Last Week: Ronda Rousey made her Ring of Honor debut, successfully teaming with Marina Shafir against the ROH Women’s World champion Athena and her Minion Billie Starkz.
ROH on HonorClub Episode 40
Chicago, IL
December 1, 2023
– The ROH Women’s World champion Athena was confused over how Billie Starkz continues to lose in tag team competition. Instead of being upset over her Minion failing last week, Athena declared that Starkz has a chance of rectifying a wrong by defeating “The Problem” Marina Shafir tonight. Turning her focus to Eddie Kingston of all people, Athena warned the ROH World champion that he’d get back fisted to the future if he continued disrespecting the champion who has been carrying the brand. Lexy Nair played hype woman during Athena’s promo in fine fashion.
Proving Ground Match: ROH World champion Eddie Kingston vs. Lee Johnson
Lee Johnson apparently earned this opportunity for a title opportunity by defeating Fred Rosser last week in a Four Corner Survival match. The fans were solidly behind the champ as he followed the Code of Honor. A grappling exchange in the early going saw the would-be challenger outmaneuvering Eddie Kingston. The pace quickened with Johnson landing a big dropkick that set up the front face lock off a failed pin attempt. Eddie seemed a little confused about what to do, waiting for Johnson to come after him by catching him with the overhead belly-to-belly suplex. Flipping out of an Irish whip attempt, Lee executed a DDT that reset this match.
Dustin Rhodes-like power slam by Lee almost ended this one and left Kingston woozy. Blocking a follow-up suplex attempt, Kingston Saito suplexed Lee for a two count. Lee avoided the Back Fist to the Future, springing off the middle rope to back flip into a neck breaker on Eddie. Johnson hastily went to the top, landing the frog splash … for a near fall!
Kingston felt a blue thunder bomb almost immediately after, kicking out before the three count again. Blocking the suplex yet again, Kingston countered with a half-nelson suplex. Lee stumbled to his feet, getting knocked out by the Back Fist to the Future. Kingston made the cover, picking up the pin fall.
Winner: Eddie Kingston
Match Review: A fine showcase for Lee and his talents as he pushed the champ. Sadly, the end result was the same as every Proving Ground Match we’ve seen in ROH since the brand relaunched. And, yet again, there isn’t a clear sign of title contender for Kingston for “Final Battle”. (We are, sadly, not getting champ versus champ: Kingston vs. Athena)
The Boys vs. The Infantry
It was Carlie Bravo looking to embarrass Boy Brent, only for the former Six-Man champion to arm drag him across the ring. Quick tags by The Boys kept Bravo going in every wrong direction until Boy Brent pulled him into the lung blower. Missed tag by Brent as Brandon had his Irish whip reversed caused Shawn Dean to get the tag after his partner got a waist lock deep. But the power of the arm drag helped Brandon just like his brother. Dean found himself on the wrong part of town, elbowing Brandon backward until Bravo could tag in so The Infantry could set up a double team sequence that ended with Bravo hitting a spiral belly-to-back suplex as Dean dove through the ropes to wipe out Brent at ringside.
Some face washing by Bravo allowed The Infantry to keep things simple while isolating Brandon. But the double team set ups cost The Infantry as Brandon flipped to his corner for a tag. Brent was on fire with his intended double team failing due to Brandon being unable to get up. The Infantry took advantage of the numbers, cornering Brent before yanking him into Boot Camp. Making the cover on Brent, The Infantry picked up a big win as the commentators questioned about the status of ROH World Tag Team Championship.
Winners: The Infantry
Match Review: A solid, somewhat unusual fan favorite-fan favorite bout with The Infantry using the disabling of Boy Brandon to their advantage to win. The fact even the commentators are reflecting on the uncertainty of ROH’s World Tag Team title is distressing to state the least.
– Rachael Ellering were in the interview zone with Lexy Nair to give an update on Leyla Hirsch after the thrashing at the hands of The Renegades. Maria Kanellis-Bennett arrived to confirmed Hirsch was doing well. So Rachael wanted to know what Maria was doing talking with The Renegades a couple of weeks ago. Hirsch arrived with a similar question. Maria stated she was just introducing herself to them, but promised to be in Leyla’s corner tonight. Ellering also declared she’d be backing Leyla.
Trish Adora vs. Emi Sakura
After initially avoiding the collar & elbow tie-up, Emi Sakura attempted a shoulder block exchange that didn’t end well for her. What did help Emi was pulling off a drop toe hold that sent Trish Adora throat-first against the middle rope. Sakura’s surfboard didn’t end this one via submission, so Emi started playing with her opponent’s hair. Big mistake, Emi.
Adora got up and started whipping Emi around until she pulled off the Bubba Bomb. Sakura countered the standing stretch muffler, only to get into a knife-edge chop exchange. Instead of chopping, Adora hit the bicycle kick to earn a two count. Sakura blocked the Lariat Tubman, just taking a lariat. Sakura avoided the subsequent German suplex, elbowing Trish into a lariat of her own. Adora stopped the pin, only to be driven against the canvas after that butterfly back breaker. Sakura jumped on top of Adora for the pin fall.
Winner: Emi Sakura
Match Review: A disappointingly short encounter with Sakura picking up another win while Adora continuously loses. There was so much promise when the brand restarted with Adora getting the spotlight she seemed destined for before ROH’s hiatus two years ago.
Leyla Hirsch w/ Rachael Ellering & Maria Kanellis-Bennett vs. Heather Reckless
Leyla Hirsch felt so proud about being taller than her opponent. What made Hirsch even producer was the ability to shoulder block Heather Reckless in position for a suplex. Another suplex after some clubbing forearms to the chest set up the delayed vertical suplex where Hirsch didn’t drop alongside her falling opponent. Reckless popped off the mat to stop a running knee strike, only to get caught in the cross arm bar for the submission in Hirsch’s favor.
Hirsch had no love for either Ellering or Maria as she left without shaking either woman’s hand.
Winner: Leyla Hirsch
Match Review: A typical Leyla squash that she should be past now with the story of her either trying to determine whether or not she needs allies or not has no end in sight.
Willie Mack vs. Robert Anthony
Showing his grappling acumen being as great as his agility, Willie Mack’s early advantage came thanks to a nice hurricarana-dropkick combo. But Mack found himself getting caught with an elbow topped by several more. Ducking a clothesline off the Irish whip, Mack exploded off the ropes to shoulder tackle Robert Anthony in position for a slam. Kicking his incoming opponent away, Robert jumped off Bret’s rope for a cross body block. Mack caught a flying Anthony to Liger Bomb him for the three count.
Winner: Willie Mack
Match Review: Mack finally wins a match even if it’s against a “no name”. The match was just there to finally give Willie a win and was too short to leave a lasting impression.
Billie Starkz vs. Marina Shafir
Though she followed the Code of Honor, Billie Starkz struck first off the handshake before leaving immediately to avoid retaliation. Starkz didn’t feel she was warmed up enough for this, cradling Marina Shafir when she reentered. Feigning a running attack cost Billie as she got hip struck. Avoiding a kick and sending Marina to the floor, Starkz clawed at her opponent’s face to send her against the barricades. Suplex on the floor folded up Marina at ringside. Marina played possum, waiting for Billie to climb the ropes before whipping her down. Starkz used the top rope on her way down to rebound and kick Shafir into a German suplex to earn a two count.
Mockingly kicking Marina in the face, the kicks got more aggressive until she landed a forearm to prevent Shafir from fighting back. Shafir used a single-leg trip to set up the running knee strike. Starkz survived the strike, landing a roundhouse back kick that Shafir took and one-upped by pulling off a STO. Holding onto each other’s left wrist, they were trading forearms until “The Problem” swept Billie into a kick to her back. Billie was tied up prone to pinning combinations alongside a submission.
Kicking her way to freedom, Starkz sent Marina to the floor for a dive where she landed on her left leg. The injury caused Billie to move slower than usual, allowing Marina to counter the Swanton by getting her knees up. Big slam from Shafir ended with a two count in Marina’s favor. Whatever Shafir had planned as a follow-up ended with Billie countered with the Gory Bomb into the Swanton Bomb … for a near fall!
Billie had Starkz Fall in mind, but Shafir wasn’t coming up. Letting go of her waist lock, Billie unleashed a roundhouse kick into Starkz Fall for the pin fall.
Bicycle kick from Billie on a leaving Shafir allowed Starkz to unceremoniously usher Marina out of the ring. Athena’s music hit with Lexy Nair dressed in a graduation gown. Handing Starkz her own gown, Nair joined her fellow Minion as Athena grabbed the microphone to put over the purpose of raising good Minions. Athena wanted present the MIT Valedictorian a “Minion Number Bestie” shirt: Lexy Nair!
The fans were not pleased with the result, booing both Athena and Lexy when the latter tried to thank her mother and her Minion buddy Billie. Athena concluded the ceremony by wishing Lexy all the best in her future endeavors. Starkz quickly grabbed Athena to demand her time to shine. Athena didn’t take kindly to Starkz laying her hands on her; ordering Billie to leave. When they made it to the ramp together, Starkz slung Athena against the steel barricades!
Grabbing the Women’s World Championship, Billie declared she’s going to take everything from Athena. When the camera refocused on the champ, Athena was actually smiling over the turn of events.
Winner: Billie Starkz
Match Review: Wow! This should’ve closed the show. First off the match itself had all the tropes of a modern-day big bout with some harrowing near falls and Marina having, arguably, her best match not just during her tenures in ROH & AEW, but also her entire televised career. Then the post-match graduation happened and it produced the most heated segment ROH on HonorClub has seen thus far. Billie standing up for herself got the perfect response and if this was the show-closing segment it would’ve made the episode landmark in nature.
Survival of the Fittest Tournament Qualifier: Dalton Castle w/ The Boys vs. Evil Uno
The winner of this one will join five others at “Final Battle” to fight to become the new ROH World Television champion in a six-way Elimination match.
“The Peacock” threatened to rip Evil Uno’s arm off, getting ahead of himself in the process by missing a clothesline after the arm wringer failed. They were trading missed clotheslines in the corner until Uno landed a chop that sent Dalton to the floor where Castle needed to be fanned down. Demanding a knife-edge chop, Uno left himself open for an ankle pick. Evil quickly recovered, sending his opponent to the floor where The Boys grabbed their mentor to pitch him back in where Castle was able to clothesline Uno in position for a pair of short splashes. Uno rolled out of the ring, luring Castle into a knock back against the ring’s edge and the steel ring steps.
Uno was getting into himself as he dominated the former Television champion out & in the ring. Uno wanted to do a double team with the referee, but she wasn’t having it. So Uno just suplexed Castle into a pair of clotheslines. Castle ended up on the entrance ramp after leaving the ring for some air again. Uno followed, shoving The Boys into each other. When Uno reentered the ring to celebrate, Castle threw him overhead not once, but three times to set up the Sand-patch Bulldog. Reversing a slam, Uno got hit with the ripcord back elbow. Bouncing Uno off the ropes allowed Castled to execute the Bang-A-Rang for the pin fall.
Winner: Dalton Castle
Match Review: A good encounter with Uno turning up the evil alongside his opponent’s antics getting the fans behind him. Castle is finally back in the TV title picture and ROH is better for it with him actually having a goal.
– Still in her graduation robe, Lexy Nair introduced Tony Khan who was confronted by Billie Starkz. Stating how she’s won so much that she’s ready for the champ, Billie Starkz wanted her title shot. Khan made it official for “Final Battle”. Guess no Kingston-Athena match, then.
Colt Cabana & Brandon Cutler vs. GPA & Trevor Outlaw
GPA didn’t like Colt Cabana using his hands to clap alongside the fans chanting for “Boom Boom”. Blind tag by Brandon Cutler allowed them to double team hip toss GPA in position for a falling elbow drop by Brandon into Colt’s plank splash. Trevor Outlaw stopped his partner from rebounding off the Irish whip, setting up a jawbreaker sequence that resulted in quick tags by GP and Trevor. Colt tried to get his partner motivated to fight through this situation. Throwing the invisible rope, Colt almost got his partner to the corner. Cutler did recover during the antics, kicking his way to a tag.
Colt was able to send the opponents into one another before giving GPA a Bionic Elbow. Flying Apple by Colt on Outlaw set up Cutler’s assisted broncho buster. Double team spine buster on Outlaw allowed Colt & Brandon to earn the pin fall victory.
Winners: Colt Cabana & Brandon Cutler
Match Review: That was a match. Will this mean anything for “Final Battle” or the Tag Team division? Most likely not and wasn’t necessary for this episode already going long.
Survival of the Fittest Tournament Qualifier: Komander vs. Gringo Loco
As expected, the action started off incredibly fast with Gringo Loco actually flipping out of the deja vu head scissors to almost knock Komander down. Instead, Loco was monkey flipped from the ring’s confines. When Komander went to dive, Loco caught him to kick the masked man and send him against the steel ring post. Komander seemed a little loopy, getting slammed sidewalk style off the shoulders of his opponent. The fans rallied behind Komander as he got chopped in position for a gorilla press slam attempt. Komander stopped the slam, messing up the flying arm drag. Loco used the flapjack to stop a running Komander, only to miss the dropkick that allowed Komander to shoot him over the top rope for a double jump hurricarana from the top rope!
Komander had that springboard 450 splash in mind, hitting it but not winning via pin fall. Loco recovered, trying to tilt-a-whirl slam his opponent when Komander countered by spiking him with the hurricarana again. Komander found Loco on the apron, looking for a poisonrana. Loco countered, turning the poisonrana into a power bomb on the ring’s edge! Loco climbed to the top rope, coming off with the Gringo Cutter … for a near fall!
Gringo went to the corner for another maneuver again, only for Komander to catch him climbing. Komander pulled Gringo to the mat via the super hurricarana … to earn a near fall!
The fans were going wild as Gringo stopped Komander from climbing the ropes again. Loco executed a reverse Spanish Fly … to gain a near fall!
Loco had the double jump moonsault in mind, only hitting the canvas. Komander quickly picked Loco up to hit that modified End of Heartache. Quickly moving to the top rope, Komander stepped from the adjacent corner to walk the ropes for that shooting star press. Holding Loco down, Komander gained the pin to advance in the “Survival of the Fittest” tournament alongside Dalton Castle.
Winner: Komander
Match Review: That was a wild lucha-infused encounter that, depending on the viewer, may not be as enjoyable to them as it was for the crowd did (they went a little wild with the near falls & big moves at the end). Either could’ve been viable options to win and that made the match that much more enjoyable thanks to the level of unpredictability.
– Lexy Nair was with ROH Board of Director member Jerry Lynn, Mark Sterling & Tony Nese. With the want for a third match between his client Tony Nese and Ethan Page, Sterling demanded he be allowed at ringside. Ethan Page arrived to mock Sterling for trying to weasel his way to helping his client win again. Jerry declared that Sterling will be cuffed to the post for that third match. Referees arrived to stop a brawl from breaking up as the commentators said next week there will be a contract signing for the match.
La Faccion Ingobernable (Preston Vance & Dralistico) vs. Spanish Announce Project (Serpentico & Angelico)
Dralistico and Serpentico had a rather heated exchange with Preston Vance using a blind tag to big boot Serpentico into a tag from Angelico. Controlling Vance by his left arm, Angelico set up a double stomp from Serpentico. But the damage did nothing from stopping Vance from wheel barrow slamming Serpentico across the ring. Dralistico came off the ropes, executing a Canadian Destroyer. Serpentico countered with a Canadian Destroyer of his own to reset this match and eventually lead to a double tag.
Angelico used Vance’s back to springboard and clothesline Dralistico before trying up Preston in that inverted Indian deathlock. Super kick by Dralistico saved his partner, only for Serpentico to super kick him. The SAP had Vance isolated when Angelico ran into a spine buster. Serpentico almost pinned Vance off the crucifix, only to get caught by Dralistico’s springboard Codebreaker. Serpentico stumbled to his feet, getting turned inside-out with the discus lariat from Preston. Making the pin, Vance won it for his team.
Winners: La Faccion Ingobernable
Match Review: After weeks of building up Angelico and SAP actually winning in the recent past, they are back in the same spot they were before Angelico confronted Eddie Kingston months ago and inevitably lost to the champ. LFI are a solid team, but appear infrequently on ROH programming (though that could change). Once again, another match that could’ve been used for a time when the show wasn’t going long or actually meant something to the build to a big event coming up.
Nyla Rose vs. Zoey Lynn
Using her quickness to slip behind the former AEW Women’s champion, Zoey Lynn’s momentum ended almost immediately when she got hit with a clothesline. “The Native Beast” completely dominated her opposition, almost turning her inside-out with the clothesline again. Using the ropes to her advantage, Zoey dropped down to hotshot Nyla for a follow-up enzuguri. Throwing her right hand up, Rose caught Zoey flying to knock her out of the air. Choke slam into the Beast Bomb by Nyla ended this one in definitive fashion.
Winner: Nyla Rose
Match Review: No different than the two previous squash matches on this episode that didn’t need to happen on a long-running show especially if it won’t mean anything to “Final Battle”.
The Butcher & The Blade vs. The Iron Savages w/ Jacked Jameson
The Blade found himself facing Bronson. But Bronson wanted the biggest unit in The Butcher. The Butcher had no issues with locking up with Bronson, landing a big right hand instead of breaking clean when they ended up in the ropes. Ducking a clothesline, Bronson used the shoulder tackle to set up Titty City via Boulder’s hairy chest. The Blade entered, getting taken to Titty City, too. Bronson decided to use his opponents’ bald heads to motorboat them. Boulder tagged in, catching a flying Blade to suplex the veteran in position for Bronson’s Savage Sauce sippin’. Unfortunately for Bronson and Jacked Jameson, Butcher came running to spear Jacked.
The attack left Bronson stunned and able to feel a Pearl Harbor job by Blade. Bronson blocked the suplex attempt by Butcher, reversing the attack before tagging out to a fired-up Boulder. Clothesline after clothesline by Boulder set up an unintentional blind tag by Butcher. Boulder brought the forearm bombs before using the big boot-running splash combo on Butcher to earn a two count. Bronson wanted in so he could sip some Sauce. Jameson fed Bronson, only for his celebration to distract the referee so he didn’t see Butcher kick Boulder low. Bronson got pulled into that double team power bomb by The Butcher and The Blade with Bronson taking the pin.
Winners: The Butcher & The Blade
Match Review: While an enjoyable tag match for the time that it lasted, with the show running long and the crowd not invested, this was better served for another day and, once again, may or may not mean anything for ROH’s Tag division in the near future or “Final Battle”.
ROH World Six-Man Tag Team champion Brian Cage w/ Prince Nana vs. Action Andretti
As expected, the champion muscled his smaller opponent around; almost knocking him out with a simple forearm. Ducking a clothesline, Action Andretti landed a pair of dropkicks that didn’t drop the big man. What did take Brian Cage off his feet was a pop-up hurricarana. Cage ended up on the apron for a handspring double kick. Cage caught Action flying, slamming him against the steel ring post. As if that wasn’t enough metal hitting Action’s body, Cage whipped him against the barricades before rolling Action into the ring. Action got up swinging for the fences; running into a big boot. It was all about Cage tossing Action across the ring while looking for pins afterward.
Elbowing his way out of a suplex attempt, Action used the enzuguri to springboard clothesline his opposition. Using the ropes’ nearness, Action sent Cage to the floor for a moonsault press. Springboard kick in the ring didn’t put Cage’s lights out. Action couldn’t hoist Cage up at first with “The Machine” landing on him instead. Inverted blue thunder bomb didn’t stop Action as Cage turned up the attack including that dead-lift superplex. Motioning for the end was Cage, but Action flipped out of Weapon X to tornado DDT Cage for a two count. Split-legged moonsault missed for Action, but Andretti also avoided the Gory Special. Reverse TKO by Action allowed him to springboard 450 splash Cage … for a near fall!
Prince Nana jumped onto the apron to distract Action. Andretti gave chase, luring Action into the pop-up power bomb Cage had waiting for him in the ring. Before Action could recover, Cage finished him off with Weapon X for another singles victory.
Winner: Brian Cage
Match Review: Considering everything that happened before this match including two qualifying matches in an effort to crown the new TV champ and Billie Starkz’s turn, it’s odd that this match headlined the episode as it’s not unlike what’s been seen when Cage has fought someone associated with Andretti & Top Flight and obviously won. Similar to the opener, this match did nothing to establish a trio who could challenge for the Six-Man Tag Team title at “Final Battle”.
Overall Review: After several weeks of having tight, ninety-plus minute episodes, this one went back to the deep end by going over two hours while not wholly proving why this show should’ve been so bloated. Though a majority of the episode felt inconsequential to “Final Battle”, there were some obvious moments and matches building up the upcoming major event including the much-anticipated revolt by Billie Starkz in her quest to become the new Women’s champion. The match leading up to a molten segment was, arguably, the second best of the show right behind the SotF qualifier between Komander and Gringo Loco. But the post-match graduation topped everything non-wrestling oriented in ROH on HonorClub history thus far. The fans were so into the segment and Billie attacking Athena garnered the perfect reaction. The best built story in modern ROH is firing on all cylinders coming into “Final Battle”. It’ll be interesting to see what they do to add some extra flair before the big match.
Beyond Billie’s win & turning on Athena, there were only two matches that had any obvious connections to “Final Battle” and establishing a reason people should watch the show: the SotF qualifiers. Castle-Uno and Komander-Loco both produced fine bouts with the latter not being everyone’s cup of tea even if it was exhilarating from bell to bell (and scary, too, especially with that apron power bomb spot off Komander’s failed poisonrana).
The episode’s biggest issue was how much of it felt unnecessary to both the show’s quality and building toward “Final Battle”. Ten out of thirteen matches either were squashes that failed to push forward any narratives and/or encourage the feeling the winners are on the road to something important, or establish title contenders with some stories that would get people excited like what happened when Billie turned on Athena. Ethan Page and Tony Nese got an interview segment to, most likely, set the stage for their “Final Battle” match, but there are no obvious paths for title defenses by ROH World champion Eddie Kingston, new Pure titleholder Wheeler Yuta (poor Josh Woods’ whole goal of beating Shibata for the Pure title to avenge his loss to “The Wrestler” all those months ago can’t be completed), and the pair of Tag champions.
This is a hard episode to recommend in full thanks to how inconsequential a majority of the matches feel in correlation to the upcoming “Final Battle” or even the grand landscape of Honor even if several of the matches were solid to good (Kingston-Johnson, The Infantry-The Boys, The Butcher & The Blade-The Iron Savages, and Cage-Andretti). So much of this episode could’ve been trimmed for a latter date and produced a better overall episode with more focus on encouraging viewers that “Final Battle” isn’t a show to miss including a video explanation of what the Survival of the Fittest is, former SotF tournament winners, interviews from the qualifying match participants of this year’s tournament, and maybe even a video history of the TV title to boost two of the episode’s best matches and, easily, the most impressive story ROH has to offer in 2023 featuring the ROH Women’s World Championship.
