Last Week: Claudio Castagnoli successfully defended his Ring of Honor World Championship against Metalik while Athena prevented another would-be challenger from coming after her by winning a Proving Ground match.
ROH on HonorClub Episode 8
Milwaukee, WI
April 20, 2023
The Kingdom w/ Maria Kanellis-Bennett vs. Action Andretti & Darius Martin
Code of Honor was actually followed before Matt Taven feigned starting off with Darius Martin. The plan worked as Taven cornered Martin so Mike Bennett could give him the Pearl Harbor job. Quick tags by The Kingdom as they isolated Martin early. After a nice double team combo ending with Martin getting dropkicked, Bennett made sure to knock Action Andretti off the apron to prevent him breaking up what they thought was a sure pin. Avoiding Taven’s Stinger splash, Martin ran toward his partner; only to feel a Bennett spine buster. Blind tag by Action off the double Irish whip allowed Andretti to take down both opponents with a springboard moonsault after they took out Darius on the floor. Action was on fire, executing springboard clothesline to Taven. Instead of going for the pin, Action waited for Taven to get up so he could bulldog him for a two count.
Intercepting a running Action, Bennett slung Andretti into Taven’s enzuguri topped by a flying elbow drop that didn’t end this one in Taven’s favor. Calling for the Hail Mary failed for The Kingdom thanks to Darius. Martin came sailing off the top after tagging himself in, luring Bennett into the wrong part of town for an Action splash. Bennett was getting picked apart with Taven getting caught in the crossfire. Maria jumped onto the apron to distract Action, allowing Taven to recover and knock him off the top rope. Darius also got tripped from the top rope, put in prime position for the Proton Pack that allowed The Kingdom to pin Martin.
Winners: The Kingdom
Match Review: As expected considering the talent – a solid opener. The Kingdom winning due to some shenanigans worked to keep this new team of Andretti & Martin look competent and overwhelmed instead of just two losers. Really wish they would’ve played a video package showing the history leading up to this match so the crowd wasn’t so dead for it.
– ROH Women’s World champion Athena was backstage, demanding that whoever challenges her really needs to bring their best. Athena is ready for all, and all will fall.
Willow Nightingale vs. Robyn Renegade
Disrespectful pie face from Robyn Renegade didn’t shake Willow’s confidence as Nightingale took her opponent over with the side headlock. When Robyn worked her way off the mat, Willow ran through her with the shoulder block. Low cross body after the slam allowed Willow to pick up an early two count. Running through a clothesline attempt, Willow just unleashed a bulldog out of nowhere before dumping her opponent to the floor. Willow had a running kick off the apron in mind when Robyn caught that incoming leg to sweep Willow face-first against the ring’s edge.
Feigning a bicycle kick to hussy slap Willow angered Nightingale as she backed Robyn into the corner for a hip attack. Spine buster connected for Willow, but didn’t put Renegade away. Breaking free of Willow’s grip didn’t help Robyn as she ran into the pounce … period! Robyn fell out of the ring, doing twin magic with her sister Charlette. Willow disposed of the illegal sister, only for Robyn to reenter and pull Nightingale into roll up. Willow countered, putting Robyn’s shoulders to the mat for the three count.
Faking a Code of Honor was Robyn to set up a chop block from Charlette. Willow couldn’t stop the Renegade’s Revenge/Hart Attack that followed, leaving Nightingale laying.
Winner: Willow Nightingale
Match Review: That was somewhat unexpected. Willow has been running through her competition as of late apparently building up to a rematch with Athena. While Willow won against the numbers being against her, the match went a lot longer than her previous outings on ROH on HonorClub as of late. The post-match attack should lead to a rematch or maybe a tag match in the very near future. Hopefully Willow’s still on the road to a title rematch against Athena or whomever is the champ.
– Lexy Nair was in the back with Colt Cabana to welcome him back to ROH. After bringing up his history with ROH World Television champion Samoa Joe, an excited, though cautious Cabana, planned to win his first singles title in ROH tonight by beating someone he’s never defeated for gold.
Lance Archer vs. Jah-C
Before Jah-C could even make it off the top of the ramp, Lance Archer attacked him and pitched Jah into the ring to officially start this one.
Jah-C wanted to follow the Code of Honor, only to be tossed across the ring. Jah came off the ropes, landing a dropkick that didn’t even stagger Archer. Standing Thesz press from Archer allowed him to set up a slew of running back elbows in the corner. Jah failed to fight back, taking a reverse DDT, short-arm lariat, and a one-hand lateral press to be pinned by “The Murderhawk Monster”.
As if that wasn’t enough, Archer beat Jah to the back.
Winner: Lance Archer
Match Review: It’s 2020 and Lance Archer is squashing people on Tony Kahn’s programming. It’s 2023 and Lance Archer is squashing people on Tony Kahn’s programming. Hopefully, Archer gets an actual run in ROH as it would definitely help freshen his career and give ROH another impressive monster on the roster that could be a great challenge for either Claudio or Joe in the near future.
ROH World Six-Man Tag Team champion Brian Cage w/ Prince Nana vs. Joey Jett
Brian Cage didn’t give this ROH newcomer a chance to breath, muscling him around before executing a big German suplex that put his opposition in the corner for some face washing. Punching his way out of the corner as the fans rallied behind him, Jett’s momentum was cut off by a back elbow off the ropes. Joey attempted some running & avoidance to set up a slingshot ace crusher when Cage caught and simply swatted him down. Using a back elbow to stop a running Cage in the corner after surviving a rear chin lock, Joey pulled off a hammerlock flatliner. Ducking the discus lariat after a failed pin, Jett executed a Sick Kick … to earn a near fall!
Reversing a slam, Cage unleashed the discus lariat to set up his F5. Cage made the cover, picking up another pin.
Winner: Brian Cage
Match Review: Similar to Willow’s match, this went unexpectedly long and was more even than it should’ve been. Also, where are the rest of the Six-Man champs and why haven’t we had a six-man tag on ROH programming since “Supercard of Honor”?
Proving Ground Match: ROH Women’s World champion Athena vs. Heather Reckless
ROH’s version of a title contender eliminator where the potential title challenger has to either defeat the champion within ten minutes or survive until the time limit expires. Unfortunately there was no onscreen clock or the announcer giving time warnings.
Athena dropped to her knees to mockingly follow the Code of Honor. Kicking down her smaller opponent, the champ had a good time making fun of Heather Reckless until Reckless went off with forearms. Sliced bread actually gave Reckless a two count and sent Athena to the floor. Heather jumped off the apron, only to get caught and slammed against the barricades. From figurative pillar to post, Athena was whipping Heather around ringside. Athena tossed her would-be challenger into the ring, stopping a small package to power bomb Heather not once, but five times. Cinching in the crossface, Athena forced the submission in definitive fashion.
Placing the belt in front of her fallen adversary, Athena lifted Heather by her head before slamming her face-first against the championship belt.
Winner: Athena
Match Review: While Reckless showed a lot of fire, the ending was inevitable as Athena somewhat easily dispatched of another would-be title challenger. Hopefully a future Proving Ground match leads to someone actually earning a title match.
The Dark Order (Alex Reynolds & John Silver) vs. Cole Karter & Lee Johnson
It was Lee Johnson locking up with John Silver. Showing off both his strength and agility, Silver pulled off a shoulder tackle topped by a dropkick. Backing a legal Alex Reynolds into the wrong part of town after being double team back dropped by The Dark Order, Reynolds fought his way out of a bad predicament by back elbowing Cole Karter. Using the ropes to stop a rebound off the Irish whip, Karter sent Alex over the top rope so Lee could wipe him out to put the momentum in his team’s favor.
Punching his way out of his opponents’ corner didn’t work well initially until Reynolds was able to cause a miscommunication that allowed him to tag out.
Silver picked up Cole, using him like a lawn dart to spear Johnson for a two count. Silver found himself getting illegal hit by Cole, giving his opposition the chance to set up a big double team. Sidestepping an incoming Johnson, The Dark Order dumped him out of the ring before finishing off Karter by kicking him into a German suplex that allowed Reynolds to pin Karter jackknife style.
Winners: The Dark Order
Match Review: Okay bout that got a lot more time than expected. The Dark Order got a win, but there was no Vincent or Dutch to push the story of The Righteous potentially trying to usurp members of The Dark Order even though commentator Ian Riccaboni attempted to continue the mysterious story.
ROH World Tag Team champion Penta El Zero Miedo w. Alex vs. Nick Comoroto
Throwing his lollipop stick in Penta’s face only got the masked man to undo his glove in an effort to tell Nick how much fear he had of him. Nick stopped the motion, landing a clothesline after taking a few chops. Big body slam from Nick allowed him to face scape the masked man. The fans rallied behind Penta as Nick posed. Coming off the ropes, Penta executed a pair of slingblade clotheslines. Just when it seemed Penta had this in his control, he ran into a big tackle. Nick made a big mistake trying to fly when Penta moved and double stomped him for a two count. Nick recovered quickly, stopping the Package Piledriver; but Comoroto’s strength was too much. Leg sweeping the big man, Penta used the Shoulder Sacrifice … to gain a near fall!
Penta saw his road to victory; using the Shoulder Sacrifice on Nick’s other arm to pin his game opposition.
Winner: Penta El Zero Meido
Match Review: Similar to Brian Cage’s match, the non-title holder actually got a lot of offense in; though it made a lot more sense here considering the size difference. Penta ended the match in dominant fashion, but the question must be asked: why haven’t we seen any the Tag champs in tag action in their divisions since the pay-per-view?
Konosuke Takeshita vs. Lee Moriarty
Though the master of “Taiga Style” was great at grappling, his opponent was actually able to hang and counter a majority of everything his opponent tried. The pace quickened with Takeshita landing a leg lariat after trading arm drags. Lee got up chopping. So Konosuke just threw a forearm for a near knockout blow. When Takeshita went for another strike, Lee caught the incoming arm to execute some divorce court action. Takeshita left the ring, finding no haven as Moriarty came running to shotgun knee his opponent left shoulder-first against the barricades.
Taking control of this one, Lee used some arm manipulation to set up a double finger dislocation. Moriarty took his sweet time using the hammerlock to work Konosuke around the ring. Stopping one of those hammerlock whips to unleash some forearms, Konosuke stunned his opponent. Flying shoulder tackle by Takeshita allowed him to execute the brain buster soon after. With one arm and both feet working, Konosuke used a pair of helluva kicks to set up the flying senton splash. Lee survived a pin attempt, rocking Konosuske as he climbed to the top rope. Superplex by Lee hurt Moriarty as much as his opponent. Showing that fighting spirit, Konosuke took Lee’s best strikes and responded by using a German suplex-blue thunder bomb combo … to gain a near fall!
Pump knee missed for Konosuke, getting dumped on his head with a leg-catch German suplex. Takeshita had to turn a submission attempt into a failed pin, pulling Lee off the mat to execute that inverted Dude Buster … for another near fall!
Blocking the Chaos Theory, Lee pulled off his version of the Pepsi Twist … for a near fall, too!
Missing a lariat, Lee got yanked into a snap German suplex. Stumbling to his feet, Lee was prone to the lariat-pump knee combo to end this one in Konosuke’s favor via pin fall.
Winner: Konosuke Takeshita
Match Review: A breath of fresh air when it comes to this episode. Two fantastic wrestlers who gelled well getting a good amount of time is exactly what this episode needed. It would be nice if either was dedicated solely to the ROH roster.
AAA Mega champion El Hijo del Vikingo vs. Gringo Loco
The crowd was ready as the competitors circled each other. A quick exchange saw both men avoiding everything the other had in mind with flips and rolls until Vikingo jumped up, stood on Gringo Loco’s shoulders, and executed a head scissors. After a quick enjoying of the fan’s adulation, Vikingo sent Loco to the floor. Moving at the last second, Loco avoided a dive that as the champ bounce off the entrance ramp. Vikingo got up, being taken down by a plancha. Vikingo used his right forearm to fire back as Loco got a running start. But Gringo was focused; catching the incoming arm to swing the champion around and drive him against the mat by his left arm. Loco climbed the ropes, missing a spiral moonsault.
Getting to his feet, Vikingo couldn’t steady himself on the top rope fast enough to stop an approaching Loco. But Vikingo did fight his opponent when they met on the ropes. Loco stood up, yanking Vikingo into a Spanish fly topped by a rope-assisted face buster … to earn a near fall!
Slapping Vikingo gave the champ the fire needed to fight back. Spinning back kick landed for Vikingo after stopping an Irish whip. Rolling to the ropes, Vikingo faked out his opponent to set up a hurricarana that put Loco out of the ring. When Loco got up, Vikingo pulled off a springboard 450 hurricarana at ringside! Loco found himself prone in the ring to a springboard corkscrew 450 splash … that gave the champ a near fall!
Loco recovered as Vikingo did the same, coming off the ropes for a cross body. Vikingo caught him, swing slamming Loco in position for another flying strike that sent him out of the ring. Vikingo pulled off another corkscrew attack, ending with a moonsault to the floor. Gringo somehow kicked out of the champion’s follow-up pin in the ring. Missing another 450 splash, Vikingo got tossed into the turnbuckles by an overhead suplex. With Vikingo on the apron, Loco pulled the champ up the ropes for something. That something was a super gorilla press slam! Vikingo somehow survived a pin attempt, countering Loco’s incoming attack by jumping over his opposition for a poison-rana. Rolling into the corner, Gringo felt double knees colliding with his face. Stunned, Loco couldn’t avoid the 630 splash and the subsequent three count in Vikingo’s favor.
Winner: El Hijo del Vikingo
Match Review: This is the type of match that you’ll either love or hate mostly because of the lucha style where there will be moments of wrestlers just standing in position for someone to do something to them. Konnan has spoken out that he & Rey Mysterio have talked to Vikingo about slowing his style down and don’t take so many risks – he hasn’t listened both for the benefit of a match like this and, unfortunately, the potential shortening of his career. Grimness aside, a fan of this style of wrestling will enjoy this one immensely and it was the only other match to really get the crowd pumping (Takeshita-Lee being that other bout).
Iron Savages (Bronson & Boulder) w/ Jameson Ryan vs. Ren Jones & Logan Lynch
It was Boulder requesting the Code of Honor with Ren Jones. The mouthy Jones angered Boulder to the point the latter repeatedly bashed his own head against the top turnbuckle. Boulder took two shots to the chest, motioned for more before pressing Jones over his head to pitch him into the incoming Logan Lynch. Bronson senton splashed both opponents before using a Michinoku driver on Jones into a grounded Lynch. Using weightlifter’s chalk to get a great grip when slamming both Jones & Lynch at the same time, Boulder followed up his impressive show of strength by pressing his own partner off his shoulders so Bronson could splash and pin Jones & Lynch at the same time.
Winners: Iron Savages
Match Review: Iron Savages are an interesting pair to state the least. Would’ve been nice to see some type of video package or even a promo segment to explain who they are, but there’s time for that if they’re slated for future episodes. This was another definitive squash and a perfect “catch your breath” type of match after the previous, exhilarating encounter.
ROH World Television Championship: Samoa Joe (c) vs. Colt Cabana
After muscling his latest challenger against the turnbuckles, Samoa Joe not only broke clean, but also took in the chants of, “Joe’s gonna kill you!” Colt Cabana refused to be rattled, using some of that British-influenced offense to land some shots after slipping and sliding around the champ. Joe quickly cut off Cabana’s momentum, punching him down in the corner before using that running back elbow-enzuguri combo in the corner. The champ was keeping his offense simple by cranking at Colt’s neck as the fans rallied behind the would-be champion. Joe’s patented kick-elbow drop combo saw Cabana almost get pinned. Cornered and being assaulted, Colt found himself on the top rope in position for the Muscle Buster. With his right elbow, Colt fought for his life before sweeping Joe into a sunset flip. When Joe kicked out, Cabana fired off those jabs to set up the Bionic Elbow. Flying Apple-big splash combination from Colt … ended in a near fall!
Joe took a drop toe hold, only to get his knees up in time to avoid feeling a moonsault. The champ quickly cinched in the Coquina Clutch for the submission victory.
Winner: Samoa Joe
Match Review: While this wasn’t expected to be a classic, there’s no way someone would walk away not feeling a little underwhelmed mostly because the match didn’t have enough time to really let two ROH greats get the crowd fully invested in the ebbs & flows of this encounter. But, considering how it was a forgone conclusion that Joe was winning, maybe not elongating this one was for the best – just didn’t make it a strong end to an episode.
Overall Review: This is the episode that solidified a lot of my fears with the current ROH product. A majority of this show were inconsequential matches with no build, hype, or, to a certain extent, reason for the fans to care – a group of fans who were a lot more apathetic to what was happening in the ring than last week’s episode. The few matches with some story including the opener & main event didn’t give the fans that attention to detail needed to be invested (though the viewing audience at least got the Cabana interview).
On the positive side of things, there were two stellar matches with Vikingo’s bout being more enjoyable if the viewer is a fan of lucha and may easily turn off someone who doesn’t like the more choreographed aspect of the lucha style. Konosuke continues to be a star on the rise and would be great as a focal point in ROH, building toward his ROH title match with Claudio (something that seems more like a reality considering what’s happening on AEW).
While having a show full of matches is fine (though this episode probably could’ve benefited from having two less bouts to give something like the main event more time), having an episode with some stories, promos to explain debuting characters & wrestlers’ motivations, rivalry & feud recap videos for those fans in attendance who may not watch ROH to give them some incentive to be emotionally invested isn’t a bad thing and helps break up the monotony of just having match after match with little breathing room. This is also the first episode in the era where there wasn’t a hook or match announcement for next week’s show – another telling issue where you have a “televised” wrestling product that doesn’t do the most important thing it should: entice the viewer to come back next week because they have to see how something important plays out.
I don’t want to sound heavily critical, but considering how well ROH on HonorClub started and in the weeks since “Supercard of Honor” has become a lot more unfocused and reliant on the AEW “Dark” and “Dark Elevation” formulas in terms of show presentation is a little disheartening.
