Welcome to another edition of The ROHbot Report – the only article you need for all the Ring of Honor news you have to know. For the first time in two years, Ring of Honor held its “Best in the World” pay-per-view with a loaded card featuring every ROH title on the line and the promise of history being made. Lets see if ROH lived up to the mantra of their company have “the best wrestling on the planet.”
“Best in the World” Results; July 11th, 2021; Baltimore, MD
– Rey Horus defeated. Demonic Flamita
– PCO & Danhausen defeated The Bouncers
– The Briscoes defeated PJ Black & Brian Johnson
– EC3 defeated Flip Gordon
– ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Championship: Shane Taylor Promotions defeated Eli Isom, Dak Draper & Dalton Castle to retain
– Last Man Standing Match: Josh Woods defeated Silas Young
– Brody King defeated Jay Lethal
– ROH Pure Championship: Jonathan Gresham defeated Mike Bennett to retain
– ROH World Television Championship: Dragon Lee defeated Tony Deppen to become the NEW CHAMPION
– ROH World Tag Team Championship (Fight Without Honor): VLNCE UNLTD (Homicide & Chris Dickinson) defeated The Foundation (Jonathan Gresham & Rhett Titus) to become the NEW CHAMPIONS
– ROH World Championship: Bandido defeated Rush to become the NEW CHAMPION
Ring of Honor’s return to pay-per-view kicked off with two bouts for free during the live stream of “Hour One”. With a raucous crowd watching, Rey Horus and Demonic Flamita continued their feud stemming from the latter destroying their trio alongside Bandido. When the bell sounded they went crazy as expected with lucha-based action & athleticism that’s second to none in modern wrestling. Horus showed what he had in mind for his competition incredibly early with big dives on Flamita at ringside. The momentum swung back & forth multiple times, resulting in near falls off some big maneuvers such as a tree of woe dropkick from Flamita, and a crazy springboard tornado DDT by Rey that should be a part of ROH’s TV intro vignette.
There were also moments of disrespect from Flamita that really infuriated the fans as he tried to unmask his opposition (something that wouldn’t be foreign later on in the show). In the end it was Rey sustaining a copious amount of damage and preparing his body to counter what Flamita thought could finish this war after surviving that patented muscle buster into the Codebreaker combo DF has perfected. When Flamita hoisted Horus up for another attack, Rey countered with the Code Red to pin Demonic for his first PPV victory since last year’s “Final Battle” to start off this event in fine fashion. Of course Flamita attacked his victorious foe following the match to ensure everyone knew this feud isn’t over.
After several video packages, a Kenny King promo that saw him go from welcoming the fans back to ROH events to putting over his faction & insulting the state of Maryland, and a “Trending with Taven” segment where Matt Taven confronted Vincent to coerce one final match out of him (a Steel Cage encounter that will occur on August 21st during the “Glory By Honor” where no matter if Vincent wins or loses he gets Taven’s spot as a top contender to the ROH World title) and was attacked by The Righteous & laid out, The Bouncers made their return to action with Ken Dixon as their second to take on the ultra-popular Danhausen and the former ROH World champion PCO. Brian Milonas took out PCO early by knocking him out of the ring with a body block that put him at ringside and allowed The Bouncers to single out Danhausen. The very pro-Danhausen crowd stayed with the very nice, very evil man as he tried to fight through all the punishment being dished out. When it seemed Danhausen’s chance for recovery was growing slimmer, Beer City Bruiser’s running attack was sidestepped and allowed Danhausen to snap German suplex BCB.
Tagging out to PCO set off a chain of events that actually resulted in Danhausen’s need for credit causing him to hit his own partner & cause an electrical malfunction that saw PCO see his partner as an enemy. PCO eventually knocked himself straight by cannonball splashing BCB on the floor, but the big men slapping meat that was BCB & Milonas squashing PCO on the floor proved only a precursor to Danhausen showcasing his strength by muscling Bruiser onto his shoulders for Very Nice Very Kneevil. BCB stopped the Go 2 Sleep variation, only to be fireman carry slammed in position for the PCOSault and the three count in favor of this new team. A solid tag team bout that was everything it needed to be (a chance for a new, already popular team to get their first win over an established duo) to close out the first hour.
But all the fun & games were over as the PPV officially started with The Briscoes taking on Brian Johnson (who cut the promo of a lifetime during his entrance) & PJ Black. The intensity was unexpectedly high especially whenever “The Mecca” was in the ring. After an early, dominating performance by Dem Boys, Black saving his partner from taking the Doomsday Device turned the tides in the underdogs’ favors. Black & Johnson working over Jay Briscoe got the fans behind the former multi-time Tag Team champion; resulting in him eventually fighting back and setting up their biggest maneuvers after Jay survived Black’s 450 splash. By bringing the fight to the floor, The Briscoes took complete control by Mark pulling off a running blockbuster off the apron on PJ that was topped by his Cactus Jack Elbow to Johnson. With “The Mecca” down and Black prone, Jay isolated PJ for the Jay Driller that set up Mark’s Froggy Bow that gave The Briscoes the pin fall on Black in a fantastic opening bout that, no doubt, opened many eyes in regards to the abilities of Johnson and a believed broken-by-injuries Black.
The battle of two philosophies was next as EC3 – who was very popular – took on “The Mercenary” Flip Gordon. Gordon’s focus on EC3’s left knee was the story early on with the intent of cinching in that STF he’s been perfecting & winning matches with as of late. EC3 tried to fight through the pain, but Gordon would cut him off with something like leaving the ring to trip his opponent for a leg whip against the steel ring post. Locking the in the STF didn’t give Gordon the success he expected as EC3 made it to the ropes to save himself.
Though Gordon had an injured limb to work on, his belief that knocking EC3 out would be a better option cost him as EC3 ate a super kick and retaliated with Angel’s Wings. Stunned, Gordon couldn’t stop the Purpose crossface submission that forced him to tap out while giving EC3 his first non-disqualification singles win in ROH thus far. No Code of Honor from Flip, but a big wad of disgusting spit to his former opponent’s face in this COVID-19 world was his calling card upon exiting the building. Nice, technical match that felt perfectly fine considering its placement on the card; but nothing that would leave people talking after the show.
The first title match of the evening was the ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Championship bout. STP were in complete control during the early minutes as Kaun overwhelmed Dak Draper, Moses pounced Eli Isom, and Castle refused to come in while shouting orders. But no matter what Dalton said, Isom & Dak couldn’t take him or their respective partners seriously; leading to Shane Taylor tagging in while his opponents bickered. The crowd was so fired up for Taylor as he wrecked Draper. Isom proved to be the saving grace for his unit, actually powering Taylor into a slam. When it seemed Isom had found the formula to win, Castle tried to join Eli on the top rope for a double team attack that Isom didn’t appreciate; the latter shoving his partner down while unintentionally leaving himself open for Kaun’s super jackhammer. Billy Knee Williams-Welcome to the Land combo from Taylor finished off Isom for a successful defense in this odd trio six-man tag having an obvious outcome; though the route to get there was entertaining with a poor partnership offset by the cohesion of STP.
One of the bigger stipulation matches of the evening was next as “Mr. Last Man Standing” Silas Young took on his former protege Josh Woods in a Last Man Standing encounter. “The Technical Beast” wasn’t about bashing his past ally with weapons or sending him through tables & doors. Instead, Woods spent the early going out-wrestling Silas, actually using his patented clothesline-backbreaker combo against the creator. But Woods giving into the allowance of weapons in this one cost him as a chair swing was halted by Young pulling the referee in front of him. Woods stopping short to avoid hitting the ref left him open for a stiff right topped by the Anarchist Suplex on the floor! Tables, ladders & chairs were all used as the match progressed with Woods being sent through a table in the ring’s corner, Young taking a power bomb on a ladder propped up by the ring, and Josh feeling Misery on a pile of chairs. Yet, Woods refused to stay down even if remaining standing meant rolling out of the ring and using the ropes to keep him vertical.
The match culminated in grand fashion when a slug-fest on the apron resulted in Woods German suplexing “The Last Real Man” off the apron through two tables! Woods would make it to his feet before the ten count as Young struggled to even free himself from the wooden wreckage that would allow “The Technical Beast” to get his first big ROH PPV singles victory while finishing this feud at 2-1. This was a fantastic LMS match in execution and length that didn’t overstay its welcome or become obnoxious with absurd moments usually seen in matches like these. It’ll be interesting to see where both men go from here.
Following a Matt Taven promo where he promised to leave Vincent with scars come August 21st, Jay Lethal clashed with Brody King in the first “faction warfare” match of the evening. Though game as always, Lethal found himself outmatched by the bigger man’s tenacity; forcing the former ROH World champion to go for broke early in the form of Lethal Injection. With King stopping what should have been a sure pin, Lethal never let up in his attempt to put Brody back down for a lateral press. Like a horror movie icon, King just kept standing up after everything Lethal threw; resulting in Jay making a crucial mistake by getting back suplexed over the top to the floor.
King never let Lethal recover and any attempt at a comeback was cut off until Lethal found himself getting crushed with cross body blocks while seated in a chair at ringside. The damage done to Lethal in a short period of time left Jay too weak to stop not one, but two Gonso Bombs that finished off “The Franchise” via pin fall. An absolute vulgar display of violence from King that made him look like a killer & future World champion at the same event six years ago Lethal became the first & only man to simultaneously hold the ROH World & Television titles. If that wasn’t a star-making showcase its hard to say what else is.
Jonathan Gresham looked to turn The Foundation’s fortunes around in in his Pure Championship defense against Mike Bennett. The confidence shown in Gresham’s past title defenses was evident in the early going until Bennett showed his size advantage could not only stop submissions, but also knock the champion around. Bennett put the pressure on the titleholder including his version of the London Dungeon, forcing Gresham to use his first of three rope breaks three minutes into the action. Gresham regained his composure, proving that everyone is the same height off their feet by working his way from the legs to the arms on a horizontal challenger that resulted in Bennett saving himself from a deep hammerlock by grabbing the ropes.
“The Octopus’” strategy went from holds to high impact attacks, back to holds that saw Bennett survive the barrage and retaliate for another rope break against the champ. Jonathan seemed a little desperate after the second rope break, attempting flash pins & blistering strikes. Bennett took everything Gresham had to offer, even sacrificing a rope break to do so before getting a fantastic near fall off the piledriver that was only a two count because of Gresham using his final rope break. When Gresham got his base he immediately went after Bennett’s legs – legs that he had attacked throughout the match. Following a failed la magistral, Gresham locked in a single-leg Boston crab using only his own legs. Bennett, with not rope breaks left and stuck in the ring’s middle, had no choice but to tap out in a thriller of a contest. It doesn’t get any better than a Pure Championship match with Jonathan Gresham while Bennett showed he is actually made for the division.
But Gresham’s night wasn’t done. Due to Tracy Williams not being cleared to wrestle due to a hit & run car incident several weeks before the event and King slaughtering Lethal, Gresham stepped up & agreed that he’ll team with Rhett Titus to defend the ROH World Tag Team title against Homicide & Chris Dickinson in a Fight Without Honor. But before that, Tony Deppen brought the fight to Dragon Lee in their Television Championship match. Like his brother, Lee took Deppen’s strikes as an insult and responded in kind with hits like a big boot to the jaw in front of the watchful eyes of La Bestia de Ring. Deppen was on fire, executing a dive through the ropes to Canadian Destroyer the challenger on the floor.
The action never let up as Lee had to survive multiple attacks including a series of German suplexes, the lariat that turned him inside-out, and forearms galore. Lee refused to be dominated, yanking Deppen into a Dragon Driver after a little bit of a distraction from Kenny King. Though Deppen stopped a pin fall after the Driver, the wear & tear was too much as Lee kept landing big maneuvers until the champ was prone to the Incinerator following a Liger Bomb that allowed Dragon to pin & regain the Television championship. Just a fantastic sprint unlike anything else on the show following Horus-Flamita. Hopefully there are more encounters between these two because they can do no wrong with matches like these.
The changed ROH World Tag Team Championship match followed the lead of their predecessor match when Chris Dickinson & Homicide ran out to ensure LFI didn’t jump their ally. The Foundation’s Titus & Gresham rushed the ring and brought the fight to their challengers. The first piece of plunder was a chair that Titus used to drive Homicide face-first against in the ring while Gresham & Dickinson grapple brawled at ringside. Dickinson broke free of Gresham’s grip to push Titus off the top rope to put him through an open chair! Titus recovered, spiking Homicide through the timekeeper’s table with the Michinoku driver. As Homicide proclaimed his hate for Rhett, Dickinson almost choked out Gresham with the prior’s shirt.
The momentum actually swung in The Foundation’s favor when more chairs got involved, allowing them to bash Homicide while setting up submissions. Dickinson was on a swivel the whole time, helping Homicide from being submitted and assisting him retrieve his patented fork. Though Titus stopped a stabbing, the Tag champ couldn’t avoid a super bomb through a table from Dickinson. On the ring’s other side was Homicide hitting the Cop/Gringo Killa on “The Octopus” to pin Gresham to become the new ROH World Tag Team champion for the first time in his career; same for “The Dirty Daddy”. Another fun, crazy, intense brawl with VLNCE UNLTD attaining gold after Deppen failed moments ago. No doubt Titus & Williams will fight for the Tag Team title when Tracy is medically cleared.
Before the main event, Maria Kanellis-Bennett welcomed former commentator Lenny Leonard as he will be the voice of the Women’s Championship tournament. With the new ROH Women’s Championship on a podium between them, the pair introduced the tournament’s bracket with a July 31st start date and the champion being crowned at “Death Before Dishonor” in two months. With Vita Von Starr out, a replacement is needed; bringing out none other than “The Hot Mess” Chelsea Green to announce her participation in the tournament after she’s medically cleared. Green cut a great promo putting over her want to be what no one expected of her for the past two years: a champion.
It was time for the main event and the champ was nothing short of fired up as he took the fight to his latest would-be conqueror. Bandido was fighting from behind for the match’s majority after feeling Bull’s Horns in the first thirty seconds! RUSH refused to end the match so quickly, sending Bandido to the floor for a thrashing using everything from the barricades, to camera cables, to a chair. The referee was letting a lot go to ensure there was a winner. But RUSH’s want to celebrate his brawling acumen on the floor gave Bandido the chance to recover as the titleholder paraded around the ring; knocking “El Toro Blanco” down with flying attacks both in the ring & out. Sadly the challenger’s high-flying onslaught didn’t stop RUSH from countering attacks, dropkicking the masked man out of midair that put Bandido at ringside for a tope con hilo that allowed RUSH to regain control & start setting up tables at ringside. RUSH’s ill intentions worked against him as Bandido countered whatever he had in mind with a running Spanish Fly attempt that didn’t have the rotation Bandido wanted, but did send the champ through the tables!
RUSH was the first up, but found himself hurting as both pulled themselves into the ring before the count-out. The match’s closing moments had a ridiculous pace where both were looking for that big move that would lay out their opponent for good. “The Most Wanted” had the 21-Plex in mind after hitting that super fall away slam, but RUSH was still in this one as he stopped what many thought was a three count. Going for Bandido’s mask as a way to add insult to injury actually cost RUSH as the referee reprimanded the champion, leaving him open for front roll up that saw Bandido actually pin RUSH to become the new World champion! LFI minus Dragon Lee attacked & laid out the new champion, but the reality is ROH is now in the Bandido era. As expected this was a banger of a bout with Bandido fighting through so much adversity. The only issue other than a couple of obvious rough spots (including the finish where their weight actually brought RUSH’s right shoulder off the mat) had to be the lack of Bandido getting a chance to celebrate. It’s fine LFI & RUSH getting revenge, but it didn’t have to happen so quickly after the final bell.
The only other real point that needs to be made was the stability of HonorClub during this show, or lack thereof. Traditional pay-per-view & the FiteTV app worked fine, but ROH’s own network struggled to present the show – an issue that hasn’t been the case for them during their most recent PPV events. ROH has already put out a statement regarding refunds & credits for those who suffered through missing one phenomenal show on the service, but here’s to this being the last time ROH has to do so regarding their own streaming service.
ROH’s first true test of a pay-per-view with fans in attendance since “Final Battle 2019” turned out to be almost everything someone could’ve hoped for when looking at such a bloated card. There wasn’t a bad match on the show, though a couple of forgettable bouts. But the positives greatly outweighed the arguable negatives. The sprints that were the World & Television title matches, two awesome brawls in regards to the Last Man Standing and Tag Team title bouts, an absolute clinic regarding the Pure Championship outing, Brody obliterating Lethal, and a solid undercard before King-Lethal (not to mention the Women’s Championship tournament announcement) made this one of the easiest recommendations for an ROH pay-per-view since “Death Before Dishonor” in 2019.
And there you have it. Show that love, or like, for The ROHbot Report on its Facebook page. Here’s to a great week for you and yours; and as always, thanks for reading.
