wrestling / TV Reports
Ciocco’s ROH Final Battle 2025 Review
Image Credit: ROH
Loading...Ring of Honor Fans! Fans who honor the ring! Men and Women of Honor! It’s me, Ryan, the NXT and AEW Punk here to bring you the good word (see also live coverage) of the seminal December event on the ROH calendar, Final Battle! Taking place tonight from the GalaxyCon in Columbus, Ohio (which will also be the home for tomorrow night’s edition of Collision), Final Battle is, in the true sense of the word, the last battle in terms of major ROH events. And, in that spirit, the card for tonight is one that is sure not to disappoint!
Name a title, and it is on the line, starting with the ROH World Heavyweight Title. What was meant to be a one-on-one match between the champion Bandido and the challenger RUSH got ixnayed when RUSH was not cleared to compete due to injury. As a result, the World Title match has now been turned into a Survival of the Fittest Match, as Bandido will now defend his World Title against The Beast Mortos, Sammy Guevara, Hechicero, Komander, and Blake Christian. For those who are unaware, a Survival of the Fittest Match is a fancy way of calling it an elimination match, whereas the last man standing will be the World Champion.
Speaking of Sammy and Mortos, they will be pulling double duty tonight, as they are also defending their ROH Tag Team Titles against Adam Priest and Tommy Billington. The ROH 6-man Titles will be on the line, as Shane Taylor Promotions will look to ground Skyflight. For the first time since Tony Khan purchased the rights to ROH, an AEW title will be defended in ROH, and not just any title, for Ricochet will be making his very first defense of his newly won National Title against former ROH World Champion Dalton Castle. And for those who couldn’t get enough of their previous encounters, ROH Pure Champion Lee Moriarty will face off with Nigel McGuinness, and while the title is NOT on the line (seeing as to how Lee defeated Nigel a year ago to retain at Final Battle 2024), we ARE getting a 30-minute Iron Man Match!
But never fear, men and women of culture, as we have not forgotten about our ladies on this card! The ROH Women’s World Title will be on the line, as Athena looks to keep her historic run intact against CMLL’s Persephone. The ROH Women’s TV Title will be defended, as Mercedes Mone, the official holder of the unified TV Title, will defend against the woman who held the title, and the woman who she defeated a couple of weeks ago to unify the titles, Red Velvet. And, after what felt like an eternity, we will finally get the ROH Women’s Pure Title Finals, as Deonna Purrazzo will face Billie Starkz to crown the inaugural champion.
All of this and, I am sure, so much more in store for us tonight! So, without any further interruptions, let’s get ready to head into the…
MORTAL KOMBAT FINAL BATTLE!!!!!!
Since I have nothing but time on my hands, I figured I would do what I did with my TNA Turning Point PPV Recap last month, and I made Rob Stewart level thoughts on the matches and promos instead of calling everything like I would for the actual show. So, with that out of the way, it’s time for Final Battle Zero Hour!
-As has been the case for the past however many years, The Master of the Willow Rap, Ian Riccaboni, and one half of the OTHER C&C group you all know and love, Caprice Coleman will be on the call tonight.
-Ian, looking like a bigger dork than me, and Caprice are hyped to run down the card for both the Zero Hour and main show. It looks like they added Eddie Kingston and Josh Woods to the main card. I guess I’m not sure what is more surprising; the fact that Eddie is competing on the main card of an ROH PPV, or the fact that Josh Woods was found in the Lost & Found bin,
–SOME SONS OF BITCHES are here to open the Zero Hour! They’re facing the Premier Athletes. “Smart” Mark Sterling does his usual schtick, including propping up Stori Denali as a 6’7″ rookie who is undefeated, and apparently, she played volleyball at Ohio State, while these fans only played with themselves. LOL, oh dear! He calls the Outrunners the product of smoking cigarettes, which, hey, fair play, because their pants are designed like Kool cigarettes lol.
-Tony Nese posing, like he stands a chance to be more muscular than Turbo and Truth lol. Denali would fare much better. She is uh, something else. She reminds me of a taller version of Chyna.
-No one said the Outrunners were the smartest SONS OF BITCHES, as Turbo got suckered in by Nese.
-Ian and Caprice say that Turbo and Truth are old school like the Rock & Roll Express. I Dunno, aren’t the Outrunners the youngest men alive?
-So far, it’s taken Nese, Davari, Sterling, AND Denali to slow down the Outrunners. And that’s all they can hope to do, honestly, because they will not stop them lol.
-So, during the Survival of the Fittest match tonight. everyone is barred from ringside. And I like that, a lot. There are already six people involved in the match, we don’t need more involvement.
-Turbo finally gets the hot tag, as he body slams everyone, including Truth lol.
-The Handshake was ruined by Nese. Suffice to say, that makes him the biggest heel on the show.
-Denali clotheslines Truth in front of Bryce Remsburg, and he doesn’t kick her out. Okay.
-Davari’s Magic Carpet Ride does NOT get the job done.
-YOU SON OF A BITCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-One double elbow later, and the Youngest Men Alive win it! Ian says the Outrunners are 21-1, and I assume that’s just in ROH.
-We get a rundown of the tournament for the ROH Women’s Pure Title, leading up to the Finals tonight between Billie Starkz and Deonna Purrazzo. This has to be Billie’s crowning moment, right?
-Our next match is up, and Good Golly, Miss Molly, it’s Leila Grey, looking really good. Her opponent, Zayda Steel, I am excited to see here in ROH, and possibly AEW.
-I feel the need to mention something about science and monocles here, in an ode to my friend, I8MyPants.
-See, even Ian says this is a scientific match, to prove my point!
-Really good back and forth match. Steel came out in control, but Grey has come back to even this up.
-“It’s a Body Show”. I agree, Leila!
-Steel with the Boston Crab applied. Christopher Daniels tells Leila that she can do it. And she does, in fact, do it.
-It’s nice not only seeing Grey in the ring and competing but handling as much of the action as her opponent does.
-Steel flies. Which makes sense, because planes fly, too!
–Leila wins with the Angels Wings! I am slightly surprised by that result, but maybe not, since I don’t think Zayda is actually signed yet?
-Grey helps Steel to her feet after the match. They embrace, and it’s a really nice scene.
-In the back, Lexi Nair (with her glasses on, making her exponentially hotter) has Sammy Guevara and FRANK Mortos. He says the original pillar is going to talk. Yeah, that fits, unironically. Lexi is trying to sow seeds of dissent between Frank and Sammy, but Sammy isn’t having it. Hechicero is here, apparently, he is going to watch their backs in the Survival of the Fittest match so one of the three walk out as the new champion. Mortos grunts, and he automatically becomes the smartest man on that screen.
-Incoming contender for a BRISCOE, between Ace Austin and Lee Johnson.
-Poor Lee, he gets shoved on the Zero Hour, while the other half of the Swirl, The Vanilla Baby Blake Christian, is in the World Title 6-man match? And Lee was the Nightmare Factory product!
-Fun apron acrobatics from Ace there. This guy was a favorite of mine up to this point in TNA and New Japan, so I’m glad he has made it to AEW.
-Cool moonsault off the barricade spot into a reverse DDT by Johnson on the floor.
-Austin does the corner clothesline spot like the Miz does, except he stays there and does ten clotheslines, like the ten punches in the corner. Really neat.
-Austin hit Johnson so hard with a back elbow, I’m surprised he has any brain cells left to be honest.
-Really even match that, I am sure, is going to be better than some matches on the main show. Viva variety!
-Pop-up Powerbomb from Johnson does not get the job done.
-My Honor Club feed has frozen up three times now, although to be fair, the first two were right at the very beginning. Hopefully, this doesn’t end up like SCOH did.
–Austin wins a very fun and spirited match with The Fold!
–Sexi Lexi is back with Blake Christian. He says when he wins Survival of the Fittest, he is skipping Jay Lethal, and he is going to defend the title against Ace Austin. Okay. Not quite sure what Lethal has to do with this but okay.
–GRIT YOUR TEETH! The Grizzled Young Veterans are here!
-And so are the Death Riders, with Jon’s groovy theme song, complete with that opening riff that sticks in your memory. Moxley walking out with Yuta and Garcia is like a proud Papa walking out with his children. That’ll make it all the more treacherous when they turn on him and PAC or Claudio takes over the group.
-Apparently, this is Jon’s Birthday. I wonder if he stabs himself with a fork in the forehead once for every year.
-GYV taking off and flying is something I’m not used to seeing, but it definitely works.
-It’s nice to hear the FUCK YOU YUTA chants go everywhere he goes lol.
-Gibson stacking up both Yuta and Garcia and kicking both of them makes for a funny image.
-Yuta and Garcia doing the Forever Clotheslines. That doesn’t feel out of place, honestly.
-Coast-to-coast dropkick by Drake doesn’t win the match for GYV. Moxley says you won’t pin Yuta with a dropkick, BITCH! I didn’t know he was Okada.
-Yuta and Garcia proceed to murder Drake on the outside with the ring steps. That leads to double teamwork in the ring on Gibson, and the Busaiku Knee from Yuta wins it for the Death Riders B-Team.
-Again, a fired up Moxley, happy for his guys, it is going to be quite the scene when he gets the plastic bag treatment from the rest of the group.
-Moxley says he might stick around for the rest of the show. Coleman offers to get him a drink. Could it be red, and could it be blood?
-Ian and Caprice run down the main card for Final Battle.
Final Battle Main Show: ACTIVATE!
Cold Open for the show!
Video package, narrated by Ian, for the Women’s Pure Title match and the participants in the finals. It’s pretty cool seeing the original ROH footage of Deonna and her time in the OG company.
That match is opening up the show proper!
ROH Women’s Pure Title Tourney Finals: Deonna Purrazzo vs. Billie Starkz
Code of Honor is adhered to, but Deonna uses that to her advantage to apply a Fujiwara Arm Bar. She puts Billie’s hand on the ropes, which means that…
Billie Starkz has used one rope break: she has two remaining.
Billie and Deonna lock-up. Deonna shoves her away, but Billie spits on the mat. Jamarr Chase, she is not. Deonna with an arm lock, but Bilie gets back to her feet. Deonna tries another Fujiwara Arm Bar, but Billie rolls her up for a two count. Deonna sends Billie out of the ring. She looks to hit a baseball slide, but Bilie ducks, and she rams Deonna into the ring steps. She stomps on Deonna and sends her face first into the bottom of the ring steps.
Back in the ring, Billie with a pin for a two. Billie roughs up Deonna in the corner for a bit. She whips Deonna, hits a clothesline and a DDT out of the corner. Another pin for a two. Billie looking for a submission, but Deonna rolls her through. Deonna grabs Billie by the hand and hits a big lariat.
Billie finds herself on the floor again, and this time, Deonna does hit the baseball slide. Deonna is reversed on her whip, however, and sends Deonna into the ring post. Billie salts Deonna with a barrage of forearms, but she, too, ends up hitting the ring post when Deonna moves out of the way of her lariat. Deonna with a snap mare to Billie on the floor.
Deonna rolls back in to break the count, and she slams Billie spine first into the edge of the announce table. Someone shouted THAT WAS RUDE, and they’re not wrong. Back in the ring, Koji Clutch from Deonna, Billie rolls her up for a two. Billie with a knee strike and a face breaker, but Deonna cuts off the kick with a lariat.
Both women slowly crawl towards one another. They trade forearms from their knees and proceed to do so as they get back to their feet. Knee lift from Deonna into the Russian Leg Sweep. Seamless transition into the Fujiwara from Deonna. Billie swings herself to the bottom rope to break the hold.
Billie Starkz has used a second rope break: she has one remaining.
Moxley: Oh, that’s right, Pure Rules. She uses all of her rope breaks. The plot thickens.
Billie with a brain buster over her knee, leading to Deonna rolling to the apron. Deonna tries something, but Billie blocks it and hits the Alabama Slam, followed by the running knee from the apron. She returns Deonna to the ring, goes to the top, and hits a Senton Splash! The cover for two.
Billie locks on a submission, and for the first time in her career, according to Ian and Caprice, Deonna has used a rope break.
Deonna Purrazzo has used a rope break: she has two remaining.
Deonna fires back with a snap suplex and a Gotch Style Piledriver! The cover, but that only gets her a two. Venus De Milo from Deonna, but Billie gets to the ropes.
Billie Starkz has used her third rope break: she has none left.
Deonna tries a submission in the ropes, but Billie gets out of it. Billie with the Deadlift German. She goes to the top and hits another Senton Splash, but Deonna uses her momentum to roll her up for a two. Deonna with the seamless transition to the Venus De Milo, and Billie taps out.
WINNER: Deonna Purrazzo (New/First Champion!)
TIME: 13:53
THOUGHTS: Deonna winning was the right call. The end game for Billie should be being the one who dethrones Athena down the line, so Deonna winning her makes the most sense. It was a good match, not great, but good.
RATING: ***1/4
Post-match, Deonna celebrates with the title. As she heads up the ramp, Queen Aminata, looking amazing even with the neck brace, comes out and shakes Deonna’s hand, but she says she wants the first shot. She walks to the back, as Deonna continues to celebrate.
The Tony Stark Iron Man Match is up next! Video package incoming!
30-Minute Iron Man Match: Nigel McGuinness vs. Lee Moriarty
Nigel comes out wearing his old school Pure Title belt, which is, obviously, really cool. Also really cool how Bobby Cruise hypes up the past accomplishments of Nigel as Pure Champion, and also Lee as the current day Pure Champion.
Code of Honor is adhered to, as both men show off their distinction of a Pure Title. The bell rings, as we get some lock-up action. Lee with wrist control, Nigel reverses it. Nigel off the middle rope, but Lee steps out of the way, knowing what is coming.
The match resets, as both men circle the ring. Both men trade wrist control, Nigel gets Lee down to the mat and says NOT TODAY lol. Lee back to his feet, he does come crunches and turns it into a cravat. Nigel tries to roll him through, but Lee keeps hold. Nigel takes Lee to the ropes and gives a clean break.
Match re-set, as Lee goes behind Nigel. Nigel reverses with a head lock and sends off Lee. Nigel tries the left-handed lariat again, but Lee ducks it and applies the Border City Stretch. Nigel quickly taps out.
Lee Moriarty with the submission @ 4:58: Lee is up 1-0.
Lee heads out to the floor to talk to Shane Taylor for a bit before returning to the ring. Moriarty grabs wrist control, but Nigel counters with a high wrist lock, grounding Lee. Moriarty to the ropes to get the break, because it’s not Pure Rules, you see!
Lee picks the ankle of Nigel, but McGuinness grabs Lee’s leg. Lee begs off and goes to the ropes to get a break. Moriarty with control of the arm, McGuinness to his feet, but he can’t reverse Lee’s lock. Well, until he just throws him down and stomps on Lee’s wrist lol.
McGuinness sits Lee down on his knees and stomps on his hand again. Moriarty shoves him away and tries to play keep away, but Nigel slides with a wrist lock. Big European Uppercut from Nigel. Lee to the corner, as Referee Stephon Smith keeps Nigel away. Nigel with wrist control again, Lee rolls around and kips up and out of it. Morarity sinches in the Octopus Hold. Nigel breaks the grasp and applies his own Octopus Hold. Lee gets to the ropes to break the hold. Moxley says he could get out of that and he burned a rope break.
Nigel: I HAVE TILL FIVE!
Oh, snap, LOL!
Tower of London attempt, but Moriarty escapes and gets to the floor. Nigel rolls in to break the hold, he taps Lee on the shoulder, Lee turns around and gets chopped lol. Nigel with an uppercut and a running Uppercut for good measure. Nigel again breaks the count, then sends Moriarty back into the ring.
Moriarty, however, catches Nigel in the ring with a cradle flash pin!
Lee Moriarty with the pin @ 11:54: Lee is up 2-0.
Lee unloads kicks on Nigel in the corner. Nigel fires back with a lariat, and he stomps on the left arm of Lee. Nigel with an arm bar submission. Lee with a roll-up for a two, but Nigel maintains control. Lee eventually reverses it into an ankle lock variant. Lee cranks on the ankle, getting pin situations along the way. Nigel kicks Lee away. He looks for the London Dungeon, but Lee was too close to the ropes.
Nigel stalks Lee around the ring with some chops. Running PK, as Nigel yells GOAL lol. Nigel puts his weight down on the bad arm of Moriarty, Nigel rips back the arm of Lee and leans back. Moriarty rolls through, but Nigel kicks him away.
Lee retreats to the corner, favoring his elbow and arm. Nigel sits Lee on the top, hits some Mongolian Chops, but Lee with punches to the midsection, and one last one to the jaw to send Nigel to the mat. Lee with a crossbody from the top for a two. Lee misses the follow-up, and Nigel with the London Dungeon, but Lee gets his foot on the ropes.
Nigel bars the arm of Lee and runs him across the ring and into the corner. We’re down to 13 minutes, as Lee reverses another whip and launches his head into the gut of Nigel. Front face lock, Nigel reverses with an uppercut. Lee to the apron, springboard, but no one is home.
Nigel pushes Lee to the corner, lands some corner headbutts and chops Lee. Lee eats it and delivers a chop. Nigel eats that and delivers more chops. Lee reverses THAT and hits more chops. Nigel pulls a Ric Flair with an eye poke lol. Nigel does his corner recoil spot, but Lee moves. Unfortunately, Lee also misses and hits the corner shoulder first. London Dungeon, and this time, Lee cannot get to the ropes!
Nigel with the Submission @ 19:10: Lee is up 2-1.
Nigel with some stomps, as he looks for another London Dungeon. Instead, Lee manages to roll-up Nigel and scores a flash pin!
Lee Moriarty with the pin @ 19:50: Lee is up 3-1.
Nigel can’t believe it, as he goes back to the arm of Moriarty. He gets a two on a pin. Scissor lock from Nigel to the bad arm of Moriarty. London Dungeon attempt, but Nigel sits back with an arm snap. THIS IS WRESTLING chants, and yeah, no doubt about it.
Eight minutes left, as both men trade uppercuts in the middle of the ring. Moriarty eventually gets the upper hand, as he takes Nigel to the corner and lays them in. Moriarty with the whip, nobody home, as Nigel moves and gets whiplash from Nigel. Cover for two.
Nigel looking for the London Dungeon again, but Moriarty bridges up and tries to set a base. Nigel, though, bridges back on Moriarty. Triangle Choke by Lee, counter by Nigel. Moriarty with the pin for a two. Nigel with a cross-face attempt, but Lee gets his foot on the ropes.
Five minutes remaining, as Nigel wraps the arm of Moriarty and hits a Hammerlock DDT. Another London Dungeon attempt, but Lee slips through with a pin for two. Moriarty sinks like Antonio Inoki, trying to run out the clock. Nigel breaks that and attacks the knee. Nigel looking Figure-Four, but Lee kicks him away. Nigel with the headbutt, off the second rope, LEFT-HANDED LARIAT! The cover, but Lee kicks out at 2.9!
Moriarty to the floor, as Taylor checks on him. Nigel to the floor, he gets in Nigel’s face, but he backs away, allowing Lee the chance to hit a front guillotine! He lets go right before the count out and gets back in the ring, but Nigel breaks the count.
Lee with the BCS, but Nigel rolls him up for the pin!
Nigel with the pin @ 28:30: Lee is up 3-2.
Lee charges the corner, but Nigel moves. Back elbow from Moriarty as we reach the final minute. Taylor tells Lee to stay down and run out the clock, but Lee says no. Drop toehold attempt, but Nigel rolls him up for the pin!
Nigel McGuinness with the pin @ 29:35: It is tied at 3.
Nigel hits another roll-up for a pin!
Nigel McGuiness with the pin @ 29:48: Nigel is up 4-3
Taylor punches Nigel behind the refs back and he slides him back in the ring! Lee with the pin right underneath the bell!
Lee Moriarty with the pin @ 29:59: It’s tied at 4.
Post-match, Moriarty grabs the mic. He wants Nigel to bring his ass back here, because they are tied at one, and that isn’t good enough.
Nigel returns to the ring, as Ian says they were told this is Sudden Death.
Well then.
Roll-ups are traded between the men to two counts. Nigel sits down on Lee for a two, Lee with a stack for a two. Crucifix attempts by both men only get a two. THIS IS AWESOME chants, and yes, it is. Superman Dive from Nigel gets him a two. Nigel rolls over and gets another two. Rear naked choke from Lee, but Nigel sits back for a two. Nigel with a bridge, but Lee sits back into a London Bridge to steal it!
WINNER: Lee Moriarty (Five Falls to Four)
TIME: 32:00
THOUGHTS: Absolute masterclass. But then again, should we be surprised by that? You had the past face of the Pure Division against the present and future of the division.
RATING: ****1/2
Post-match, Nigel rolls out and grabs his Pure Title. He says this title means more to him than anything in the world. He rips on a fan at ring side, before giving Lee his Pure Title and bowing to him. Oh wow. Lee and Nigel shake hands and embrace.
Advert drop for AEW World’s End, coming December 27th!
Ian mentions again that Moxley will face Konosuke Takeshita tomorrow night in the Continental Classic. Moxley grabs the mic.
He has been thinking about the Don Callis Family. Callis has these guys brainwashed and thinking they are privileged and drinking from the deep well. Moxley came up drinking Ohio water, and if Takeshita wants this, he is going to have to take it by force.
We’re going to Stir it Up with Ultimo Mone next!
ROH Women’s TV Title Match: Mercedes Mone (C) vs. Red Velvet
Hopefully, this is as good as the last match between them was. Bobby Cruise with the in-ring introductions for this one.
Bobby doesn’t get to finish his intro, though, because Red Velvet attacks from behind! Both ladies roll around on the mat landing blows. Velvet rolls up Mone, but Referee Brandon Martinez is handing over the title belt and doesn’t see it. Roll-ups are traded, Velvet misses the standing moonsault, Codebreaker from Mone for a two.
Mone with a twisting suplex for a two. Mone chokes out Velvet with her boot in the corner and says OKAY REF! Snapmare by Mone, as she stretched out Velvet. Mone with a knee to the gut of Velvet, front face lock, as Mone initiates the Three Amigos. A fourth one is teased, but Mone wags her finger and throws Velvet to the mat.
Mone walks over Velvet as she goes to the corner. She goes up top, but her move is countered by knees from Velvet. Velvet can’t take advantage, though, as Mone trucks her in the corner. A pin gets her a two. Mone slams Velvet face first to the mat, as she called Velvet pathetic and says she runs this ship. She wants to Velvet to make her dinner, BITCH, but that fires up Velvet as she lands hands and a running double knee to the back. Cassadora into the bulldog gets Velvet a two.
(Why would Velvet be mad? She is straight out of her momma’s kitchen, after all).
Velvet chokes Mone with her boot in the corner, then does a split as she licks her fingers like a cat. That’s uh…yeah. Mone doesn’t take kindly to this though and hits a Lung blower followed by the Meteora. Mone to the outside, but Velvet catches her in the apron, and she assaults her with strikes. Mone counters with another Meteora from the apron.
Back in the ring, Mone off the ropes with ANOTHER Meteora, which earns her a two. Mone looking Mone Maker, but Velvet fights it off for a bit. Mone sits Velvet in the corner and slaps her across the back. Mone to the very top, Avalanche Mone Maker is avoided by Velvet, she turns it into an Avalanche Sunset Flip! The pin for a two.
Velvet picks up Mone and hits a snap suplex. Stir it Up kick connects, but Mone is out at two. Velvet’s right is blocked by another Lung blower. Mone Maker from Mone, but Velvet kicks out at two. Velvet to the top, Mone meets her. Velvet reverses and hits an Avalanche Michinoku Driver! Straight Out of your Momma’s Kitchen! The cover, but Mone kicks out at 2.5!
Mone kicks away Velvet and then throws her into the bottom rope. Mone Maker is countered by a face buster from Velvet for a two. Both ladies trade roll-ups, Standing Stir it Up kick gets a two. Mone with the Statement Maker, but Velvet kicks off the ropes and rolls up Mone, and she gets the pin!
…..Wait, what? Velvet….pinned Mone? What….is going on? Mone….doesn’t lose…this does not compute!
WINNER: Red Velvet (New Champion!)
TIME: 13:45
THOUGHTS: I don’t think this was as good as their match at Collision in Boston, but there was plenty of drama and false finishes to keep things interesting and satisfy the common fan. I am floored that Mone lost here, straight up, but this could be that unraveling that people have been predicting.
RATING: ***1/2
Post-match, Velvet celebrates with her title, while Mone looks like she is going to have a breakdown. Boohoo, she will only have 12 titles to cry on now.
Tag Team Titles are on the line next!
ROH World Tag Team Title Match: Sammy Guevara and FRANK Mortos vs. Tommy Billington and Adam Priest
So, let me get this straight; LFI had to give up the tag team titles because of the injury to RUSH, but they couldn’t just Freebird it until he was healthy, so the titles weren’t vacated? I feel like the tag titles were vacated at SuperCard of Honor as well, but whatever.
Mortos and Guevara posture to fan approval to begin. The fans cheer for Mortos but boo Sammy LOL! Guevara and Billington to start. Tommy wants the handshake, but Guevara flips him off and says FUCK YOU.
…. What does Tay Melo like about this dude, again?
Sammy drops Tommy face first onto the mat and celebrates like he just scored a goal in the FIFA tourney. Billington is waiting with chops and a grounded arm bar. Sammy says he cheated and grabbed his hair lol. Sammy talks more smack before Billington hits a monkey flip. Billington stretches out the legs of Sammy, but he escapes to the apron.
The fans chant BEAST, as Sammy tags out. Adam Priest is in, and he tries to shoulder block Mortos. he could have hit a wall with better effect. His strikes have no effect, but he stomps on Morto’s foot hoof and lands punches in the corner. Mortos with the reversal, as Sammy takes a headset and talks some more crap. Combination dropkick and sunset flip get Billington a two. Tommy bravely headbutts Mortos, and Priest and Billington hit a double suplex.
Priest off the ropes, but Sammy kicks him in the back. Priest turns around into a headbutt from Mortos, as FRANK knocks down Tommy in the corner. Mortos tries to crush Priest’s face with a double knee for a two.
Sammy gets the tag to the DELIGHT of the fans lol. Sammy bulrushes Priest to the corner. Snap suplex by Sammy for a two. Sammy with a standing stomp as he heads to the top. Sammy feigns a big move, but he jumps off the top and hits a thrust kick instead lol. Okay, that’s great character work.
Mortos with the tag, as he headbutts Priest so hard that he rolls out to the floor. Adam’s chops are cut off by a kick to the gut. Sammy gets the tag, Mortos sends in Sammy, Adam sends him to the apron, Sammy with an enziguri. Mortos situates Priest for a double stomp from the top.
Sammy tags in Mortos so he can go retrieve Priest lol. Sammy tags in, but Mortos gets the tag again. Mortos with the corner punches, but Priest bites his hand. Sammy keeps him in his corner, though, as Mortos smashes Priest in the corner for retribution. Priest elbows Sammy off the apron and he spikes Mortos with a DDT.
Priest finally tags in Billington to NO pop lol. Billington takes both men down with a head scissor takeover. Missile Dropkick by Billington to Mortos! Sammy back in though, as he hits a cheap shot on Priest and feeds him to Mortos for a Samoan Drop for a two. Billington avoids the Doomsday Device and rolls up Mortos for a two.
Priest with the tag, as both him and Billington to the top. Stereo crossbody from the top, taking out Mortos and Sammy on the floor. Tag to Billington, Tommy off the ropes, tandem clothesline into a German on Mortos. The cover for a two. They sit Mortos on the top rope, but Mortos swats away Priest and headbutts Billington. Priest is back, though, as she snaps off a Rana!
Billington to the top, but Hechicero is here! he shoves Priest off the top! Meanwhile, Sammy hits a low blow on Billington! Mortos with the Corkscrew Splash, and we have old new champions!
WINNER: Sammy Guevara and FRANK Mortos (Old/New Champions!)
TIME: 13:10
THOUGHTS: I had no reservations about Priest and Billington winning the match, even if Hechicero didn’t interfere. Still confused by the title drop situation, but Mortos was awesome, and Sammy continues to be an amazing heel.
RATING: ***1/4
Eddie is here to prove a point ahead of his AEW World Title match this Wednesday at Winter is Coming.
Video package for Kingston and Joe’s match this Wednesday. Meaning that, yes, Felicia, Josh Woods is only here to do the J.O.B.
Eddie Kingston vs. Josh Woods
So, Josh is molding nicknamed with the Technical Beast and The Goods. Interesting. We get a video package of his highlights.
The bell rings, and the Code of Honor is adhered to. Woods looks to pick the leg, but Eddie takes Josh to the corner. Woods does get the single leg shot, but Kingston doesn’t stay down long. Both men trade reversals, as Kingston takes Woods down from behind. Kingston with stomps, but Woods eats his chops and throws some of his own. Kingston reverses and hits one chop that Woods felt lol.
Whip and charge by Kingston, but Woods avoids and springboards off the corner with a thrust kick. Key Lock by Woods, Kingston rolls him up to counter it. Kingston with a back elbow, flooring Woods. Kingston with strikes and a headbutt, as Woods sells it like he got shot lol. Kingston looking suplex, Woods drops the knees. Kingston with shots to the kidney, so Woods fires back in kind.
From kidney shots to chops now, as Kingston gets a good amount. Woods fires back and torques the elbow of Kingston. Hard Irish Whip by Woods, running kick and a neck snap from Woods, as the match resets.
Woods with a corner charge to Kingston. he follows that with a running back bump and follows THAT with a rising knee strike. Cover for a two. Both men jockey for position, Kingston prevails with a German. Corner lariat from Kingston into the Kojima chops. Woods with a Judo throw into a key lock. Kingston angles himself to the ropes for the break.
Woods with some elbows to the arm of Kingston. Kingston reverses the whip and charges Woods in the corner. Kingston sets Woods on the top rope and hits a chop. Kingston with another chop and a headbutt. OH, FUCK, he yells, as he heads to the top now. Superplex from Kingson. The cover, two count.
Kingston’s DDT is countered by a knee strike from Woods. Rolling Chaos Theory from Woods! The cover, but Eddie was close to the ropes for the break. Woods with the springboard into the waiting arms of Kingston for a T-Bone Suplex. Release German from Eddie. He calls out Joe as he grabs Woods and hits a DDT. The cover, and that’s all she wrote!
WINNER: Eddie Kingston
TIME: 8:50
THOUGHTS: I’m glad that this was an actual match and not a one-sided affair. Woods got as good as he gave, but we all knew that, with his title match on the horizon in five days, Kingston was losing here. Fine for what it was.
RATING: ***
Post-match, Kingston shakes hands with Woods and then stares into the crowd. He signals that he will win the AEW World Title as he leaves the ring.
Six Man tag team match incoming. A video package will set the mood for the upcoming match, as Honor Club continues to glitch up. Joy.
ROH Six-Man Title Match: Shane Taylor Promotions (C) vs. Skyflight
STP try to get a jump at the bell, but Skyflight was ready for it, and a brawl starts us off.
The Martins work quick tags and keep Carlie Bravo in their corner. They tag in Scorpio, but Bravo manages to drive him to his own corner. Shane Taylor with the tag. Sky tries to strike him, but it has no effect on Taylor. All of STP beat up Sky in their corner. Shawn Dean takes WAY too long showing off and his Bronco Buster misses Sky and hits the corner.
Bravo: WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
Darius with the tag as he takes it to Dean. Standing Spanish Fly, and Darius flies out out with a Tope to Taylor! Darius turns around to see Bravo flying through the bottom rope and he hits a DDT!
Back in the ring, and Dean manages to tag out to Taylor. He shushes the crowd, as he slaps Darius. Shane says THAT’S A MAN RIGHT THERE as he stalks Darius to the opposite corner and lands some body blows. Scorpio tells Darius to cover up, but he’s not listening lol. Taylor with a hard Irish Whip, dropping Darius to the mat. Darius tries to chop Taylor, but he eats a headbutt and a Urinage. Taylor sizes up Darius and hits the 747 Splash for a two.
And the glitching continues. Lovely.
Dean gets the tag and pins Darius for a two. Quick tag to Bravo, double team whip, but Darius tries to fight them off. He is grabbed by Bravo, Dean with a thrust kick, and Bravo with a Deep Six variation for a two. Bravo mocks the fans cheering for Darius. Bravo and Dean send Taylor into Darius in the corner. Dean fires Bravo into Darius and then goes in himself. Dean takes off and wipes Dante and Scorpio off the apron! I would tell you how awesome it was, but the glitching is great now!
Dante gets the tag and uses Bravo’s back as a single person poetry in motion to send Taylor to the floor. Enziguri to Bravo, Dante jumps to the top and wipes out Taylor! Dante off the apron and he kicks Dean in the head! Dante to the top with a splash for a two. Dante is the one-man force!
Bravo whips Dante, and Trish Adora trips up Martin behind the refs back. So, turnabout is fair play, as Leila Grey trips up Bravo lol. Both ladies get into the ring, and in the words of Joey Styles, CATFIGHT!!!!!! Grey with a Thesz Press, as they brawl to the floor! Anthony Ogogo sneaks into the ring, but Christopher Daniels sneaks in and hits the Angels Wings on Ogogo! All of this while the ref is in Lala Land lol.
Slingshot Cutter to Bravo by the Martin Brothers! The cover, Dean with the save. Taylor with a knee strike to Darius, but Dante with a springboard DDT to Taylor. Carlie Cutter from Bravo. He fakes out Scorpio and hits another Carlie Cutter. Tag made to Dean, but Darius kicks Bravo. He does intercept a dive from Dean, but he falls victim to a big punch from Taylor. Dean with the roll-up for the win.
WINNER: Shane Taylor Promotions (Still Champions)
TIME: 14:15
THOUGHTS: I kind of thought there would be a title change here, but it was not meant to be. The match was really good, with plenty of high spots, and a lot of hard-hitting moments. Heck, we even had involvement from Adora and Grey lol.
RATING: ***1/2
AH-HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
AEW National Championship Match: Ricochet (C) vs. Dalton Castle
The bell rings, and no code of honor. No surprise lol.
So, I reset the feed so it wouldn’t glitch, and I see Pretty Ricky in the middle of the ring. Castle asks if there is a ten count, as he does a Boy Train around the ring for reasons. Ian wants to join in, but Caprice says sit down lol. Ricky missed an elbow, as Castle gator rolls Ricky in every single direction lol. It looked like Castle tried to milk Ricky lol. Standing back splash from Castle and a back elbow, sending Ricky from the ring.
Ricky throws a temper tantrum on the floor and kicks the ring steps. He kicks one of the Boys next, as Castle goes to the floor. He reenters the ring with anger, but Ricky cuts him off and hits a tope to Castle. Ricky taunts the fans and throws a chair down, as he sends Castle back into the ring.
Stone Cold forearms from Ricky, as he flips off the fans lol. Ricky keeps talking, as he kicks Castle. Castle with a kick, but he runs into a chop. Ricky with a shot to the kidneys. Castle counters Ricky’s next attack and chops away on Ricky. He takes Ricky to the corner and launches a forearm assault. Whip by Castle, but Ricky gets his foot up. He leapfrogs over Castle, shoves him into the corner, and hits a Pendulum dropkick for a two.
Ricky climbs to the top, but Castle takes a page from Orange Cassidy’s book and slowly rolls away. Ricky to the outside, he rolls him back in and says he’s going up. So, once more, Castle rolls away. Ricky returns him and again says he is going up. Castle rolls all over the mat and suckers Ricky in. Ricky jumps into a release German.
The match resets, as Castle hits an overhead suplex. He catches Ricky’s leg and hits an overhead throw. Misdirection knee strike and a bulldog from Castle for a two. Knee strike from Castle, Bangarang is countered. Counters ensue until Ricky hits a corkscrew kick and a springboard moonsault for a two. Running Shooting Star Press from Ricky for another two.
Ricky loads up the Spirit Gun, but it misfires, as Castle hits the Bangarang, but Ricky reverses it! Ricky with a kick to the head, as he goes to the top, but nobody is home. Castle looking for the bangarang again, but Ricky holds on and goes to the apron. Ricky drags Castle out to the apron, but Castle sends Ricky back into the ring. Castle brings Ricky back out to the apron lol. Enziguri from Ricky, but he runs into an overhead suplex from Castle.
On the floor now, as Castle chucks Ricky over his head and to the mat. Castle returns Ricky to the ring; Ricky rolls up Castle from a counter for a two. Bangarang from Castle! The cover, Ricky kicks out at 2.5! Ricky retreats to the floor, Castle to the floor, he shoves one of the boys into Castle! Castle checks on him, he renters the ring, and gets hit the Spirit Gun! Ricky with his first successful title defense!
WINNER: Ricochet (Still Champion)
TIME: 12:45
THOUGHTS: And the long and prosperous title reign of The Light Skin King Pin begins! AH-HAAAAAAAAAAAA!
RATING: ***1/4
Apparently, they are sending out the Survival of the Fittest Match before the Women’s Title Match? Interesting, but I like it!
ROH World Heavyweight Title Match – Survival of the Fittest Match: Bandido (C) vs. Hechicero vs. Sammy Guevara vs. FRANK Mortos vs. Komander vs. Blake Christian
As the title would suggest, this is an elimination match, until there is one man left standing.
Battle lines have been drawn, as we see Bandido and Komander on one side, Sammy, Mortos, and Hechicero in one corner, and Blake by himself. Everyone takes time to pose in the corner. And this is after the bell has rung lol.
Christian takes off up the ramp to avoid the other guys. This leads the DCF-LFI alliance to attack Bandido and Komander from behind in the aisle. Hechicero nearly damn killed Bandido as he was sitting in a chair. Mortos and Guevara try to unmask Komander. Mortos slaps Komander, a snapmare follows, and everyone stomps on Komander. Christian now gets on the apron, as he wants to play nice with the heels. But Christian fakes them out and sends Mortos into Hechicero.
Guevara and Christian show off in the ring, ending with Sammy hitting a dropkick to Christian to send him to the floor. Sammy goes to dive, but Christian cuts him off and hits a cutter. Hechicero and Mortos return to dispatch of Christian.
Mortos and Guevara have turned on Hechicero! Wow, who would have thought that! Hechicero tries to fight back, but he has no allies now, so he’s at odds. He does reverse Mortos charge with an enziguri and hits a backbreaker on Sammy. Bandido and Komander springboard back in with arm drags to Mortos and Guevara. Kommander and Bandido superkick Hechicero from the ring. Christian is back, as he hits the Swirl Screwdriver to Hechicero on the floor.
Chrisitan returns to the ring, and he wants to work with Bandido and Komander now lol. But they aren’t having it, as they hit a double SUPERKICK to Christian. Komander jumps from the ropes to the shoulders of Bandido and he plants Hechicero and Christian with a DDT.
Holy…
Shit…
And to one up that, Bandido has Komander on his shoulders, and he launches Komander out of the ring and onto everyone. Bandido with a big dive to wipe out Mortos. It looks like Komander and Bandido were going to fight it out, but Christian is back, so they work him over. Bandido sets Christian onto Komander’s shoulders, and he deposits him onto the knee of Bandido. Hechicero is back, but they work together to send him from the ring.
Guevara returns, as he knocks Komander and Bandido down. He says he is going to be a fucking world champion, as he turns around to find Bandido and Komander waiting for him. Komander sweeps out the knees of Guevara. X-Knee from Bandido, big moonsault splash from the top rope by Komander, and Sammy is the first man out. So much for his self-prophecy lol.
Sammy Guevara has been eliminated @ 11:23
Mortos is back, realizing that he is by himself. Which would be fine, if these guys didn’t have to team up to work him over. Komander with a Poison Rana to Mortos. Christian with a springboard Destroyer to Mortos. Hechicero clotheslines Christian and Komander from the ring and hits the Wizard’s Way on Mortos to eliminate him.
FRANK Mortos has been eliminated @ 12:38
Komander goes after Hechicero, but Hechicero takes care of him. Bandido is back, he slams Hechicero down to the mat. He looks to work with Komander on the top rope, but Christian is back. Christian with a Poison Rana, which causes Komander to hit a Spanish Fly on Bandido! Lethal Injection from Christian to Komander, and we’re down to three!
Komander has been eliminated @ 15:30
It looks like Hechicero and Christian are going to work over Bandido. Hechicero snaps the leg of Bandido over the ropes. He wants to know if the fans want one more, but he poses instead. Christian from behind with the roll-up for a two. Bandido rolls up Christian for a two. Hechicero rolls up Bandido for a two lol. Bandido with a Rana to Hechicero to the floor AND he lands on his feet!
Christian charges Bandido on the apron, but Bandido lifts Christian up and hits a front face suplex from the apron, slamming him down onto Hechicero! Back in the ring, Frog Splash from Bandido to Christian! Blake kicks out at two. 21-Plex, Chrisitan avoids it and hits a Lethal Injection, but he can’t pin the champion! X-Knee to Christian. Hechicero with a lariat to Bandido. Hechicero with the hammerlock and the Doctor’s Spin!
Hechicero grapevines the legs of Christian, but he lets it go to apply a sleeper on Bandido. Bandido kicks Christian away, sunset flip by the Champion eliminates Christian!
Blake Christian has been eliminated @ 20:30
Christian is a sore loser and he attacks Bandido. He snaps back on the bad shoulder of Bandido before taking his leave, making this an easy target for Hechicero. He works over Bandido on the floor. The doctor comes over to check on Bandido, as Hechicero keeps trying to get at him.
Hechicero grabs a chair and tries to enter the ring with it. Martinez grabs the chair and takes it away from him. Bandido tries to engage Hechicero in a strike battle, but Hechicero with a dropkick. Hechicero takes Bandido to the corner and attacks the bad shoulder. Bandido charges after Hechicero, but he shuts that down with another shot to the shoulder.
Out on the apron, as Hechicero hits a Death Valley Driver to Bandido. Hechicero situates the ring steps next to the apron, as he looks for something off the apron. Bandido sends Hechicero back into the ring, but he eats a rising knee, as Bandido lays out on top of the steps. Hechicero springboards of the ring, but Bandido moves, and Hechicero bounces off the ring steps.
Bandido back into the ring, as he takes flight with a tope suicida over the steps and into Hechicero. Bandido returns his challenger to the ring and goes to the top. Shooting Star Press from Bandido, but Hechicero kicks out at two. Bandido calls Hechicero a Perro as he slaps him, but he pays for it with a flapjack from the challenger. Hechicero rolls Bandido around on the mat and stacks him up for a two. Bandido counters a wheelbarrow from Hechicero with a roll-up to pin him and retain his title.
WINNER: Bandido (Last Man Standing – Still Champion)
TIME: 27:50
THOUGHTS: Absolutely bonkers, in the absolute best sense of the phrase. I struggled to consider who could have dethroned Bandido, but in the end, it didn’t matter. All the action did, however, and everyone got to shine.
RATING: ****3/4
Post-match, Brody King comes down to celebrate Bandido’s victory with him. Komander is back as well to celebrate with Bandido, as the celebration goes on for a while.
Moments ago, cameras caught up to a seething Mercedes Mone. The guy says 13 titles may have been unlucky. Leila Grey approaches her and says she is still a bad bitch. Mone is like, WHO THE HELL ARE YOU? Leila introduces herself to Mone and asks if she is doing anything tomorrow night, indicating she wants a TBS Title shot. Mone says oh hell no she wants to get out of Ohio. Frankly, I don’t blame her lol.
So, that means that, yes, Mone will be defending her TBS Title tomorrow night against Grey lol! Ian and Caprice run over the matches for Collision and Winter is Coming to kill some more time so we can get to midnight. On the positive side, I am very glad that the AEW Women’s Tag Team Titles will be decided this Wednesday, and it won’t drag out until World’s End.
Video Package for the main event. Did I mention that I am a big fan of Persephone? 😉
AEW Women’s World Title Match: Athena W/Diamante (C) vs. Persephone
American Joshi Athena comes out with a sword to accentuate her cosplay. Respect. We get Bobby Cruise in-ring introductions, because what is the concept of time?
The bell rings without Persephone accepting the hand of Athena lol. Persephone takes Athena to the corner and gives a break. Athena doesn’t take kindly to that and takes her to the corner, although she does give a clean break. So, there is that.
Athena wants a test of strength, she tries to embarrass Persephone, so she slaps the champion lol. Athena does a test of strength this time, so Persephone bridges Athena to the mat. Both ladies struggle for mat space now, as Athena rolls through, only to eat a headlock takeover. I thought it was supposed to be a Rana, but okay.
Athena on the floor gets some loving from Dimante. She chastises a fan before reentering the ring. She wants to shake hands with Persephone, but her attempt at a cheap shot is countered. John Woo dropkick from Persephone sends Athena to the floor. This time, Persephone goes outside. Athena turns the tables for a second or two, before Persephone chucks her into the barricade. She does it again, as Diamante takes away her attention. Athena off the steps, as Persephone kind of stands and waits for Athena to get her bearings so she can splash Persephone.
Athena returns Persephone to the ring and proclaims that her back hurts. She pins Persephone and gets a two. Athena chokes Persephone with her boot and then kicks her in the back of the head. Athena whips Persephone, charges in after, hits a running knee strike, and hits an overhead suplex. All of that for a two lol.
Persephone tries to fight back from her knees, but Athena with a standing knee strike and a running shooting star press for a two. Athena chokes Persephone against the middle rope as she gets in the face of Mike Posey and says you don’t tell me what to do. All this does is allow Dimante to get a cheap shot in, as she feigns innocence lol.
Athena to the apron as she taunts the fans and her opponent. She snaps Persephone face first against the bottom rope but still favors her back. Athena back in the ring, her corner charge misses, and her running splash misses.
Persephone with a back breaker, but Athena stops her from pushing the advantage. Athena off the second rope, Persephone catches her, rolls through, and slams her to the mat. Persephone works over the back of the champion, as she stomps Athena face-first into the mat. She talks at Diamante and pins Athena for a one count.
Athena tries to fight back, but Persephone shoves Athena face-first into the middle turnbuckle. Persephone stomps away on the back of the champion. Athena catches a charging Persephone with a roll-up for a two. Athena tries to lift up Persephone, but her back gives out, and he decides to crawl out of the ring and to the floor.
Both ladies trade strikes on the floor, before Athena slams her into the barricade. Athena charging in, but she lands knees first into the barricade. She hobbles towards Persephone, but she gets a chokeslam from the challenger onto the table. She says this is for you, Caprice, and now I wish I was Caprice lol.
Persephone kicks Athena as the fans chant NEW CHAMP. Persephone goes to pull Athena off the ropes, and they collide in the center of the ring, resetting the match.
Both ladies get to their feet, and the strikes are fired from across the way. Athena goes around the world and kicks Persephone in the face. Brain buster is avoided, as Persephone boots her in the face. Cover for a two.
Persephone kicks Athena into the corner and sets up her right leg and kicks her in the quad. Athena gives one strike and eats five from Persephone. She lifts the left leg of Athena and kicks her in the quad. Persephone with a handstand in the corner, but Athena kicks her out of it and Persephone crashes to the floor.
Athena takes flight, she hits a dive but can’t knock Persephone down. She tries a second time, and this time, Persephone catches her and hits a Fallaway Slam on the floor. Persephone looking for the powerbomb, but Diamante saves Athena from the attack. Persephone charges and knocks out Diamante. She goes back into the ring and hits a tope to both Dimante and Athena.
Back in the ring, Persephone goes to the top and hits a missile dropkick. She is slow to the pin, however, and only gets a two. Persephone with axe handle smashes to the back and she applies a Texas Cloverleaf. Athena pushes herself to the bottom rope and breaks the hold.
Persephone backs off and charges in, but Athena catches her with a flapjack into the top rope. Athena with a knee strike and hits a springboard moonsault for a two. Athena is caught out by Persephone. Her Razor’s Edge attempt is rolled through by Athena, as she favors her back. Big kick to the gut, Razor’s Edge, but Athena counters out of it and into the Koji Clutch!
Persephone doesn’t look for the ropes; she just simply powers up Athena. Athena rolls through for a two. Persephone with a roll-up for a two. Cartwheel knees from the champion for a two. Athena goes back to the Koji Clutch. This time, Persephone gets to the ropes.
Athena says this is her show, she is the champion, and you don’t belong her bitch. As if on cue, Persephone launches into two Northern Lights Suplexes before hitting a Fallaway Slam. SPEAR from Persephone. Another Razor’s Edge attempt, and she hits it! The cover, but Athena kicks out at 2.8!
Persephone is in shock, as she punches away on the champion. Persephone stomps on Athena and goes to the top. But Athena is alive, as she jumps to the top and hits an Avalanche Release German. Athena to the top, and one O-Face later, the champion retains.
WINNER: Athena (Still the Forever Champion)
TIME: 27:00
THOUGHTS: I’m not sure what the odds were that Persephone was going to win this match, but damn if she didn’t put in an effort that, for the people who don’t know her, they will remember her by. In the end, the Forever Reign of the Forever Champion continues on. I felt the match hit a lull here and there, there was a slight slip up here and there, but overall, a damn good match, much less a main event.
RATING: ***3/4
Athena celebrates with her title post-match, as Ian says that Athena is on her way to 1,100 days as ROH Women’s Champion.
And with that, we are done!
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