willie Mack & The Infantry
Kaun and Shawn Dean’s fast opening moments saw Dean take a shoulder block and respond with a dropkick. With Carlie Bravo entering off the tag, they made a wish with Kaun’s groin. Kaun quickly made his way to the corner so Toa Liona could tag in. Playing around too much almost cost Bravo until he was able to hit that cross-over punch. Just when it seemed one-third of the champs was reeling, Toa kneed Bravo in position for a slingshot senton from Kaun.
Working over the midsection of his opponent was Kaun with suplexes galore. It was Brian Cage’s turn to do some devastation, using shoulder rams in the corner to rattle Bravo’s ribs. Reversing a sidewalk slam into the lung blower, Bravo went for the tag that was cut off by a Cage elbow drop. Flipping out of Cage’s suplex, Bravo tagged out to Mack.
On fire was Willie as he knocked Cage around the ring with spinning kicks, slams, and yakuza kicks while knocking Kaun and Toa out of the ring between attacks. Climbing to the top cost Willie as Cage got up to kick him off his perch. Big dead-lift superplex from Cage didn’t stop Willie from getting to Bravo as Cage didn’t go for the pin and had to counter the Stunner.
Sending Kaun to the floor with a big DDT, Bravo dropped down to avoid the flying Toa. Liona blocked a double team suplex from The Infantry, only for Mack to run in to execute the Stunner to soften up Liona for the double team suplex. Mack tagged back in, climbing the ropes as Cage clotheslined The Infantry. Mack knocked Cage out of the corner for the Lo-Down frog splash … to earn a near fall!
The challengers surrounded Cage for the Stunner-Boot Camp combo. Cage stopped the Stunner with Kaun and Toa wiping out Dean, followed by Bravo. Opening the Gates on Mack, Kaun & Toa set up a pin fall for Cage and another successful defense.
Winners: The Mogul Embassy
Match Review: Easily the match of the evening with the challengers pushing the champs to their limit before the overwhelming force that is The Mogul Embassy dashed their dreams. Like other failed Six-Man title challengers not Dalton Castle & The Boys, will this mean the end of Willie Mack & The Infantry. Hopefully not and Bravo, Dean & Mack begin again on their quest to become trios champions in ROH.
Overall Review: Following the monumental moment of Eddie Kingston winning the ROH World Championship, this episode failed to capitalize on said moment (yes, it was taped before the title change, but the commentators were mentioning Eddie’s win constantly). Other than the main event that featured two teams built on strong wins clashing for the title, there wasn’t much standing out from the rest of the pack in terms of high quality in-ring action. The Pure title match was good with Wayne showing skills more profound than what’s been seen from him in AEW, but the match’s outcome wasn’t in question. Both non-title six-person tags suffered due to lacking time with the Vikingo’s unfortunate fall really sucking the air out of their match.
Martinez, Page, and Diamante got solid wins in dominating fashion while there was some story progression in regards to recent interactions as Lee Moriarty gave Lee Johnson another loss when the latter tried to avenge what happened to him last week, and the odd couple of Griff Garrison & Cole Karter not seeing eye-to-eye about what it means to be an honorable competitor costing them a much-needed first victory as a unit.
But the episode’s highlight was Minion Training. The vignette featuring Athena putting Billie Starkz & Lexy Nair through the ringer in hopes of making them better Minions not only proved highly entertaining, but actually played into Athena’s title defense as Starkz actually interfered (eventually) like a good Minion. This is shades of Sweet N’ Sour Inc. trying to transform Bobby Dempsey in the best way possible.
Though the main event was very good and a lot of moving parts are allowing some stories to either come together, breathe, or create a foundation for the future, there was still nothing must-see about this episode. With three title matches there were no title changes or someone like Josh Woods stepping up to challenge Shibata again to give viewers a glimpse into the future for a title match (other than the upcoming Six-Man Tag title bout on this week’s AEW “Rampage”, there are no established title contenders for any champion including the TV title where it seems the story of Castle trying to get a shot being thwarted by ROH Board of Director member Stokely Hathaway is either dead or being cooled for no obvious reason).
There were no near-classic encounters. And the excellent aforementioned Minion Training segment can be seen on ROH’s Youtube channel or their social media platforms. With “Final Battle” potentially three months away, there’s no reason why there isn’t a hot feud or two to hold things over to make for compelling viewing before the pay-per-view while setting up matches and rivalries to culminate at ROH’s premier event.
