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Honor Club! Tonight, Ring of Honor’s annual event known as Death Before Dishonor will take place in Philadelphia! But not just anywhere in Philadelphia, oh no, it’s taking place in the 2300 Arena AKA the old, hallowed ground of E-C-Dub! On tonight’s edition of DBD, every single title in Ring of Honor is on the line, and you can be sure that there will be a lot of BRISCOES throughout the show!
For more on this, let’s roll the Headlines!
So, how is everyone doing on this Friday Night? I’ve managed to cram the newest episodes of the Shards and Stuart Fails to Save the Universe and the debut of Lanterns around writing and preparing my preview for TNA Lockdown. But the work is never done, and I welcome it!
But enough about me and enough about you, let’s get ready die before we bring dishonor!
Image rights and credit: rohwrestling.com
Tonight, Death Before Dishonor comes to us from the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia! Ian Riccaboni and Caprice Coleman are on the call.
Zero Hour tidbits and thoughts!
*Ian and Caprice welcome us to the Zero Hour and go over the matches for tonight’s main card. Apparently, I misspoke in the intro as their will be a Women’s TV Title match. Oh, and Daniel Garcia against Adam Priest. Yay?
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*Our first match of the night is a fantastic one, as MINA and the Queen will face Vertvixen and Viva Van!
*Mina shake and shimmy will always make me happy.
*Viva is rude and she doesn’t want Chocolate kisses from the Queen. She redeems herself by giving kisses of her own lol.
*AND THE QUEEN SHOWS HER HOW IT IS DONE!
*Ian acts like Mina getting chants are out of pocket. What a nerd lol.
*Viva has always shown me a lot. I’m not saying she should get a Maya World kind of push, but more time on AEW would be great.
*It’s at this point that RobDaBank lets me know that Garcia and Priest are competing for the vacant spot in the C3 with Eddie Kingston not cleared. Still, I have to say yay, although it would be hilarious if Crash Holly wins and goes on to face Claudio lol.
*Literally just saw the slowest double tag I’ve ever seen lol. Mina is in, so all is forgiven!
*Holy crap, Viva kicked Aminata so hard she went halfway across the ring and went to the floor!
*Mina wins it for her team after a headbutt from the Queen and a diving DDT from the top on Vertvixen! Mina is a winner, so that’s the match to beat tonight. She gets all the stars!
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*Maya World is here! She came from Ring of Honor, she was on DBD last year. She has remained humble and thankful, but she wants Willow to know that she is going to come out swinging. You are living in Maya’s World now!
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*ELP AND ADAM BROOKS? WHERE ARE WE? WHAT YEAR IS IT? WHAT’S MY NAME?
*ELP puts his sunglasses on Referee Stephon Smith, but he quickly takes them off, because he can’t be biased lol.
*A lot of handshaking here, but also a lot of hard-hitting action. I like it.
*Ian explains that “Ledge” in Australia is equitable to “Legend”. So, Adam is the Loose Legend. I guess that makes sense, but it doesn’t touch the Loose Cannon.
*ELP with an audible OH FUCK after Brooks does a front face suplex across the top rope. Hopefully that was just for show or, in this case, tell.
*Brooks wins the crowd over after a flurry of high-risk offense, a running corner kick, and a Tiger Driver.
*ELP is just so damn smooth in the ring. He literally rolls from one moonsault right into another like it’s nothing. Oh, and he does a kip-up that would make HBK jealous.
*Brooks with a DDT so vicious I thought ELP was going to become a part of the mat.
*Round and round goes Brooks in the cutthroat neck breaker, but Brooks is STILL alive.
*A top rope crossbody and a big splash from the top (after ELP does the R-V-D notion) wins it for El Phantasmo! Really good stuff. I’d love to see more of both of these guys on either ROH or AEW. It looks like the main card is going to have a LOT to live up to after this one. ****1/4
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*Athena video package incoming. Ian mentions in a voiceover that Athena is the longest reigning Champion in the modern era. Somewhere, Roman Reigns is looking constipated.
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*SOLEIL, KOMANDER, AND AR FOX? TONY KHAN IS MAD CRAZY, BRUV!
*With action this crazy, here isn’t much that I can really add to do this justice. AR Fox takes out Soleil, so Komander takes him out with a springboard moonsault. He missed the rope walk moonsault, though.
*I love how every time Fox throws a punch, he says YEAH! I feel like that’s copyright infringement lol.
*So, Ian just confirmed that the winner of tonight’s Priest-Garcia match will face Claudio in Reading tomorrow in the semifinals of the C3. I feel like that’s a bye for Claudio either way.
*SOLIEL DUCKS A FOX CLOTHESLINE AND DOES THREE HANDSTANDS JUST TO HIT A CUTTER ON FOX! BUT IT DOESN’T MATTER BECAUSE KOMANDER COMES OFF THE TOP AND PLANTS SOLIEL WITH THE ROPE WALK MOONSAULT FOR THE WIN! AS JOHN DANZING ONCE SAID, “JEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEZUS!” ****1/4
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*The Zero Hour’s “main event” is Don Callis Family members Brian Cage and Hechicero facing Alce Price and Jordan Oliver AKA Busta and the Brain!
*Romero and Beretta are on commentary for this one. Lucky us.
*Ian compares Price and Oliver to the Backseat Boys. I mean, it’s definitely apt. And then Ian says Trent is jacked, which erases any good point that he could ever make again.
*There is a really odd affection with muscles here. It sounds weird.
*Oliver with a dead lift German to Cage! It didn’t win the match but GOT DANG OLD TOP!
*Cage throws Oliver out of the ring onto Price just to bring Price back into the ring with the middle rope suplex. Hechicero wins it with the Crucifix Bomb. Not a bad match, it was a nice cool down from the previous two high octane bouts. ***1/4
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We get one final epic video package to conclude the Zero Hour!
It’s time for the Main Show to begin!
And the main show is starting with the ROH 6-man title match! For some reason, they gave them the Outrunners video effect, and I’m not sure if that was an accident, or if they were trolling the Champions.
ROH World 6-Man Tag Titles Match: The Outrunners and Dalton Castle (C) vs. The Lethal Twist
Lee Johnson goes for the Code of Honor, but Truth Magnum smacks it away. What a heel lol. Johnson with a shoulder tackle, Magnum with a double leg and he pounds away on Johnson. That invites everyone in for a brawl, and the Champions hold serve. The Outrunners run the ropes like they are going to fly, but they stop, step out onto the apron, and they hit double axe handles to Lethal and Christian lol.
Lee is confused and he tags in Floyd. He looks shocked for some reason lol. The Outrunners with a sidewalk slam and an elbow drop for a two. Lethal is back and gets the tag, although Magnum hits a hip toss, a corner clothesline, and the flying head scissors! Lethal gets bounced around like a pinball in the babyface corner. The handshake is broken up by Johnson much to the consternation of the fans.
Christian hits the ring for the first time with a huge flying lariat. Blake shows he flexes, and Caprice is like I can’t take up for that lol. Blake has referee Bryce as Lee chokes out Magnum. Back to the Twist corner goes Magnum, as Lee stomps him out in the corner. The Champions distract Bryce, meaning that Truth is fair game for corner abuse.
A lot of posturing takes place between the faces and heels with Bryce. Truth has to escape every member of the Lethal Twist to get to the tag, but Johnson pulls Floyd from the apron, and Christian knocks Castle from the apron. Back to the corner goes Magnum as Lethal hits a back elbow for a two. Jay works the fingers of Magnum, tag to Johnson, and Big Shoddy with mounted punches. Lee mocks Truth, tag to Christian. Snapmare and a basement dropkick, cocky cover for a two.
Christian spins around and flexes to mock Truth. He hits an elbow drop but misses a second one. Lethal in now, and he attacks Truth. Jay off the ropes, but it’s time for the strut! WOOOOOOOOOOOO! Lethal gets the tables turned on him with a Magnum suplex! Lethal tries to stop the tag, but Floyd knocks him down. Christian dropkicks Floyd off the apron. Lethal looking Figure-4, but he is sent into the corner.
The Peacock is in! Dalton indiscriminately throws all the challengers around. Castle catches Jay out the Lethal Injection with a bridging German for a two. Tag to Turbo, the handshake is about to happen, but Christian steals the title from around Floyd’s waist! That man hasn’t taken that title off since he won it! Turbo is caught in the Tree of WOE, we get a flurry of offense, Lethal with Hail to the King, Johnson with a splash, and Christian with the guillotine keg drop, although it looks like he injured himself.
The Lethal Twist let him escape, and here comes Castle. Bang-a-rang attempt, no, Lethal Injection! Everyone gets their shit in, and Floyd rolls up Johnson, but Lee reverses it and grabs Jay’s hand for extra leverage! We have new Champions, and Jay Lethal has made ROH history!
WINNERS: The Lethal Twist
TIME: 14:05
THOUGHTS: A fairly good opener for the main show. Disappointed that Dalton and the Outrunners lost the titles, but they balanced action and psychology pretty well.
RATING: ***1/2
Lexy Nair has both the Kingdom and LFI in the back. Matt, sorry, Matthew Taven tells Sammy and Beast that they want to work with them out there tonight. Michael Bennett says that they have to change their names from Sammy to Samuel, and Beast to Beauty. Or is it Frank to Franklin? Frankford? Mortos roars, and Michael wants him to speak into his Sparta. ROAR ROAR ROARRRRRRRRRR says Mortos, and Michael says it translates to something about cheese that he can’t say. Sammy says you don’t speak beastese? That means that he accepts.
That was certainly something, cotton!
The voice of ROH Bobby Cruise runs down the Pure Rules for the next match!
ROH Women’s Pure Title Match: Deonna Purrazzo (C) vs. Steph De Lander.
Deonna waives off the Code of Honor this time despite being the babyface. I think anyway. She does get a lot of the reaction in crowd chants. Inside headlock takeover by Deonna, who manipulates the fingers of Steph. Deonna turns the elbow over and stomps on it. Deonna looking submission, but Steph takes her first of three rope breaks.
Steph hits the floor and grabs a chair. Deonna approaches, but Steph drops her face-first with an electric chair drop on the apron. Steph sits in the seat and then tells the fans to kiss her ass. If she wasn’t married to Mance Warner, I would. Back in the ring, and Steph hits a sit-down Tiger Driver for a two.
Steph with a suplex and she mocks Deonna and does a curtsey. Deonna goes for the arm of Steph, but she ends up in the ropes, and De Lander is down to ONE rope break. Deonna with two pump kicks, but Steph fires back with a straight punch, meaning that Steph has been warned and cannot use the power of the punch again.
Deonna with the Fujiwara arm bar, and Steph gets her foot on the rope. Steph is now out of rope breaks and has been warned within 350 seconds of the match. Deonna heads to the top, but Steph kicks her in the head and suplexes her from the top for a two.
Both ladies are back to their feet and trade forearms. Steph off the ropes, she runs into the ref by accident, and Steph cracks her in the face with another punch! Steph plants Deonna, but she’s too close to the ropes and uses her first rope break to escape. Steph brings the chair into the ring, but she hits herself in the face with it.
Deonna with the arm bar! Steph rolls her up for a two, but Deonna keeps control and turns it into the Venus De Milo! Steph verbally submits!
WINNER: Deonna Purazzo (And still!)
TIME: 8:50
THOUGHTS: I don’t think anyone bought Steph winning her because her style isn’t conducive to the Pure Rules. It was fine, but Deonna is on a run as the first and, still, only Women’s Pure Champion.
RATING: ***
Post-match, Deonna brings members of her family to ring side, and she carries someone (I assume her niece) to the back. That’s kidnapping, madam.
Video package incoming for the ROH Women’s TV Title!
ROH Women’s TV Title Match: Red Velvet (C) vs. Skye Blue vs. Zayda Steel vs. Marina Shafir
Jon Moxley is on commentary for this match. Marina throws her socks at Christopher Daniels lol.
The bell rings, Skye goes to punch Marina, but Velvet rolls her up instead. Marina grabs Zayda, but Steel with a STUNNER counter. Velvet sends Blue to the floor, and Steel and Velvet work together to take out Shafir. Steel and Velvet come face-to-face and they shake hands, but Steel rolls up Velvet for a two! Velvet with one of her own for a two. Velvet blocks Steel’s offense but still gets sent to the apron. Zayda with the Draping DDT, but Velvet is out at one.
Shafir and Skye are back to disrupt this showdown. Shafir takes Steel to the floor while Velvet and Blue trade roll-ups. Shafir grabs Velvet off the mat and she throws her overhead. Marina with a cartwheel into a taunting kick to the head lol. Velvet fires up with her fists up, but Marina uses her Judoka skills to overwhelm. Velvet fires back with a fury, and Jon tells Marina to cover up and calls Velvet a Toronto Racoon lol.
Blue tries a backslide to Marina, and Jon calls her a selfish bitch LMAO. Marina hits a butterfly suplex to Velvet, leaving Steel and Blue. Zayda blocks the knee strike from Blue and salts her with forearms. Off the ropes, and Marina pulls Steel out of the ring and throws her across the announce table right into Moxley lol. Shafir with the half crab to Velvet, but here comes Steel with the sleeper! Skye with a thrust kick to Steel and she hits Marina with a swinging neck breaker which is broken up by Velvet.
Jon wants to sell his chair as Steel hits a running neck breaker to Velvet and a Tornado DDT to Velvet! Code Breaker to Skye! Steel with a Top Suicida to Marina! Steel is on FIRE! Zayda heads up top, but Velvet cuts her off. Both Velvet and Skye go up, but here comes Marina, TOWER OF POWER POWERBOMB!
Marina takes a minute to regain her composure before smashing Steel in the corner. Steel is sent out of the ring by Velvet, and she uses the back of Blue for a step up to hit double knees to Marina. She tries it a second time, but Marina catches her and she powerbombs Velvet on top of Blue! Marina takes care of Steel, but here comes Blue with her title belt! She smacks Velvet with it and then hits Marina with it. Marina isn’t fazed too much as she throws the Brazilian Heel Hook onto Skye! Here comes Velvet, who hits a Frog Splash to Shafir and Velvet retains!
WINNER: Red Velvet (And still!)
TIME: 10:55
THOUGHTS: This match had pretty much everything going for it. Not one of the women in this match looked bad, Steel had the showing of her young career, and Moxley added a lot on commentary.
RATING: ****
Video package for upcoming Men’s Pure Title match!
ROH Men’s Pure Title Match: Lee Moriarty (C) vs. Katsuyori Shibata
Shibata is in for Nigel McGuinness, who had to step out due to his foot injury. Code of Honor is adhered to and straight away we go to ground wrestling. Ian calls it like he’s calling golf lol. Shibata grapevines both of Lee’s legs, forcing Moriarty to exhaust his first rope break.
Fans are split in their support for both men as Shibata with a hip lock into wrist control. And we reset! Lock-up into a side headlock for Shibata. He runs over Moriarty with a shoulder tackle, but Lee with running clothesline into a snap suplex. Northern Lights Suplex from Lee, Shibata kicks out, and Lee remains in the bridging position lol.
Shibata claps for Lee and wants to shake hands again, but this time Shibata kicks him in the gut. Shibata takes Moriarty and snapmares him into the ropes four times. Figure-Four leg lock from Shibata as he puts his finger in Lee’s face. Moriarty grabs the foot of Shibata, but he smacks his hand away and keeps the pressure on. Lee is forced to grab the bottom rope, and Moriarty is down to one rope break.
Moriarty with chops that Shibata keeps eating and asks for more. Shibata fakes out Moriarty with a chop and stomps on his foot and tosses him to the mat. Forearm fury from Shibata in the corner, but Lee cuts him off with a dropkick. Discus Clothesline and a running bulldog from Taiga Style! Northern Lights into the bridge for a two. Border City Stretch from Lee, but Shibata rolls him over for a two.
Both men end up on the apron, front face lock from Shibata, Brain Buster on the apron! Shibata returns Moriarty to the ring and gets a two on the pin. Shibata with the Figure-Four which he turns into an ankle lock. Lee looks at the rope, then the ref before reaching for the bottom rope. That means Lee is OUT of rope breaks.
Shibata with corner knee strikes, and he scores with the running stalling dropkick. Full Nelson suplex from Shibata for a two. Another pin for a two. A third pin for a two. Shibata with the snapmare, Lee ducks the PK, but he gets chopped on his back. Both men trade running pump kicks, Moriarty off the ropes with a Comebacker Lariat for a two! BCS from Moriarty, but Shibata counters with the sleeper! Moriarty to the ropes and he manages to roll Shibata to the floor.
Moriarty with a Tope Suicida that sees Lee hit his head on the barricade. Lee returns Shibata to the ring, but his knee gives out on the way down. Shibata with a roll-up for a two, but Lee counters with a sleeper. Both men trade sleeper counters, Moriarty traps Shibata with the London Bridge and he retains his title!
WINNER: Lee Moriarty (And still!)
TIME: 13:15
THOUGHTS: Perhaps it was disappointing that Nigel couldn’t take this match, but Shibata was a great substitute, and it felt like he could win the title here. But Lee is Taiga Style for a reason.
RATING: ***3/4
Lexy is in the back with the Dark Order. They argue over whether Preston Vance is in the group or not. John Silver doesn’t trust him, but Alex Reynolds and Evil Uno say he is in. Vance is here, and he says he made a mistake and he wants John’s trust back. Silver says he can’t trust Preston and he storms off.
it’s time for tag team chaos!
ROH World Tag Team Title Match: Team El Sky (C) vs. Top Flight vs. The Kingdom vs. LFI
And the heels attack before the bell! Taven and Guevarra take turns posing with one of the title belts. Taven and Bennett send Darius and Dante on the apron, but they pull themselves back up and take them out! Darius and Taven are back in the ring and the bell finally rings. Top Flight with the top team offense, Darius with a suplex and a Senton Splash from Dante to Taven. Standing moonsault from Dante, but Taven kicks out at two. Taven wants a tag, but apparently, Sparta told them to put Dante in the corner. That results in Taven getting suplexed onto the knee of Darius for a two.
Bennett tells Taven to tag in Mortos, so he does. AI SUCKS chants as Mortos roughs up Darius. Sammy tags in and the crowd jeer. Tag to Mortos and the fans cheer. Mortos with highly dramatic acting and tags in Sammy. Sammy looks to tag back out, but Darius has had enough as he knocks Mortos from the apron and hits a dropkick to Sammy. Darius even does Sammy’s post for good measure lol.
Sammy looks to attack, but he tags in Mistico instead. Handshake offered by Darius, but Mistico takes him to the mat. Ground wrestling ensues, double roll through, and we get a standoff. NOW Mistico wants to shake hands. Dante and Masacara Dorada get the tag. Dante sends Dorada off, but he handsprings across the ring. Cute, says Dante, who does a pop-up of his own. Dorada with another one, and they both block each other’s kick. LFI look to break up the mutual admiration society, but they fail to do so.
El Sky Team lay out the Kingdom on the floor with stereo topes. At some point, Mortos got the tag, and he crushes both Martin Brothers with a lariat. Tornio to the floor by Mortos, taking out the Champions! Sammy is back with a neck breaker to Dante in the ring, and he hits a big moonsault to the mass of humanity on the floor. Mortos with a big bulldog (or is it BEASTDOG) to Dante and he tattoos him with a lariat and a backbreaker for a two.
Tag to Taven, and the Kingdom hit Dante with the Proton Pack for a two. Taven pops up Dante onto the knee of Bennett. The pin, but Darius makes the save. He’s thrown out of the ring for his troubles. Sparta apparently froze and now they don’t know what to do lol. Mortos lawn darts Dante into Sammy for a CUTTER. Mortos with a big back splash for a two. Mortos ROARS and smacks Darius one on the apron, which allows Sammy the chance to choke out Dante.
Taven is in, but his moonsault hits the mat. Dante is forced to take in Mistico, who takes it to Taven with a springboard crossbody. Tag to Dorada who hits his own crossbody to Bennett. Counters by both men, Dorada bounces from station to station and hits the arm drag! Mistico gets the tag and slaps Sammy. Kicks follow, Mistico to the top rope and he hits a big arm drag!
Head scissor from Mistico, tag to Dorada, but Mortos gets the tag and he headbutts Mistico out of the air! Mortos to the top, here comes Dorada, but Mortos chucks him to the mat. Dorada bounces off of Mortos, goes around the world, and he takes FRANK down with a Rana! Tag to the Kingdom, Dorada kicks Benett off the apron, off the ropes, but Bennett drops the ropes, forcing Dorada to the floor. The heels attack on the floor, and here comes Taven with a Frosberry Flop!
Dante on the shoulders of Bennett, just the Tip from Taven. Back in the ring, Bennett with a Spicoli Driver and the Tip from Taven, but Dorada kicks out at two. The heels congregate in the ring and wait for direction from Sparta. Bennett stomps on Dorada and then taunts Mistico. Taven looking for the Climax, but he drops Dorada and calls Mistico an idiot.
Dorada tags in Sammy, and now he’ll have to face Taven. FUCK YOU SAMMY chants, and Dorada takes both of them out with a crossbody. The babyfaces congregate in the ring now, and all four heels eat Topes on a schedule! Back in the ring, and now the babyfaces are taking off! It’s El Sky Team versus Top Flight! Dorada has Darius on the top rope, up he goes and here comes an Avalanche Spanish Fly, and the Champions retain!
WINNERS: Ek Sky Team (And still!)
TIME: 19:15
THOUGHTS: Balls to the wall fun. I had no reservations about Mistico and Dorada losing the titles here, but damn if Dante and Darius didn’t leave it out there in the ring. At least Sammy didn’t win the titles back, even if it screwed over FRANK
RATING: ****
Post-match, we get babyface respect between the Champions and Top Flight. Here comes the Don Callis Family to ambush them, and the Kingdom are back to help. Most of the babyfaces hit the ring to chase the heels off, including Ortiz with a stool. Because sure, why not?
Ian lets us know that Eddie Kingston had to step out of a Philadelphia street fight tonight and also out of the Continental Cup tomorrow night. As a result, there will be a “play-in” tonight to determine who will face Claudio tomorrow night on Collision.
“Play-in” Match for the Continental Cup Semifinals: Adam Priest vs. Daniel Garcia
Code of Honor is adhered to, which surprised me. Some ADAM PRIEST chants, as Priest takes Garcia down to the mat. He tries a suplex, but Garcia hooks the ropes. Another lock-up, and a shoulder tackle from Garcia. Leapfrog attempt from Priest, but Garcia pulls up and mocks him. He gets kicked in the shin and eats a dropkick for that indiscretion.
Priest starches Garcia with uppercuts. Hammer throw but Priest with an elbow. Priest abuses the knee of Garcia as the fans implore Adam to FUCK EM UP. Garcia goes low and chops Priest, so Adam goes lower with a chop block. Single leg crab, but Daniel quickly gets the break. Garcia to the apron, Priest meets him up top, but Garcia throws him off. Priest walks over to Garcia, and he hits a Dragon Screw in the ropes.
Garcia gets in the face of a fan at ring side who looks a bit like Carson Wentz lol. Garcia wraps Priest’s left leg around the ring post and then abuses it some more on the apron. Garcia controls the legs of Priest and stomps down on them. Basement dropkick from Garcia for a two. He keeps hold and applies an ankle lock, forcing Priest to the ropes.
Garcia continues the abuse of Priest in the corner. Daniel to the top and he mounts and punches. Garcia looks like he is going to dance, but he backs down instead. Priest with chops, but Garcia shuts him down with a Mongolian Chop. Priest is back with chops and a DDT FROMOUTTANOWHERE! Both men end up on the apron, where Garcia goes back to the leg of Priest. Turnabout is fair play, as Priest snaps Danny’s leg in the ropes.
Priest and Garcia head to the top, Priest with a stalling Superplex! Priest catches Garcia’s kick and hits another Dragon Screw. And a second one. And a third one. A fourth one is blocked, as Garcia goes to his back and he kicks away at Priest. Arm Breaker from Garcia, but he turns that into the ankle lock! He stands on the head of Priest, but Adam was do close to the ropes anyway.
Garcia talks that mad smack to Priest. Chops from Garcia only manage to fire up Priest. Garcia looking Dragon Screw, but Priest catches him and they have a one-legged standoff. A chop battle ensues, Garcia goes to run, but his knee buckles, and he eats a BIG lariat from Priest. Adam looking Figure-Four, but Danny kicks him away. Priest is persistent if nothing else, so he locks it on again. Garcia swings the momentum, so Priest swings it back. Garcia swings it back, so Priest counters.
Both guys do a bunch of rolls now out to the apron. Both men hit the floor with the Figure-Four still intact! Both men roll halfway up the ramp as Bryce starts the count. Both men get to the apron, but Garcia shoves Priest into the ring steps. Priest BARELY makes it back in time.
Both men to their feet, and they show a fist fight, but they switch to a kick to the knee battle. Piledriver from Priest, but Garcia is out at two. Adam applies the Hitch, he pulls Garcia back to the middle of the ring, but Danny kicks him away. Garcia with the hammer elbows, but Priest grabs the arm and powers up. Inside takeover by Garcia and he abuses the bad knee of Priest. Dragon Tamer from Garcia. Priest tries to fight, but Garcia pulls the whole back, and Priest taps out!
WINNER: Daniel Garcia
TIME: 16:55
THOUGHTS: Death Riders doing business tomorrow night on Collision? That’s certainly a choice. I figured they would feed Priest to Claudio so he could beat Crash Holly around the arena. This was a fairly good match with good psychology and focus on body part abuse.
RATING: ***1/2
Lexy is in the back with Shane Taylor Promotions, but Lexy isn’t there lol. They hype up Lee Moriarty and his Pure Title reign. Shane Taylor says that now that they are working with the Hurt Syndicate, no one can stop them. RUMBLE, BAD MAN, RUMBLE!
Video package for the TV Title match. Lio being able to remember that Andretti and him were a team and cutting a coherent promo as Blackheart is all good stuff.
Haha, Lio’s umbrella is covered in barbwire! Love it! I also like the black/shadow version of the TV Title. Oh, and he’s dressed in Sabu pants!
Fight Without Honor for the Men’s World TV Title: Lio Rush (C) vs. Action Andretti
The bell rings and we get a long stare down. IT’S FINE chants, as Andretti lands the first punch. Lio looks away, looks back, and smiles as the fans chant YOU FUCKED UP. Both men off the ropes, they both hit the mat and stare each other down. Lio screams NO and goes under the ring. Andretyi heads out the other side of the ring and kicks Lio in the face from the steps. Andretti throws Rush into the barricade, and he goes under the ring.
Andretti grabs a broom from under the ring, and we get a tug of war over it around the ring post. Andretti manages to pull Rush into the ring post and then bends the broom over his back. Rush looks under the ring, and he blocks another shot from the broom. Rush commandeers the broom and jams it into Andretti’s chest. USE A SHOVEL chant as Andretti rolls up Rush for a two. A kick to the head and a DDT gets him another two.
Andretti stomps on Rush, mocks the Sabu pose and flips off his hometown fans. Side Russian Leg Sweep from Action for a two. Andretti searches under the ring and finds a broom and dustpan that he throws at the head of Rush. Here comes another broom to hit Lio in the head. Action pulls out a table, but he puts it back as the fans boo. Rush throws one of the brooms back at the head of Action.
Rush under the ring now, and he has an umbrella! He heads to the apron, and he jumps and wipes out Andretti. MARY POPPINS chants, and the crowd has been on point tonight! Rush pulls out a post hook and chokes Andretti with it. Rush with a table now as the fans chant E-C-DUB. Andretti attacks from behind and avoids a DVD through the table, but Rush lands on his feet and he SPEARS ACTION THROUGH THE TABLE!
More USE THE SHOVEL chants, so Rush obliges, and he also throws in three trash can lids. Rush hams the shovel into the throat of Andretti. THUNDEROUS lid shot to the head of Andretti, as Ian breaks out the Doug line lol. A CHAIR IS HOVERING RIGHT IN FRONT OF ANDRETTI IN THE CORNER AND CAPRICE SOUNDS LIKE A CHIPMUNK LOL. Andretti uses the set up chair to hit a flying clothesline. DVD by Andretti to Rush on the chair, and he does it a second time for full effect, but Rush is out at two.
YOU STILL SUCK chants as Andretti flips the fans off. Andretti smacks Rush with a lid, he sets up the chair in the corner, RUSH IS THROWN INTO THE CHAIR, INTO THE RING POST, AND HE HITS THE FLOOR! Rush frees himself from the chair only to get a lid thrown in his face. Andretti stalks Rush around the ring, but Rush counters a suplex and rips at the hair of Andretti. Lio with a suplex on the apron, he tells us IT’S FINE, and Rush goes for a black table!
Rush sets up the table, and he takes Andretti around the ring with a side headlock. Andretti looking for the DVD through the table, but Rush escapes back into the ring and he hits a CUTTER in the ropes. Rush does the run around the ring and flattens Action on the floor. Rush places a black box on the apron and grabs a chain. Andretti tries to stop him, but Rush snaps his face over the top rope.
Rush pulls out a red door from under the ring! Rush does an Arabian Leg Drop with the lid. Lio empties out the bag and its black glass! Andretti tries to stay away from it, but Rush ends up gouging the forehead of Andretti! He rolls out of the ring, and Lio is so nice he picks up the black glass. But wait, he uses the street sweeper instead! SWEEP FOREVER!
Rush smashes Andretti’s face off the black table and smacks Andretti across the midsection with the barbwire chair. Rush to the top rope, but Andretti is alive and he throws the chair into Lio’s head. A series of counters ensue in the ring for a bit before Lio smashes Andretti with the lid. He does it a second time, but his cutter is countered by a knee from Andretti. Backslide attempt, but Rush answers with the CUTTER!
Rush grounds Andretti and applies the Fade to Darkness. The lights go out, and HOOK is in the ring when they come back on. Andretti is now gone, and HOOK hits a T-Bone Suplex. He charges Rush, but Lio throws him through the red door! Andretti is back, he looks for Lights Camera Action, but Rush counters and he plants Andretti with a Liger Bomb!
Lio goes for the black box, but Anthony Bowens is here and he stops Rush from opening it. HOOK is back and he applies the Red Rum. They end up on the floor, as Bowens empties out the black glass on the black table. ANDRETTI WITH A SPRINBOARD 450 TO RUSH AND THROUGH THE TABLE! The Opps help Andretti back into the ring. THE COVER, BUT RUSH KICKS OUT BEFORE ONE!
Forearm battle ensues, and Andretti throws Rush into the broken red table. Both Rush and Andretti do their best to avoid the barbwire chair in the corner. Andretti is able to throw Rush into the chair headfirst, and he hits Lights, Camera, Action and we have a new champion!
WINNER: Action Andretti (And NEW!)
TIME: 23:55
THOUGHTS: The match itself was good and creative, but I wonder why the Opps are out to help Action Andretti. I don’t always watch ROH weekly, so maybe there is a connection I’m missing, but it felt random. A little bit overbooked and a little too long for my taste, but IT’S FINE!
RATING: ***1/2
Post-match, Lio opens his black box, and it has a black heart in it. Lio drinks from the heart, and the black liquid comes out of his mouth. TO BE CONTINUED!
Ian and Caprice run down matches on LIVE Collision tomorrow night in Reading. Up next is the Men’s World Title match!
ROH Men’s World Title Match: Bandido (C) vs. Nick Wayne
Bobby Cruise with the in-ring introductions for this one.
Bandido goes for the Code of Honor, Nick thinks about it, but he slaps his hand away. Wayne takes Bandido to the corner and threatens a back elbow and then mocks his finger guns. Nick ways you are entering my world. Waist lock by Bandido, but Wayne backs him into the ropes. The break is given, but again Nick feigns the back elbow and mocks the finger guns. Side headlock from Bandido, he rolls around a bit, arm drags follow, Bandido ramps up the speed, and he shows Wayne what the REAL finger guns look like!
Wayne backs off, but he sneaks in with a knee to the gut. Wayne with some prancing around, and he chops Bandido. Bandido fires back with a dropkick and a Rana, which sends Nick to the floor. Here comes Bandido with a shoulder tackle, and he takes flight with the Tope Suicida! UNO MAS asks Bandido, but his second attempt meets the knee of Wayne. Nick stalks Bandido on the floor, but he runs into open palm strikes from the Champion. Wayne drives Bandido into the barricade, so Bandido counters by dropping Nick on the barricade. Bandido backs up, takes off, but Wayne throws Bandido into the barricade.
Wayne breaks the count and he proceeds to set up the steps more to his liking. Wayne chucks Bandido into the barricade again, and he takes a minute to admire his work. Wayne sends Bandido back into the ring where he gets a two on the pin. Wayne grabs at the mask of Bandido and he backs off. Wayne tries it a second time and backs off again. Wayne suckers Bandido in for a corner snap suplex.
Wayne pulls a page from the Rock’s book and spits in his hand before chopping Bandido. Bandido cuts off Wayne with a pump kick, a clothesline, and a springboard moonsault! Superman Punch and SUPERKICK from Bandido follows. Bandido lifts up Wayne for the Military Press and hits the Frog Splash for a two. EDDIE chants, as Bandido sets up Wayne for a powerbomb, but Nick fights his way free. Wayne to the corner, but Bandido trips him up. Torture Rack set-up, but Bandido throws Wayne down with a front face suplex. Bandido off the ropes with a BIG Shinning Wizard for a two.
Bandido looking powerbomb again, but Wayne escapes and he raps Bandido in the ropes. Nick to the top and he hits a Swanton Bomb! Wayne regains his wits about him and returns Bandido to the ring. Wayne with a standing Sliced Bread for a two. Wayne mocks Bandido and holds his hands back, begging him to hit him. Bandido fakes him out with the kick, Wayne answers back with an elbow, but Bandido with the SUPERKICK. Wayne with a German, but Bandido with the Savant Kick. CUTTER from Wayne, Poison Rana from Bandido, Destroyer from Wayne! Selling, the game!
ROH and HOLY SHIT chants from the fans. Both men sit up at the same time and trade strikes. They both look at something and head out to the apron. Bandido ends up against the ring steps, Wayne looking for a knee strike, but Bandido trips up Wayne, and his head BOUNCES off the ring steps! Bandido rolls back into the ring, and we see Wayne is busted open from the forehead. Wayne barely makes it back into the ring before the count.
Bandido heads to the top rope, but his Shooting Star Press meets the knees of Wayne, who rolls him up for a two. Clothesline collision in the middle of the ring. And again. Both guys hold each other up, headbutt from Wayne, clothesline from Bandido. Powerbomb attempt, but Wayne bites away and frees himself for a Code Red for a two. Bandido is back up and he pops up Wayne into a rolling Liger Kick!
Bandido looking 21-Plex, but Wayne counters with a Poison Rana! Bandido fires up, so Wayne puts him down with a Prodigy Plex for a two! Wayne’s World, but Bandido catches Wayne in the torture rack. X-Knee and the 21-Plex connect, but Wayne kicks out at 2.8! Bandido with another X-Knee, but Wayne escapes and shoves Bandido into Stephon. Low blow from Wayne, he hits Wayne’s World and another Prodigy Plex! The cover, but Bandido counters into a crucifix and he retains his title!
WINNER: Bandido (And still!)
TIME: 22:40
THOUGHTS: Nick Wayne has arrived ahead of schedule. He has had the promise and the potential, and he came THIS close to dethroning Bandido as the ROH World Champion. His day will come someday, but in this day and age, no one does it better than Bandido does.
RATING: ****1/4
Post-match, Wayne questions WHY, people throw money into the ring for Bandido, and he celebrates his win.
The Death Riders are in the back. Moxley says that you always have to be ready in this business, and that isn’t an opinion, this is a fact. Marina tells Garcia that he has to go even with a bum ankle. Garcia says he has a bum ankle, bum knee, and a bum back, but he isn’t giving up. He wants to know where Claudio is. He’s kidding, but the next 20 years in this business are his. Claudio is a World Champion across the landscape, but it’s time for him to take the torch. And it doesn’t matter if he faces Orange Cassidy, Nigel McGimpy, or Moxley’s bum ass, this is all for the love of the sport. Garcia tells Moxley he is just joking, and my goodness, if looks good kill, then Marina would have killed Danny lol.
It’s time for the MAIN EVENT!
ROH Women’s World Title Match: Athena (C) vs. Hazuki
For a second match in a row, Bobby Cruise gives us the in-ring intros.
Athena wants Hazuki to kiss her hand, but Hazuki refuses and charges the Champion at the bell. Hazuki gets the better of Athena in the opening exchange. The fans have switched from ATHENA to HAZUKI. Athena wants a handshake now, but we see her fingers are crossed behind her back lol. Hazuki doesn’t take the bait, and she starches Athena with a forearm. Athena throws a temper tantrum on the floor, and she walks around the ring for a bit.
Athena back in the ring, she gets a headlock, but Hazuki counters. Head scissor counter by Athena, Hazuki fights free, but Athena sucks her back in for an ankle lock. Hazuki with a self-defense kick to the head for a one. Athena wants a test of strength, so Hazuki keeps switching up the hand lol. Athena gets Hazuki to the mat and works over the shoulder. She punks her out in the ropes, but she eats a shoulder tackle for it.
Hazuki off the ropes, pop-up head scissor from Athena, but Hazuki slams the Champion to the mat. Snapmare, rolling neck breaker, and a basement dropkick from Hazuki only gets her a one. Billie Starkz and Diamante are out to distract Hazuki, which allows Athena the chance to hit Hazuki with a face buster for a two. Athena stalks Hazuki to the corner with strikes and chokes her out with the boot. Athena distracts Mike Posey, allowing Starkz to choke her out. REF, YOU SUCK chants as Athena stretches out Hazuki with a hammer lock before planting her challenger.
Athena misses a corner charge and Hazuki with a front hook roll-up for a two. Hazuki salts Athena with forearms, both ladies follow the other across the ring, Athena with a German, but Hazuki rolls through. Athena picks up Hazuki and she backs up to the ropes, and they go through the ropes with Hazuki still in her clutches. Double stomp from Hazuki, and she returns to the ring. The Minions fan Athena in order to wake her back up. Billie and Diamante have to pick up Athena and roll her back into the ring.
Hazuki runs and plants the Champion with a head scissor. Out of the corner comes Hazuki with a tornado DDT. The cover, but Athena was too close to the ropes. Face washing boots from Hazuki, but Athena is back in it as she kicks Hazuki in the head. ATHENA WITH A POWERSLAM THROUGH THE ROPES AND ONTO THE APRON TO HAZUKI!
Athena returns Hazuki to the ring, she picks her up and hits a Powerslam for a two. Hazuki is being held up by the ropes and now Athena, as she carries her to the top rope. Hazuki punches her way free, AVALANCHE CRUCIFIX BOMB! The cover, but Athena bridges out at two. A forearm battle breaks out from knees and then a vertical base. Hazuki wins that, Athena catches her off the ropes, but Hazuki counters with a Rana.
Hazuki goes behind, but Athena lands on her feet and hits a pump kick. Hazuki to the apron, she lures Athena into the ropes only to eat a knee and a DDT! Hazuki to the top, missile dropkick connects! Double knees from Hazuki and she sets up Athena in the corner like Goldust would his opponents. Code Breaker out of the corner, but that’s just a two.
Hazuki heads up again, Athena avoids and hits a Pendulum Face buster for a two. Koji Clutch from Athena, Hazuki is fading, but Hazuki stacks up Athena for a two. Kip-up from Athena, but she is wobbly on her feet a bit. Hazuki fights off Athena’s stomp and catches her in the Cross-Face! Athena slowly makes it to the bottom rope, so Hazuki boots Athena out of the ring and to the floor. Hazuki takes flight, but Athena counters with a knee to the face. Athena Hazuki from barricade to barricade. Athena looking Tombstone on the ramp, but Hazuki shakes free. Athena tries again, another counter from Hazuki. Fisherwoman’s Buster on the ramp from Hazuki!
It’s time for Hazuki to return the same treatment to Athena as she bounces around like a pinball. The Minions look concerned as Athena is returned to the ring. Hazuki to the top, the Senton connects, but that’s a two. Diamante is on the apron to distract Mike, and Billie shoves Athena into him. Okay. Billie and Diamante work over Hazuki, but the joke is on them as Hazuki hits a Code Breaker to both of them. Hazuki with not ONE but TWO Tope Suicidas.
Back in the ring, and Hazuki misses her PK and Athena trips her up. Big Stomp from Athena, but Hazuki is out at two. Tombstone Piledriver but AGAIN she is out at two. Athena throws Hazuki out of the ring and in front of the announce table. She tells Ian and Caprice to MOVE, and she shifts the table around. Athena sits Hazuki on the apron, she shoves Caprice away, but that allows Hazuki the opportunity hit counter with the draping DDT!
Hazuki lays Athena on the announce table and places some axe handles. Hazuki to the very top, it feels like she is taking WAY too long here, but she’s not, and she splashes Athena through the table! Back in the ring, Brain buster from Hazuki, but that’s just a two. Athena counters with a cutter because sure, why not. Athena through the ropes and she hits the O-Face! Back in the ring and another O-Face retains the title for Athena.
WINNER: Athena (And still!)
TIME: 30:20
THOUGHTS: Hazuki gave it her all in this match and could have won the title here. But when you say the Title reign is forever, then that must make it true. False finishes galore, big mores galore, and over a half hour of action that rarely let up. Athena said that the women should be in the main event, and she continues to prove why.
RATING: ****1/2
Post-match, we get a genuine moment of sportswomanship from Athena towards Hazuki. Color me impressed. And with that, we are done!
