Last Week: Eddie Kingston pushed back the force of Angelico to retain the Ring of Honor World Championship.
ROH on HonorClub Episode 38
Portland, OR
November 16, 2023
Trent Beretta w/ Orange Cassidy & Kris Statlander vs. Peter Avalon
Peter Avalon showed off the bicep guns after a successful shoulder block. Sadly for him, Trent Beretta not only got up, but also ran through his opponent like Omni-Man in “Mortal Kombat 1” with a shoulder block of his own. Leaping meteora by Trent sent Avalon rolling to the apron. Using the maneuvering to his advantage, Avalon slipped behind Beretta to send Trent both shoulder-first against the steel ring post and putting Trent in position for a dive at ringside. Avalon got distracted by Orange Cassidy’s presence, turned around and feeling a back drop on the floor!
Beretta attempted to follow up with a running attack when hit nothing by the guardrails as Avalon moved. Snap suplex by Avalon in the ring. Stopping a rope-walking arm drag by yanking Avalon off the middle rope, Beretta used the German suplex off a forearm exchange. Another big German flipped Avalon and left him open for the shining wizard. Avalon stopped the pin, avoiding another attack to spring off the top with a cross body block. Avalon couldn’t pin Beretta after the maneuver, going to the top rope for something, Trent met him, looking to hurricarana him to the canvas when Avalon rolled through the pinning combination to use a big piledriver … for a near fall!
A chop exchange broke loss that ended with Avalon feeling Strong Zero and the subsequent three count.
Next week, Beretta gets a shot at the Pure Championship.
Winner: Trent Beretta
Match Review: A better opener than expected as Avalon is nothing more than a low-tier character that always loses. He gave Trent a good fight and the fans got into it. The biggest surprise wasn’t the match’s quality, but the fact one win here provided Trent a Pure title opportunity while Josh Woods has been fighting & winning for months with the intent of wrestling Shibata for the Pure Championship again and still hasn’t earned his opportunity.
– Lexy Nair wanted to get some words from Dalton Castle about his upcoming ROH World Championship match with a rather exuberant “Peacock” stumbling over his words initially. Knowing full well that he’s better than Eddie Kingston due to not only his knowledge of the champ, but also having Reached the mountaintop in the past, the upcoming challenger saw his road to glory coming to fruition no matter what. “What” would actually be a lucky shot that Dalton didn’t see landing. What Dalton did see was a sparkly ladder ready for him to climb during his celebration.
The Outrunners vs. Jacoby Watts & Sebastian Wolf
Grabbing the microphone, Jacoby Watts introduced himself and his partner Sebastian Wolf before The Outrunners attacked their opponents from behind. Wolf got isolated fast, feeling a double team back elbow topped by a double gun show. Double team slam didn’t pay off with a pin by Truth Magnum. Kicking both Outrunners away, Wolf tagged out to a fired-up Watts who pulled off the Jacoby Train on Turbo Floyd. Tagging his partner back in, Watts got pitched to the floor before Wolf was thrown into a double team tilt-a-whirl slam for the pin fall in The Outrunners’ favor.
Winners: The Outrunners
Match Review: Dominant performance by a duo getting over in the same way as The Iron Savages by being over-the-top caricatures of 1980s wrestlers. Will it mean anything for the near future or “Final Battle”? Most likely not.
– Lexy Nair was in the interview zone with Christopher Daniels & Matt Sydal to talk about their upcoming match. Both put over their tenure as grapplers looking to prove themselves every time they enter a ring. Their road leads to another ROH World Tag Team title reign with Daniels telling Lexithey don’t need luck.
Emi Sakura vs. Kel
Big difference in height with Kel having to be chopped down in position for a surfboard. Releasing the submission, Emi Sakura demanded Kel fight back. When Kel did, Sakura raked her eyes. Kel recovered quickly, landing a pump kick to the face topped by an intended running attack in the corner. Emi moved at the last second, chopping a stunned Kel in position for the corner cross body splash. Kel couldn’t stopped Emi from parading her around before executing the butterfly backbreaker. Sakura made the cover, pinning the ROH newcomer.
Winner: Emi Sakura
Match Review: And that makes three matches without any chance of a different winner considering the competitors involved and the second squash match in the row. Like The Outrunners’ match, will Emi’s appearance & win here mean anything in the grand scheme of things? Considering how long it’s been since Emi’s last appearance on ROH programming and no guarantee she’ll be back next week, probably not.
– The Outrunners were hyped about their victory, telling Lexy Nair that they are ready to give the fans more of what they want: The Outrunners and sports gloss.
The Bollywood Boyz vs. The Boys
It was a masked Boy Brandon locking up with Harv before he almost got caught with a roll up. Getting free of Brent’s grip after the latter, setting up a double team back elbow. But the Boyz parading around cost them as Brandon slipped in to help his brother dropkick Gurv. But Harv was able to stop Brandon’s momentum; leading to an attempted double team suplex that allowed Brandon to make the tag. Sadly for Brent, he got grabbed and turned inside-out with the decapitation elbow drop. Saving his brother from a sure pin, Brandon sailed over the top, wiping out Harv prior to Gurv feeling a double team wheelbarrow flapjack. Covering Gurv, The Boys won via pin fall.
Winners: The Boys
Match Review: A good encounter with The Boys winning a low-stakes situation. Maybe a few more wins could earn them a Tag title opportunity on AEW programming because ROH on HonorClub never gets Tag Team Championship matches.
– Tony Khan was here to talk about how a new Television champion would be crowned. As if he read my review of last week’s episode, Khan announced that over the next few episodes there will be Survival of the Fittest qualifying matches with the finale happening at “Final Battle” in a six-way Elimination match. Don’t know if it’s a coincidence or we’re on the same wavelength, but I await my check, TK.
– The Renegades were in the interview zone to state they are in their wheelhouse this week in tag team competition. Maria Kanellis-Bennett arrived to pull The Renegades to the side for a little talk.
ROH Women’s World champion Athena & Billie Starkz vs. Brooke Havok & Johnnie Robbie
Poor Johnnie Robbie got obliterated by an Athena right forearm. Tagging in after her partner felt an Athena power bomb and used a jawbreaker on the legal Billie Starkz, Brooke Havok got the chance of a lifetime by countering Starkz’s slam into a face buster. But Athena clobbered Havok from behind to set up a forearm by Billie. Starkz actually fussed at the referee for intervening in her beat down. Athena tagged herself in, hitting the Despicable Knee and pinning Havok.
But Billie wasn’t done, attacking and locking Robbie in the crossface. Athena joined in on the post-match thrashing.
Winners: Athena & Billie Starkz
Match Review: Another squash featuring an expected outcome. The most important aspect about this match was Billie acting just like Athena. Will this bite Athena in the end?
– Mark Sterling interrupted Ethan Page’s interview with Lexy Nair to declare that Tony Nese’s match last week should be nullified due to Ethan’s interference. Nese stepped up to remind Page is a loser compared to him. Page threw down the gauntlet for a rematch next week that Nese agreed to.
The Renegades vs. Leyla Hirsch & Rachael Ellering
It was Leyla Hirsch finding herself out-muscled by Charlette during the initial collar & elbow tie-up. Hirsch didn’t take kindly to the act, using a few arm drags to set up that pendulum dropkick in the corner for an early near fall. With Rachael Ellering begging for the tag, Leyla obliged to prepare a double team back elbow. Ellering seemed happy about the union as she kept the momentum for her team. Robyn Renegade got the tag behind Ellering’s back. Charlette grabbed the referee, infuriating Rachael. When Ellering backed away, Robyn came flying off Bret’s rope to clothesline Rachael.
Some ground & pound by Robyn allowed The Renegades to not only isolate Rachael, but also double team suplex a stunned Ellering. Using the small package to set up a tag, Rachael allowed the force that is Hirsch to come in so she could take her opponents to Suplex City. Somewhat surprisingly, Hirsch tagged out to hold Charlette for Rachael’s flying back elbow. Robyn came in as the legal competitor, hoisting Rachael up. Charlette reentered with a double team attempt in mind when Ellering sent Robyn into Charlette. Stunned, Robyn was pulled down with a sunset flip by Ellering for the three count.
Maria Kanellis-Bennett arrived to check on Leyla who was removing her right knee brace as if she hurt her knee again and Hirsch needed to be helped from ringside.
Winners: Leyla Hirsch & Rachael Ellering
Match Review: Some interesting choices with this one including The Renegades – an actual championship-level tag team – losing to a first-time duo. The aftermath saw Maria apparently side with Leyla even though it seemed she wanted to work alongside The Renegades (unless she convinced them to take a dive or intentionally injure Hirsch). The match itself was solid and all four had good chemistry that would make for a rather entertaining rematch.
– Athena wanted her Minions to know that they had to step up soon and graduate from being Minions in Training … or be stomped out by the champion.
Marina Shafir vs. Amira
Kicking Amira’s extended hand instead of traditionally following the Code of Honor set the stage for Marina Shafir to hip toss the apparent local favorite into a double wrist lock. Kneeing her way out of the submission, Amira started landing forearms, kicked Shafir back, and utilized a successful cross body block. Blocking an O’Connor roll up, Shafir kicked Amira across the ring. Punching herself, Marina got fired up to use the D’Arce Choke to force her opponent to pass out. The referee had no choice but to stop the match in Marina’s favor.
Winner: Marina Shafir
Match Review: Say it again – another squash that may or may not mean a single thing in the long run due to the infrequent appearances of the winner.
Christopher Daniels & Matt Sydal vs. El Hijo del Vikingo & Komander
Matt Sydal found himself able to not only keep up with El Hijo del Vikingo, but also almost pin him until he got caught in a rolling pinning combination instead. Using the ropes to counter an arm drag, Vikingo almost roundhouse kicked Sydal before the same happened to him; leading to a standoff. Both men tagged out with Komander entering by back-flipping off the ropes by his thighs. Showing off the guns didn’t help Daniels as he felt a dropkick off the head scissors by Komander. The luchadors entered, using a double team where Vikingo used Komander’s back as a springboard to dropkick “The Fallen Angel”.
Vikingo showed he has some heavy hands by chopping the life out of Daniels. Luring Daniels into a double team drop toe hold, the luchadors executed a double 619 for Komander’s standing moonsault press for a two count. Sydal used a poorly placed Irish whip by Komander to tag himself in after stopping Daniels from rebounding off the ropes. Springboard side kick by Sydal stunned Komander and put the masked man on the wrong part of town where he felt an Daniels’ northern lariat into Sydal’s standing moonsault press. Komander kicked out before the three count, hearing the fans booing his opponents and using that energy to fight through the pain including a clothesline that turned him inside-out and Sydal’s slingshot double knee drop. Countering a double team hip toss, Komander used the head scissors to send Sydal flying as Daniels felt an arm drag. Rolling to Vikingo, Komander tagged out.
Vikingo was going wild, almost pinning Sydal off a springboard crucifix driver. Daniels not only stopped a sure pin, but also spiked Vikingo on his head. Komander had to stop a pin as well when Sydal used the Meteora to help Daniels power bomb Vikingo. As the crowd went wild, Komander dove on Sydal at ringside as Vikingo used the super-rana to put Daniels on the mat. Komander walked the top rope, jumping off to shooting star press Daniels. “The Fallen Angel” couldn’t stop Vikingo from frog splashing him for the three count.
Winners: El Hijo del Vikingo & Kommander
Match Review: Now that was fun and more of what this episode needed. The only disappointment is the continued failures of Daniels & Sydal as a team. They keep saying they want to prove themselves as not being over-the-hill, yet always lose even to tandems that aren’t experienced duos. They need to win at least one important match soon if anyone wants to take them seriously as potential winners in any match they’re involved in going forward.
ROH World Championship: Eddie Kingston (c) vs. Dalton Castle w/ The Boys
The champion seemed a little cautious about locking up with the former World titleholder, trying to use a jab to keep Dalton Castle at bay. “The Peacock” slipped in, pushing Eddie Kingston against the ropes for a clean break. When they locked up again, Eddie kept a great grip of the challenger’s wrist for a kimura attempt that ended with Castle reaching the ropes and leaving the ring to regroup. When Castle reentered, he used another clean break when they tumbled into the ropes to utilize a double-leg takedown. Kingston fought his way off the mat, only to get caught with a back elbow into the clothesline.
Rattled, Kingston felt several back-oriented attacks in hopes of setting up a submission. The fans were split as Eddie stopped a suplex attempt and kneed the challenger into a double stomp. Kingston’s momentum was halted as he got cornered and kicked in position for the slingblade bulldog. Once again, “The Peacock” gained no pin, but was able to dropkick & knee Kingston’s head so he fell to ringside before using that flying knee strike off the apron on a staggered champion. Just when it seemed Castle had everything going his way, he ran into a big clothesline. Slipping underneath an approaching Eddie, Castle coming close to winning off a pair of t-bone suplex. Countering the Bang-A-Rang, Eddie connected with the Spinning Back Fist to the Future … for a near fall!
Spinning Back Fist into the half-nelson suplex by Kingston, but Castle refused to stay down. Winding up, Kingston used that Spinning Back Fist to knock out Castle for the three count.
Grabbing the microphone, Eddie said this match was for Brodie Lee.
Winner: Eddie Kingston
Match Review: A strong main event with two people familiar with each other trying to land the biggest blow in the end after Castle’s attempts at grappling & submissions failed. Though the match came out of practically nowhere, it had a big-match feel thanks to the participants involved and the crowd loved it from beginning to end. Good way to end the episode.
– Lexy Nair caught up with the World champion lounging by the interview zone to congratulate him for his victory. Kingston admitted to being tired of seeing World champions stagnating and not elevating their promotions. Declaring himself as a true world champion, Eddie ended the episode with a non-verbalized challenge to every champion in wrestling.
Overall Review: Going over ninety minutes after, for the first time, technical difficulties caused the stream to start almost an hour later than usual, the episode actually flowed rather smoothly even if a majority of the matches didn’t feel necessary especially in correlation to the build toward “Final Battle”. There were three very good matches in this episode including the main and semi-main events alongside the opener, though the latter didn’t have opponents on the same level in terms of importance and believability for victory. The Renegades’ match was good as well even if it didn’t make much sense that they lost being an actual team with some longevity. And The Boys’ win came from a rather even clash even if the match itself was just there. The rest of the episode was just squashes and featured winning talent that may or may not be around next week, let alone “Final Battle”.
In regards to ROH’s biggest event of the year, there’s a chance the Television Championship could take center stage coinciding with Tony Khan’s announcement of a new champion being crowned via the returning Survival of the Fittest tournament. Hey, maybe TK is reading these reviews and got a little inspiration. It’ll be interesting to see who gets in the tournament and, hopefully, it’s not like the previous tournament qualifying matches both in AEW and ROH where there’s an obvious discrepancy in star power.
On the opposite end, there are a lot of questions leading to both next week’s episode and, potentially, “Final Battle”. Trent gets a Pure title shot after one singles victory while Josh Woods – who has been wrestling & winning for the sole purpose of challenging Shibata for his title again – is lapped. Nese-Page II happens next week and may blow-off their feud before “Final Battle” – a show that could benefit from a grudge match featuring a stipulation like Nese winning would mean Page has to hire Nese as his personal trainer for a month or “The Premier Athlete” having to eat fifty hotdogs if he lost. No harm in a little sports entertainment in the realm of Honor especially off a great match with some build.
One of the most interesting character moments happened this week with Billie Starkz turning into a mini-Athena and the champ challenging her Minions to step it up as her proteges. Could Athena be setting herself up for destruction at her own student’s hands? And then there’s the on-going saga with Maria and Leyla Hirsch that could mean anything for the future or nothing at all.
Similar to the most recent episodes beforehand, very little here pushed forward the build and anticipation for “Final Battle”. There’s a guaranteed new TV champion to be crowned at the event, but no other champion has a probable contender other than Shibata or Trent in the form of Woods (and Athena, potentially, considering Thunder Rosa challenged her on social media and Billie Starkz could turn on her mentor to “graduate”). There hasn’t been a trios match on ROH programming since the Six-Man title changed hands, and don’t even think about mentioning the ROH World Tag Team title alongside anything HonorClub. Even though it’s not essentially a pay-per-view in the traditional sense anymore, there needs to be a reason to make this show feel important beyond just titles being defended against both international and AEW talent unlike “Death Before Dishonor” this past summer.
