Last Week: In what would become their final successful defense before losing to The Hung Bucks on AEW’s “Rampage”, ROH World Six-Man Tag Team champions The Mogul Embassy overcame The Infantry & Willie Mack after both Katsuyori Shibata and Athena retained the Pure Championship and Women’s World title respectively against Nick Wayne and Angelina Love.
ROH on HonorClub Episode 31
Grand Rapids, Michigan
September 28, 2023
Josh Woods w/ Mark Sterling vs. Brayden Irving
Poor newcomer Brayden Irving got overwhelmed when initially tying up with the former Pure champion, having to elbow his way out of the corner after taking a series of knees to the abdomen. Sadly for Irving, he ran into a big German suplex topped by a knee strike on his kneeling body. The Tilt-A-Woods suplex against the turnbuckles put Irving down for the three count.
Winner: Josh Woods
Match Review: Woods gets another win, even if the competition was less than someone like previous ROH champions Silas Young and John Walters. It’s still odd that the whole point of Josh’s new attitude and winning streak is to get another shot at the Pure title. So why wasn’t this a Pure Rules match?
– Prince Nana and The Mogul Embassy were in the interview zone with Lexy Nair getting talked down to by Nana himself after she asked him if his clients could get back on track. Nana didn’t take kindly to her questions, promising to get back in the winning column.
Scorpio Sky vs. Tony Nese w/ Mark Sterling
As per the norm, Tony Nese tried to get the crowd involved in some group training; only for the former ROH World Tag Team champion Scorpio Sky to make his ROH return by interrupting him.
Pearl Harbor job by Tony Nese, only for his opposition to clothesline him to the floor. Using another sneak attack after a distraction from Mark Sterling. Yet, Nese’s nefarious means resulted in his client being knocked to the floor again. Sky followed, getting tied in the ring apron for a dropkick after Sterling performed another distraction.
The fans were all over Nese as he put Sky in the tree of woe for those rowboat kicks to Scorpio’s abdomen. Big knife-edge chops from Sky got the crowd behind him; only for Nese to cut off his momentum with the Macho hotshot. From the neck to his opponent’s torso, “The Premier Athlete” was squeezing all the oxygen out of Scorpio. Forearming his way out of the body scissors, Sky pulled off a belly-to-back suplex of his own to reset the neutral position.
Big clothesline from Sky turned Nese inside-out. Scorpio’s Sky High power bomb didn’t put Nese down for the three count. Nese got up swinging for the fences, landing an uppercut as Sky climbed the ropes. Sky blocked whatever Nese had in mind, coming off the top with a sunset flip that Tony turned into a running knee strike on his seated opponent. Sky refused to stay down even after taking a double stomp. Sky got underneath his opponent, executing the TKO for the pin and a big ovation.
Winner: Scorpio Sky
Match Review: Very good encounter as expected considering the talent involved. Sky looked like a star mostly thanks to the hot crowd into everything he did and Nese being the perfect foil. It would be nice to see these two in an actual feud instead of both just moving on to the next opponent as they and the product both could benefit from further interactions in the ring and via interviews.
Gravity vs. Lee Johnson
The fans were behind Gravity as he locked up with a very game Lee Johnson with the latter proving just that by countering the luchador’s holds & wrist locks. The pace hastened with Lee almost winning off the cradle before mocking Gravity’s slow-motion walk. Countering a corner attack with an arm drag, Lee almost got pinned before feeling a big dropkick when he tried to repel off the ropes. Lee started pulling a Nese by doing push-ups to insult his opposition. Jawbreaker by Gravity to stop the rear chin lock. Knocking Lee to the floor, Gravity performed a double jump plancha.
Big arm drag off the top by Gravity when the action returned inside the ring, giving the luchador the momentum needed to power slam his opponent in position for a standing moonsault press. Lee didn’t want Gravity to climb the ropes, looking for another suplex. Gravity countered the maneuver, only to feel the blue thunder bomb … for a near fall!
A pair of thrust kicks from Lee before Gravity responded in kind to put him in position for the big splash. Gravity held Lee down for those precious three seconds.
Winner: Gravity
Match Review: A solid back-and-forth encounter with Lee wisely leaning into a more villainous role once the fans voiced their support for Gravity. Gravity has grown a lot as a wrestler since debuting in ROH and Lee may fit better as a heel than his rather bland babyface persona used now (maybe joining Maria’s crew).
– Lexy Nair stood with The Outrunners to get their thoughts on their opponents for the evening: Darius Martin & Action Andretti. Turbo Floyd & Truth Magnum cut what can only be described as a 1980s coke promo. Of course they promised to run through the would-be future Tag Team champions.
Billie Starkz w/ Athena vs. Lady Frost
After doing a good job of knocking Lady Frost out of the ring, Billie Starkz found herself being told by the ROH Women’s champion to pitch her opponent against the steel ring steps. Going around & around, Starkz tossed Frost back into the ring while Athena reprimanded her for not following orders. When Billie tried to be a good Minion by staying on her opponent, Starkz got kicked in the face. Frost stayed atop Billie, kicking and insultingly slapping Starkz as Athena yelled at Billie to do something. The crowd tried to get Starkz back in this fight, only for her to take a dropkick to the back after Lady used her opponent’s back as a post to cartwheel.
Stopping an Irish whip across the ring, Starkz unleashed a big forearm topped by the ripcord roundhouse back kick into the Death Valley driver. Frost stopped a pin fall, using another cartwheel to pull Billie into an Air Raid Crash. Billie was in prime position for the moonsault … that gave Frost a near fall as Athena rolled into the ring as Starkz kicked out!
The sight of Athena leaving the ring left Frost open to be drilled with a modified Pedigree with Billie not hooking her opponent’s arms as the setup for the drop. Making the cover, the pin fall was elementary for Starkz.
As per the norm, Athena attacked a fallen foe after the match. Beating Frost around ringside, Billie begged Athena to stop. The fans, however, wanted Athena to do something violent. Forgetting about Frost, Athena ran up on Billie to remind her who is the teacher between the two. Starkz was nearly in tears from the verbal abuse, but she left with the champ.
Winner: Billie Starkz
Match Review: Though a competitive encounter that turned out quite good, the real story was the interactions between Athena and Billie. The post-match stuff really added a layer of emotion to their relationship where the fans obviously wanted to see Billie stop Athena from insulting her even if they love Athena as she is right now. Easily the best story (and really the only significant one) going right now in ROH.
– Allysin Kay explained in interview zone with Lexy Nair that she’s on a losing streak and about to face a big name in ROH: Mercedes Martinez. Though she’s out-experienced, Kay promised to prove why she deserves to be in title contention by besting her old rival.
Action Andretti & Darius Martin vs. The Outrunners
Truth Magnum found himself being outmaneuvered by Action Andretti early. Quick tags between Andretti & Darius Martin until Magnum made it to Turbo Floyd. Using a shoulder block, Turbo was able to turn the momentum in his favor until a double team dropkick put both Outrunners to the floor. Stopping stereo dives, The Outrunners dropped Martin on the floor before slinging a jumping Action against the ring’s edge.
Action found himself on the wrong part of town, taking a twisting suplex by Turbo before The Outrunners called for Total Recall. Action used the enzuguri to stop the double team; tagging out to his partner. On fire, Martin was zipping around the ring while using the ropes to knock his opponents backward. Asai moonsault by Action to wipe out Turbo at ringside before Action used the dropkick to knock Truth into Martin’s German suplex. Before Magnum could recover, he got dropped by that double team cyclone slam where Martin was able to fold Truth for the pin.
Winners: Action Andretti & Darius Martin
Match Review: A solid bout, but Andretti & Martin are spinning their wheels for no reason other than the ROH World Tag Team champions never defend their title outside of ROH PPVs or AEW programming.
– Cole Karter and Maria Kanellis-Bennett interrupted Griff Garrison’s interview, only for Griff to make a plea to stay as a team. But Griff wants to do things the right way. Maria and Cole apparently agreed as they fight together later tonight.
Leyla Hirsch vs. Laynie Luck
A very jubilant Laynie Luck found herself having to avoid the waist lock, landing a running big boot into the suplex. Instead of going for a pin after the attack, Luck did a dance that resulted in her getting dropped on her head via a suplex. Blowing a kiss at Maria – who was standing at the top of the entrance ramp – Leyla locked in the cross arm bar for a submission.
Looking at the camera, Leyla staked her claim at a shot at Athena after going 11-0.
Winner: Leyla Hirsch
Match Review: A squash is a squash, but it seems there is finally an end game to Hirsch’s winning streak. Hopefully she doesn’t fall down the card or disappear after losing (if she does lose) like every other would-be champion who came up short against Athena.
– Mercedes Martinez promised tonight it would be pinkies down when she puts Allysin Kay in her place.
Shane Taylor w/ Lee Moriarty vs. Jimmy Jacobs
Shoving the returning Jimmy Jacobs into the corner, Shane Taylor found himself getting blinded by the former Tag Team champion’s ring jacket. Turning the momentum around almost immediately, Taylor cornered Jacobs. So Jimmy bit his way out of a bad situation before avoiding the charging Taylor. Shane fell to the floor, catching Jimmy flying. But Jacobs wanted to be caught as he cinched in the guillotine choke. Taylor suplexed his way out of the submission to slam Jacobs on the thinly-padded floor.
In the ring, Taylor continued the pressure by slinging Jacobs across the ring before using the head-butt to stop any intention of Jacobs making a comeback. Somehow, Jacobs survived the running splash, punching his way off the mat. Exploding from his horizontal position, Jacobs knocked Taylor into the corner for that swinging snap suplex for a two count.
A left hook from Taylor to break free of Jacobs’ grip allowed him to clothesline Jimmy for a two count of his own. Avoiding the running knee strike, Jacobs’ satellite head scissors put Taylor in position for the springboard ace crusher. Taylor blocked the maneuver, using Welcome to the Land to end Jimmy’s return in unceremonious fashion via a pin fall loss.
Winner: Shane Taylor
Match Review: The beginning of this new era of Shane Taylor Promotions is off to a strong start thanks to Moriarty and Taylor picking up wins in back-to-back episodes. Jimmy Jacobs donning the tiara once again for a really good TV match was a treat. Wouldn’t mind seeing him wrestle again and maybe even start teaming with ROH veterans Christopher Daniels & Matt Sydal for either a run at the Six-Man title or something a little more creative.
– Maria Kanellis-Bennett found her interview with Lexy Nair getting interrupted by Leyla Hirsch as the latter needed to know why she keeps sticking her nose in Hirsch’s business. Wanting to emphasize her need for better competition, Hirsch asked the Board of Directors to do what Maria hasn’t for her career: give her a title shot. Maria sarcastically wished her luck.
Dalton Castle & The Boys vs. Ren Jones, Xavier Walker & Trenton Tormenta
Ren Jones had no fear facing off with the former ROH World champion, only for Dalton Castle to pick him up & put him down with ease before tagging in Boy Brent. The Boys set up a double team dropkick on Jones; resulting in a two count. Sadly for Brent, Ren rushed him backward for an attack that saw Brent getting the life stomped out of him by Jones and the legal Xavier Walker. Flipping out of a Walker suplex, Brent tagged out to Castle.
Castle was on fire, knocking everyone down before splashing a downed Walker. “The Peacock” got tossed out of the ring as The Boys used Ren’s momentum against him to pull of a double team ace crusher. Castle ran in, catching Walker as he rushed The Boys. Bang-a-Rang to Walker ended this one with Castle pinning Xavier.
Winners: Dalton Castle & The Boys
Match Review: A serviceable showcase for the former two-time Six-Man Tag champs, but the question remains: Is Dalton still gunning for the ROH TV title? He hasn’t mentioned anything about it since his strange promo a few weeks ago and Stokely Hathaway doesn’t even exist on ROH programming anymore alongside the champ himself, Samoa Joe.
The Infantry w/ Trish Adora vs. Griff Garrison & Cole Karter w/ Maria Kanellis-Bennett
A very tame, though honorable exchange between Carlie Bravo and Griff Garrison until Carlie felt a hip toss-big boot combo. Tagging in his partner, Griff left Karter to put the boots to Bravo. Avoiding a clothesline, Brave landed a flying back elbow. Big elbow drop by Shawn Dean off the senton splash by Carlie Bravo to keep an isolated Karter grounded. Getting predictable with flying double ax handles off the tags cost Carlie as he jumped into a stiff right hand to the abdomen. Griff Garrison joined his partner to double team suplex Bravo before becoming the legal man.
Like their opponents did to Karter, Cole & Griff put Bravo on the wrong part of town. Bravo felt Karter’s very impressive dropkick the left him draped across the bottom rope. Maria wanted Griff to cheap shot Bravo, but he refused to be dishonorable. This lack of tag team cohesion cost Karter & Garrison as Cole tried to convince his partner to do something he didn’t want to before feeling a big right hand from Carlie.
Bravo tagged out to a fired-up Dean to pulled off that float-over DDT on Cole before executing a cross body block that almost ended this one if not for Griff breaking up the pin. Disposing of Garrison, The Infantry called for Boot Camp after using a pair of forearms on a kneeling Cole. Maria jumped onto the apron to distract the referee from counting down Cole after he felt Boot Camp. Shawn called for Trish Adora to take care of Maria, only for Dean to get cradled by Karter. Holding a fistful of tights and throwing his legs across the middle rope, Karter pinned Shawn in something of an upset.
Winners: Griff Garrison & Cole Karter
Match Review: Very interesting turn of events to conclude a fine tag encounter. Griff did everything in his power to win on talent alone, but it was through cheating that his team won. Like Sky-Nese, hopefully there is a rematch or more in the future between the two teams as they gelled very well with the time they had while also putting over the odd couple story between like-minded Karter & Maria and Griff.
– Big plans were in the mind of Ethan Page as he was in the interview zone with Lexy Nair. Rohit Raju interrupted the interview, angering Page as he promised to whoop his old friend before leaving the scene. Raju was pleased Page was coming in angry because it would mean the undefeated competitor would make some key mistakes.
Mercedes Martinez w/ Diamante vs. Allysin Kay
Mocking Allysin Kay’s patented poses following the Code of Honor, Mercedes Martinez actually muscled her opponent toward the ropes where Diamante tried to trip Kay. Allysin left the ring to give chase, avoiding a sneak attack by Martinez to drop her on the floor. Big spinning suplex by Kay when she followed Martinez into the ring; leading to a set up for the running face wash. Martinez left the ring to avoid the attack, getting some help from Diamante to hold Kay in place for an attack off the apron when Allysin attempted to follow her opponent out of the ring.
The former ROH World champ was in complete control while using the referee’s attention against him & Allysin so Diamante could land some illegal strikes & chokes. Running face wash by Martinez set up a suplex attempt. Instead, Martinez took a German suplex. Kicking Diamante off the apron, Kay prepared for something in the corner that Mercedes avoided. Landing a thrust kick to her opponent’s face, Mercedes knocked Kay to the floor for Diamante’s wheelbarrow ace crusher. Diamante shoved Kay back in for Martinez’s Brain Buster. Mercedes made the cover to pin a very tough opponent.
Winner: Mercedes Martinez
Match Review: AEW and, by proxy, ROH referees get a lot of flack for not being competent or enforcing the rules. This match proved those who complain about referee incompetence right as the ref visibly saw Diamante interfere multiple times and didn’t do a thing. This hurt the match’s overall enjoyment even if it was a solid encounter. It also seems weird right now all of Athena’s potential title contenders are on the villainous side of things.
– In the interview zone was none other than the Minion in Training with Lexy Nair noting Athena actually helped Billie win tonight. Athena arrived and tried to remind Starkz what needs to be done to stop any hussy from stepping up. To show Billie how it’s done, Athena will defend her title against Leyla Hirsch next week.
The Iron Savages w/ Jacked Jameson vs. The Iron Savages w/ Jacked Jameson
Jacked Jameson arrived alongside The Iron Savages to introduce himself and his boys while reminding everyone that they are sipping the Savage Sauce.
Kaun mauled Bronson at the bell, only for Bronson to recover and suplex Kaun across the ring where Toa Liona tagged himself in. Boulder replaced his partner as the legal man, leading to multiple collisions between the immovable object and the irresistible force. Stopping a fireman’s carry, Toa got pitched to the floor. Boulder wanted to dive, but Kaun slung his own partner into his flying opponent. Bronson followed his partner’s lead, only to get caught and double team slammed on the entrance ramp.
Bronson found himself being torn apart by himself as Boulder sipped the sauce in hopes of recovering quickly. Sending his opponents into one another, Bronson tagged out so Boulder could give Toa the World Strongest Slam. The straps were down as Bronson cam down with the big splash after tagging in. Bronson signaled for the moonsault when Kan ran in to push Boulder off his perch. After knocking Kaun down, Bronson called for the Savage Sauce. Prince Nana looked to steal the sauce, only for Toa to tackle Jameson. In the ring, The GoA Opened the Gates to finish of Bronson via pin fall.
Winners: The Gates of Agony
Match Review: More … we need more as these two big beefy teams were slapping all types of meat. The GoA get back to winning (though, in two-on-two competition they are undefeated in ROH and should be in line for a Tag title shot) and The Iron Savages looked like a threat for being able to match their opponents’ size & strength. Once again, this a potential feud that needs to happen so rematches occur.
Ethan Page vs. Rohit Raju
Code of Honor followed by a sneaky kick to his opponent’s stomach by Rohit Raju. Blocking an Irish whip, Page went for the Ego’s Edge early. Raju countered the maneuver, only to feel a big clothesline. Showing great strength, Page pulled off a delayed vertical suplex even though Raju was swinging his legs. Using a quick strike combo didn’t help Raju as he got caught in that Regalplex sidewalk slam. Ego’s Edge set up again failed as Raju pulled off a spinning neck breaker. Running kicks by Raju was topped by a counter running big boot. Ace Crusher by Page put Raju’s shoulders down for those precious three seconds.
Winner: Ethan Page
Match Review: Another solid win for Ethan Page with the commentators mentioning Eddie Kingston would love to defend his ROH World title against him in the future. Like Hirsch, hopefully this doesn’t mean Page’s momentum gets halted or he vanishes from ROH programming if he loses as he’s been great for the product thus far. Also, Raju is a solid wrestler with a great personality – someone who should be around more.
Brian Cage w/ Prince Nana vs. Metalik
The luchador did a great job avoiding the opening attacks of Brian Cage, even turning a failed cross body block into a head scissors. Cage left the ring, catching a flying Metalik to power bomb him against the steel ring post. As expected after the power bomb, Cage dominated Metalik with simple strikes and stomps until he pulled off a German suplex that sent Metalik halfway across the ring. Motioning for Metalik to rise, Cage ran into a dropkick. Prince Nana informed his client when Metalik was coming. Cage used the clothesline to counter a 619 attempt before performing his own version of the 619.
Cage’s dead-lift superplex was turned into another head scissors. “The King of the Ropes” was moving in types of directions to set up a dropkick in the ring and a cross body block off the top at ringside to stop a fleeing former Six-Man champion. Springboard splash connected for Metalik, but didn’t put “The Machine” away. Metalik had a monkey flip in mind when Cage blocked the attack. Unfortunately for Cage, Metalik was still on the ropes and able to counter his next attack with a Code Red … to earn a near fall!
Metalik walked the top rope for a Swanton Bomb, but hit nothing but Cage’s elevated knees. Metalik recovered, looking for a roll-through DDT. Cage stopped the motion, executing a modified Michinoku driver for the three count.
Winner: Brian Cage
Match Review: A solid main event that, beyond Cage remaining undefeated in ROH singles competition, had little, to no real story that made it worthy of a main event slot even if the match itself was good. Like his partners, maybe Cage will get a title shot that has nothing to do with Six-Man competition (Cage-Kingston or Cage-Joe sounds fun).
Overall Review: Another episode that was slightly hindered by the show’s longevity (going over two hours), but better paced and actually featured some character & story developments. From an in-ring perspective, there were several enjoyable bouts including Taylor-Jacobs, The GoA-The Iron Savages, Garrison & Karter-The Infantry, Gravity-Johnson, Cage-Metalik, and, arguably, the Match of the Night of Sky-Nese mostly thanks to the fiery crowd who helped elevate the latter’s enjoyment.
There was so much groundwork potentially laid with several bouts including a beefy rivalry between The GoA and The Iron Savages, Lee Johnson working as a heel (him joining Maria’s crew or even replacing Griff if he doesn’t work out with Cole), Leyla, Martinez & Woods looking for title shots (Leyla actually getting her shot next week), and even Brian Cage becoming a title contender for either the ROH TV or World Championships. And if Jimmy Jacobs sticks around as a wrestler, a veteran coalition of himself, Christopher Daniels & Matt Sydal to prove they aren’t over the hill would be fun to see. The answer to the question of whether if all or any of those aforementioned stories or rivalries will come into fruition is anyone’s guess.
On the narrative front, Billie Starkz’s interactions with Athena are still the most important & impressive things about each episode. Athena’s won over every crowd she’s been in front of lately, but the moment she verbally laid into Billie in the ring, the audience went cold in the best way possible due to how uncomfortable the moment was; wanting Billie to stand up for herself.
Ethan Page is obviously on the road to a title shot and, hopefully, if he comes up short he doesn’t disappear from ROH programming immediately after like so many other would-be champions. And then there’s the odd couple story with Griff doing his best to show Maria & Cole they can win without cheating, only for Karter & “The First Lady” to cheat and win. Will Griff get on board or will this philosophy disagreement prove this young team’s undoing before they get off the figurative ground?
On the opposite end of the storytelling spectrum is things like Dalton Castle apparently abandoning his quest to become the TV champion, Woods not demanding all his matches are Pure Rules to emphasize the only thing he wants is to be the Pure champion (not to mention the whole thing about Sterling letting him do his own thing, but Sterling comes to the ring with Woods for every match), Action Andretti & Darius Martin spinning their wheels by not getting a Tag title opportunity after winning so much, and the ROH Board of Directors pretty much existing in name only now.
Once again, there are a lot of narrative pieces floating around that may or may not get the time and energy deserved (if they come together at all). There are also a lot of possibilities for something greater for a bunch of names seen in just this episode. The action itself this week was, arguably, one of the better showings in quite a while even if the episode’s run time was a little too long. With October almost here, hopefully a genuine focus to create some emotionally gripping storylines to complement the action this talented roster can provide leading into, hopefully, the “Final Battle” pay-per-view in December.
