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Join 411’s Live ROH Supercard Of Honor 2026 Coverage
Image Credit: ROH
Hello Team 411! Welcome to your live coverage of one of Ring of Honor’s pre-eminent events of the year, Supercard of Honor! It’s Theo Sambus on the call this evening, ready for the spotlight to shine brightly on the ROH crew. It’s 20 years since the iconic Do Fixer vs Blood Generation six-man tag at the inaugural Supercard of Honor; who will put their name in the annals of ROH history tonight?
There has been the usual feeling of a lot of this card coming together at the last moment, but I can’t deny that there are some tantalizing prospects on offer. AR Fox won the TV title on last night’s edition of ROH, and he immediately puts it on the line tonight against Lio Rush in what is sure to be a high-octane affair.
The Survival of the Fittest qualifiers have been going on for some time now, and it all comes to a head tonight as six of the best vie for the ROH Women’s World Championship. Can Athena somehow see off five other hungry competitors? Maya World, Trish Adora, Yuka Sakazaki, Billie Starkz and Zayda Steel will all be looking to be the ones to end Athena’s historic run with the title.
Sticking with World title action on the men’s side, it’s Bandido vs Blake Christian. Which sounds like the sort of thing we’d see for 7 minutes on Collision and think ‘damn, these guys should get 20 minutes on PPV’. Well, here we are! Bandido’s World title defences have all been borderline exceptional so I’d wager this could be top tier.
As if that wasn’t enough, we’ve got a rare Nigel McGuinness match, as he takes on Josh Woods under Pure Rules. Get that technical ingenuity in my veins!
Location: Salisbury, MD
Venue: Wicomico Civic Center
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni & Caprice Coleman
*Supercard of Honor is LIVE and we’re going straight into some Pure Rules action! Bobby Cruise welcomes us to our opening contest.
[Pure Wrestling Rules] Nigel McGuinness vs. Josh Woods
Code of Honor is adhered to. Woods picks Nigel up and charges him into the buckles, sitting him on the top rope, and Nigel goads Woods into using one of his rope breaks early. Judo toss from Woods, armbreaker locked in, and McGuinness grabs the rope to bring both men equal with two rope breaks remaining. McGuinness works over the arm and shoulder, snapmare takedown and he looks for the London Dungeon but Woods rolls through into a cradle for 2. Thumb to the eye by McGuinness, he sits Woods on the top rope and is thinking Tower of London, but Woods slips forward and goes for a sleeper, forcing Nigel to grab the ropes and use another rope break. McGuinness heads out to commentary and puts on a headset. Woods also joins commentary! They go back and forth saying this match isn’t how they expected it to go. Haha the ref puts on a headset too and tells them to get in the ring. Back inside, Nigel again goads Woods into using a rope break in the corner, leaving both men with just the one rope break…and it happens again, meaning Woods has no further rope breaks left. Woods tosses Nigel into the barricade at ringside, and slams him into it a couple of times.
In the ring, Woods delivers a rope-assisted backbreaker and covers for 2. Ankle lock, and McGuinness grabs the rope, which means we now have a level playing field, no further rope breaks remain. Nigel drags Woods under the bottom rope, drapes him over his shoulder, Tower of London to the floor! Both men get back to their feet, trading forearms. HA Nigel shouts ‘I’M RETIRED!’ at Woods as Woods lays in those forearms. Back inside the ring, both men go for pump kicks and knock each other down. Throat thrusts and uppercuts from McGuinness, running European uppercut, Nigel goes for the lariat but Josh meets him with the FYF! Ankle lock applied once more, Nigel grabs the ropes but to no effect. He manages to catapult Woods into the buckles. Boot to the face, Nigel whips Woods into the corner and Woods is out of it. Cover, 1, 2, kickout. Not sure if Woods is just gassed. London Dungeon locked in, kick up though. Woods sort of tries to get back into it but he’s DONE. They stumble through a finishing sequence, and Nigel hits the Rebound Lariat! 1, 2, 3.
Winner: Nigel McGuinness
Time: 14:53
Rating: *** – Nigel has been very giving in his sporadic appearances but this was one he had to win as Woods is not in the position to be beating someone of Nigel’s calibur. It didn’t get as technical as I was expecting, and the closing minute was a little awkward as Woods was either gassed or knocked loopy.
[ROH Women’s World Television Championship] Red Velvet © vs. Viva Van
Quick rollup from Velvet for a 1 count. Leg drop onto the arm, and Van bridges out of a cover. Leg lariat from Velvet, 1, 2, no. Rolling heel kick from Van gets a 2 count. Dragon screw legwhip as she targets the leg of Velvet, locking in a Stretch Muffler. Knee drop across the leg. Bow and arrow stretch as Van shows early dominance. Velvet comes back with a spin kick but the damage is already done to the knee. They deliver chops while on their knees and Velvet screams for Van to show her why she should be champion. To their feet, series of strikes from Van, uppercut by Velvet. Van misses a heel kick and Velvet capitalizes. Van with a German dumps Velvet on the back of her neck! Up kick from Van, she gets Vevet on her shoulders looking for Highway to Hell but Velvet counters. Meteora to the back of the head! Van is back to her feet though, backfist, they fall into a double pin, 1, 2, NO. Velvet misses a spin kick, connects with another kick, goes for Straight Out of Yo Momma’s Kitchen, Van counters though! Modified Air Raid Crash, 1, 2, NO!! Viva Van again goes for Highway to Hell…then ascends to the middle rope for an avalanche version! But no, Velvet counters, Iconoclasm! 1, 2, kickout.
Van nails a DDT, deep cover, 1, 2, no. Highway to Hell attempt again, Velvet tries to counter but Van DROPS her with a powerbomb instead! Van rolls through and gets her on her shoulders! Victory roll, reversed! STIR IT UP! 1, 2, 3!
Winner and STILL ROH Women’s World TV Champion: Red Velvet
Time: 11:18
Rating: ***1/4 – I dug this, both women showing a lot of fire and putting in a shift. Not everything hit flush, but this was some really solid work, and the counter wrestling was pretty engaging throughout. Good to see Viva Van in a longer match when I’m so used to seeing her in squashes on Collision.
[ROH World Television Championship Match] AR Fox © vs. Lio Rush
No Code of Honor from Lio Rush as he charges at Fox. Enziguri catches Rush in response. Spin kick catches Fox as they go tit-for-tat. Fox sweeps the legs, looks for his cutter but Rush goes to the apron, kick by Fox and he hits the catapulting double stomp on the apron! Ringpost-rebound moonsault to the floor! Fox brings his opponent back into the ring, delivers some back elbows, and Rush catches him off the ropes and drops him throat first over the top rope. To the apron, Rush connects with a stunner in between the buckles! And a big crossbody to the outside takes Fox down. Lio sends Fox into the barricade a couple of times and returns to the ring with him, setting him up for a stalling suplex. Rush slows the pace down now, mounted punches, and a double throat chop interrupts a Fox comeback. Rear choke, Fox gets to his feet, and Rush unloads with shots to the midsection. Big boot from Fox! Tornado DDT, holds on, spinning suplex! 1, 2, NO. We see Action Andretti head down to ringside to cheer on his former Cru mate. Slingblade from Fox, kip up, and he’s poised…cutter out of the corner. 1, 2, no. Fox boots Rush away, to the top, gets knocked down but lands on his feet, and he hits another cutter on Rush for 1, 2, NO. Fox drags Rush to the corner, heads up top…450 misses, pop up powerbomb by Rush, and a spear! 1, 2, NO.
Stunner from Lio Rush, AR Fox falls to the outside, and Rush follows up with a suicide dive. Back in, the Low Stunner off the bottom rope connects, 1, 2, no! Cravate hold, brings Fox to the mat, transitions into a front facelock, hoists Fox to the top rope, bites him. Rush heads up with him, gets shoved off, hits the standing Spanish Fly! Final Hour frog splash, 1, 2, NOOO! Lio Rush grabs the TV title, ref takes it away from him but he heads up to the top rope…and Andretti gets to the apron and shoves him off the top rope! Fox with the 450 splash, 1, 2, 3!
Winner and STILL ROH World TV Champion: AR Fox
Time: 15:40
Rating: ***1/2 – Rush’s new gimmick isn’t working for me – it feels like he’s trying a little too hard, and there’s still been no real reason provided for his transformation. So I’m not buying into him, but the in-ring stuff here was very good, no surprise. The finish felt a tad ‘odd’ as the Andretti stuff was positioned like a heel move, but Rush has been presented as a heel in this new persona anyway…and Fox didn’t really make note of Andretti helping him out. Outside of that, top notch high-flying action. Fox always brings it.
*Lexy Nair is backstage with Sammy Guevara, who beat Action Andretti on the Zero Hour pre-show. She says he will be defending the tag titles with Beast Mortos in Mexico next month. Sammy loves running wild with LFI but he was a singles star in the past, and it’s got him thinking about the AEW World Championship. He wants to be champion, and he’s beaten Darby Allin 4 times in the past, so he’s calling out Darby Allin for Collision tomorrow night.
[ROH Women’s Pure Championship] Deonna Purrazzo © vs. Diamante
Powerbomb attempt, hurracanrana counter, and Diamante tries a backslide but to no avail. Powerbomb connects this time for Deonna, and a submission attempt forces Diamante to grab the ropes and lose her first rope break. Cazadora on the outside by Diamante, dropkick to the knee. They work back into the ring, and Diamante torques the ankle. Purrazzo gets out of it but it gets locked in again, and Purrazzo has to use a rope break too. Diamante uses a closed fist to the face and receives a warning from the referee. Purrazzo climbs the ropes gets shoved into a tree of woe draping to the outside, and Diamante delivers a dropkick, sending Deonna to the floor. Purrazzo makes it back inside, where Diamante drives the knee into the canvas and delivers a knee drop. Deonna targets the arm once more and goes for an armbar but Diamante rolls through and delivers a stiff kick. Ankle lock, Purrazzo rolls through but a running uppercut connects and Diamante delivers a bridging German for a 2 count.
Kicks to the arm, and Diamante locks in an armbar of her own, perhaps abandoning the leg now. Deonna delivers a closed fist and she gets a warning too. Draping DDT connects, Purrazzo covers, 1, 2, no. She holds onto the arm though and gets the armbar locked in, forcing Diamante to use her second rope break.
Stump piledriver attempt thwarted. Slap to the face from Purrazzo, forearms now but Diamante grabs the hair, thinks about Cross Rhodes but Deonna grounds her. GOTCH-STYLE PILEDRIVER! 1, 2, NO. Diamante flips Deonna off, and Deonna is keen for another closed fist but thinks better of it. Powerbomb delivered! Venus De Milo! And Diamante is too far away from the ropes, she has to give up!
Winner and STILL ROH Women’s Pure Champion: Deonna Purrazzo
Time: 13:01
Rating: ***1/4 – Simple and effective story told of armwork vs legwork, and I’m a sucker for that kind of stuff. Not sure why Diamante would abandon the leg stuff to focus on the arm momentarily, but they were attempting to play up the idea of both women being blinded by their disdain for each other and that came off well.
*Action Andretti says he always tries to do the right thing and he happily waited for his partner to do his thing. But his partner was never there for him in return. A fire has awakened inside of him. He tells Lio to understand one thing…Cru is done.
[ROH Pure Championship] Lee Moriarty © vs. Ace Austin
Feeling out process as both men look to gain an advantage. Austin catches Moriarty on his shoulders and does a squat with him, but Moriarty slips down and forces Austin to use a rope break. Chop to the chest, Austin comes back with a backbreaker. Chickenwing attempt from Moriarty, Austin sweeps the leg, kick to the back, cradle gets a 2. Now Austin locks in a Muta Lock! Moriarty counters with some joint manipulation though. Nice dodge out of a lariat, and again Moriarty looks for the chickenwing. Slingblade connects, followed by the twisting neck crank. Shoulder wringer from the champ, suplex with a bridge, Austin kicks out but Moriarty stays in the bridge to show off. Octopus stretch applied by Moriarty, stretching back the hand too. He grabs the hand of Austin and leads it to the ropes, with Austin having no choice but to grab it to lose another rope break.
Austin hits a low flatliner and locks in a Koji Clutch, and now Moriarty uses a rope break! Sweep of the legs from Moriarty, and he keeps the focus on the arm of Austin with wrist control. Lariat from Austin to escape, back suplex connects and a leg drop. Deep Squat Death Valley Driver. German suplex with a bridge, 1, 2, no. Moriarty to the apron, wrings the arm over the top rope. Springboard flying forearm, cover, 1, 2, no. Right into the Border City Stretch! Austin crawls, instead rolls Moriarty up for 2. Lovely cradle from Austin for another 2. Austin traps the legs, rears back into a tight pinning combo and Moriarty is right by the ropes so grabs them, losing his second rope break.
Moriarty locks in an armbar over the ropes, and Austin uses his final rope break. Roaring lariat by Moriarty, flatliner, 1, 2, NO. Tiger Driver is denied, Austin flips to the apron, springboard kick connects! THE FOLD, noooo Moriarty jumps and locks in a Kimura! Austin uses momentum to flip Moriarty to the floor! Skullcrusher gets 2. Austin thinks about another German, standing switch, Austin switches again with a modified flatliner, Koji Clutch again, and Moriarty uses his third and final rope break. Dragon Suplex attempt, Moriarty elbows out of it. Chaos Theory from Austin, no, Moriarty locks in a chickenwing! Austin to his feet with Moriarty on his back. Moriarty gets him with a trapped pin, and freely uses the ropes for leverage, 1, 2, 3!
Winner and STILL ROH Pure Champion: Lee Moriarty
Time: 16:06
Rating: ****1/4 – A third Pure Rules match on this show (and STRAIGHT after the last one) wasn’t terribly smart planning BUT they did a fantastic job in differentiating it from the others. Ace Austin has had a tremendous week between this and the Ospreay match, what a star player. Moriarty was in his element too, and this was stellar wrestling from the get-go.
*Red Velvet speaks backstage, celebrating her successful win, and she says it feels great. But what doesn’t feel good is watching the Owen Hart bracket tournament come up and she’s not in it. She’s pissed, she’s angry, she’s jealous…but she’s motivated. Willow is in that bracket…and she heard that Willow has an open contract out for that TBS title. So Velvet is making her comeback against the Comeback Killer tomorrow night on Collision.
*Lexy Nair introduces Jordan Oliver and Alec Price, Bustah & the Brain! Lexy asks if they’re after the ROH tag titles. Oliver wants to challenge for the titles tonight, but the champs aren’t defending. Oliver says they’ll be ready at any point. Alec says the tag team division is on fire right now, so if any other team are feeling froggy, they’re ready to get insane.
Matt Taven and Mike Bennett are here to answer the challenge. Bennett has a big ol’ Ciampa-esque beard now. Bennett says he turns 41 tomorrow but he can still hear pretty good. If Price and Oliver are feeling froggy, well ribbit ribbit, daddy’s home. Taven says ROH is their house. This is their Kingdom. Like the cliche goes, if you want to come for the King you better not miss. If Bustah and the Brain want the ROH titles, they have to go through the OGs. Both teams shake hands.
[ROH World Six Man Tag Team Championships – Open Challenge] Shane Taylor Promotions © vs. ???
Answering the challenge…The Outrunners and Dalton Castle!
Magnum takes it to the Infantry in the early goings, Floyd in for a back suplex. Castle tags in, as does Shawn Dean. Castle tries for a German suplex but Dean holds onto the ropes. Bangarang is denied, double underhook from Dean also denied, and now the Infantry get in some brief double teaming. Magnum tags back in and soaks up some chops. Carly Cutter connects, and STP triple team Magnum on the apron, leading to Shane Taylor hitting the big leg drop across the sternum. Magnum gets wishboned into the ringpost behind the ref’s back. Double dropkicks from Bravo & Dean. Magnum tries to get back into it, Castle gets booted off the apron. Back body drop from Magnum, goes for the tag but Dean takes Floyd off the apron just in time. Big biel from Shane Taylor! And Taylor follows up with a running knee against the barricade on Dalton Castle.
Magnum finally makes the tag to Floyd, who comes in as the house of fire. Body slams galore! Magnum back in…..but Taylor cuts off the sunnavabitch elbow. STP with a triple team assault on Floyd now. Bronco Buster from Dean. Floyd manages an inside cradle for 2 but can’t mount a comeback. Bravo gets sent to the floor, Dean to the apron but he grounds Floyd and hits a pendulum elbow drop. 1, 2, no. Floyd receives a wishbone into the ringpost now. Dean mocks Floyd as he crawls towards his corner, before knocking Magnum off the apron. Suplex to Floyd, Bravo in, another suplex. Taylor in, another suplex. Dean looks for another suplex but Turbo counters finally. Bravo prevents the tag, but Floyd delivers a back suplex, Magnum takes out Dean on the apron and ignores the tag request? Magnum gets knocked off the apron, allowing STP to continue assaulting Floyd. Floyd evades a splash in the corner and delivers a body slam to Shane Taylor. And Castle is back up on the apron. Tag to Castle! Wrist clutch suplexes to the Infantry, German to Taylor! BANGARANG, no, Taylor avoids it. Castle gets distracted, allowing the Infantry to attack from behind. Package Piledriver, 1, 2, Outrunners break it up. Infantry get wishboned into the ringposts now, and Castle hits the BANGARANG on Taylor. Outrunners in,,,YOU SUNNAVABITCH ELBOW! 1, 2, 3!
Winners and NEW ROH World Six Man Tag Team Champions: The Outrunners & Dalton Castle
Time: 17:46
Rating: **1/2 – Sluggish pacing with overly extended heat segments on both Outrunners. I love an old school feel but I don’t feel they pulled it off well here, as those loooong sections where STP were in control just dragged. Good pop for the pin and title switch though, Castle & the Outrunners are over for sure.
*Shane Taylor Promotions attack from behind before the new champs have a chance to celebrate. But wait, ORANGE CASSIDY IS HERE! And he’s not alone, Mark Briscoe arrives too, steel chair in hand! Briscoe sits on the chair to watch Antony Ogogo get in the face of OC. Briscoe tries to take the chair to Ogogo but STP pull him to the outside. Briscoe is about to make a big dive but STP back their way up the ramp. Orange Cassidy has some fun with the Outrunners handshake afterwards.
[AEW National Championship] Mark Davis © vs. Xelhua
No Code of Honor as this is an AEW sanctioned title match. They go to shake anyway, but Davis grips the hand firmly and tries to take control. Xelhua goes around the world, twisting and turning around Davis to confuse him. Davis gets it together and delivers a big boot followed by a senton, gets a 2 count. Wrist lock takeover from Xelhua. Davis spills to the floor, capitalizes with a shoulder block as Xelhua joins him out there. Back inside the ring, Davis delivers a biiig PK, covers for 2. Xelhua tries a body slam but can’t lift him all the way, Davis falls on top for a pin attempt, 1, 2, no. Davis clotheslines Xelhua from the apron to the floor and then sits on the ropes to allow the countout. Back in just before 9, Davis meets him with a body slam. Davis goes for the mask, undoing the ties at the back until Xelhua grabs the arms, then drops the arm over the top rope. Diving crossbody!
Running headbutt from Xelhua, snap armdrag, and bridging Northern Lights give Xelhua a 2 count. Really nice Hammerlock drop connects, cover, 1, 2, NO. 10 count mounted punches in the corner,but Davis with a backdrop driver and an enziguri to get back into it. Lariat avoided, Xelhua grapevines the leg, twists it and locks in a heel hook. Davis makes it to the ropes to break it. Snap piledriver out of nowhere! 1, 2, NO. Davis may be thinking Doctor Bomb, nope, Xelhua backs him into the corner, goes up onto the ropes…Davis counters and drops him with a suplex out of the corner. Xelhua with a cazadora, 1, 2, no. Body slam, Xelhua up top…diving senton misses, and Davis hits Shut Your Eyes and Count to 3. Running lariat! 1, 2, 3!
Winner and STILL AEW National Champion: Mark Davis
Time: 14:14
Rating: **3/4 – Crowd were pretty dead in the early goings which didn’t help. Davis was rather giving to Xelhua, perhaps too giving when he’s so recently won the title, but Xelhua has a fun, unique dynamic so I’m not mad.
*Lexy Nair is with Shane Taylor Promotions, and Bravo wants to know why the heck Orange Cassidy and Mark Briscoe were even out there. Taylor says they’ll happily beat their asses down anytime, anywhere. Bravo wants to do it tomorrow night on Collision. Any member of STP vs any member of the Conglomeration. They’re in the Infantry’s sights now.
*Mark Briscoe in a separate location says they’re looking for a Saturday night fight so they accept the challenge. Briscoe needs to get tuned up for his match with Ciampa on Wednesday, and Kyle O’Reilly needs to tune up for his match with Moxley too. Briscoe says the Word of the Day is Hometown Ass-whoppin’ and it’s going down tomorrow.
[ROH World Championship] Bandido (c) vs. Blake Christian
Christian flips off Bandido, choosing not to adhere to the Code of Honor. Fast pace to start as they work to a flippy standoff. Slap by Bandido! Tijeras takedown from Christian, Bandido to the outside, back in for a hurracanrana. Suicide dive to Christian on the outside. And Bandido heads out into the crowd to celebrate with the people. Jay Lethal appears and gets on the apron as Lee Johnson distracts the referee, but Bandido knocks him off anyway. That allows Christian to hit the through-the-ropes Fosbury flop. Back inside the ring, Christian with a leg DDT and he goes for a surfboard stomp to the knees.
Bandido grounds Christian, Lethal gets involved again, grabbing the legs of Bandido but the ref sees it and ejects both Lethal and Johnson. To seal the deal, Bandido hits a tope con hilo to take them out. Arm wringer from Christian once Bandido makes it back to the ring, and he locks in a short arm scissor. Another couple of leg DDTs. Christian goes up top but Bandido rolls across the ring out of harm’s way. Bandido tries a springboard but Christian sweeps the legs. Double stomp to the chest with Bandido hanging from the ropes! 1, 2, no. Gorilla press slam from Bandido but Christian counters into a triangle submission…Bandido muscles him up though and delivers a powerbomb to break it!
Bandido tries to get feeling back into his leg, and now Christian looks for a Kimura. Bandido with a springboard tornillo! Kick to the face, running kick, 1, 2, NO. 21-Plex attempt, standing switches, Christian nails a quick frog splash! Up top, 450 rolls through, dragon screw to Bandido and he rolls through but Bandido delivers a momentum shift suplex. Springboard Northern Lights, Bandido holds on and delivers another, 1, 2, NO. Ripcord flatliner attempt, NO. Christian to the apron with Bandido and he shoves the champion into the ringpost to knock him to the floor. Generico diving DDT through the ringpost, with Bandido crashing right into the barricade. Back in the ring, Lethal Injection! 1, 2, NOOO.
Back to the apron they go, SPEAR by Christian and Bandido drops to the floor. Christian locks eyes with the announce table and clears it off, setting Bandido up on top. He climbs up with him…Bandido reverses though and deadlifts him up, stalling suplex on the announce table! He brings Christian back in the ring, 21-Plex, 1, 2, NOOO! Christian kicks out!
Bandido sits Christian on the top rope, heads up with him…he gets Christian in Samoan Drop position but Christian switches. HUUUGE POISONRANA OFF THE TOP! 450 BY CHRISTIAN! 1, 2, NOOO!!! Christian signals for a 21-Plex, but it’s blocked and he’s sent to the apron. Enziguri from the champ, and now Bandido delivers a rope-assisted superplex. SHOOTING STAR but Christian gets the knees up. Christian with a cutter attempt, dropkick by Bandido as a counter! Both men are down!
Bandido is feeling it and he calls for Christian to get to his feet. Elbows and forearms, SUPERKICK by Christian. Ducks the Lethal Injection, superkiiiick, one to the knee. Lethal Injection countered into the X-Knee, Spanish Fly from Christian, 1, 2, NOOO. Blake goes out to the timekeeper’s area and grabs the World title. He brings it into the ring but leaves it in the corner. He shouts at Bandido that it’s his f’n time. Grabs the belt, referee takes it off him, LOW BLOW to Bandido! DOUBLE STOMP! 1, 2…NOOO! Bandido kicks out. Another stomp attempt, but Bandido counters…STYLES CLASH! DEADLIFT 21 PLEX!! 1, 2, 3!
Winner and STILL ROH World Champion: Bandido
Time: 26:05
Rating: ****1/2 – The CAPS LOCK was coming out for this one! It feels sinful to say this considering the heritage of the ROH title but Bandido is certainly making a run for an all-timer title reign as he really does have banger after banger. This wasn’t a one-man show though; Christian was on form. It’s a shame the crowd were a little off as I think some of those nearfalls would have got a much better reaction in other venues/on other nights – maybe that’s simply because people didn’t buy Christian winning. Personally, I think they did superbly in giving Christian credibility, especially after that nearfall with the poisonrana into the 450.
*SWERVE STRICKLAND with the House Call to Bandido out of nowhere! Prince Nana is here too. Strickland backs up and delivers one more House Call (after a very weak response from the crowd for the “Whose House?” deal). Strickland and Nana leave but turn back to admire their work…and Nana tells Swerve to head back for more. Swerve sets up a chair in the middle of the ring…VERTEBREAKER ONTO THE STEEL CHAIR!
[ROH Women’s World Championship – Survival of the Fittest] Athena (c) vs. Maya World vs. Trish Adora vs. Yuka Sakazaki vs. Billie Starkz vs. Zayda Steel
First ever Women’s Survival of the Fittest. Let’s go!
Athena tries to grab Starkz but Starkz is having none of it. They head out to the floor to discuss it, and the others get involved, with Athena tossing Starkz into them. Four of the women run the ropes, and now they take it turns getting some spots in. Maya with a thrust kick to Adora, and she hits an Asai moonsault to the outside to knock down all of the other opponents. Blockbuster on Athena back in the ring, Sakazaki in with a dropkick, and Starkz with a swan dive. powerslam by Adora, Steel with a double stomp, 1, 2, no. Starkz and Athena get on the same page and go for a double suplex but Steel hits a double pendulum DDT instead. Sakazaki charges at Athena, caught, double fallaway slam along with Steel. Athena does the rounds with hip attacks in the corners, and Steel tosses a steel chair in the face of Athena. No DQ it seems! Steel wedges the chair in between the middle and top rope, whips Athena into it but Athena puts the brakes on and sends Steel into it head first. 1, 2, 3.
Zayda Steel has been eliminated.
Sakazaki delivers a German on Athena from the middle rope, and hits a Snow-plex for 2. Superkick from Athena, and she grabs the chair out of the corner, but here’s Maya World with a kendo stick. Sakazaki picks up the chair and wails on Athena, but here’s Starkz with her own chair to break that up. Athena has a trash can and tosses it inside the ring before setting up a bridge of chairs on the outside. Sakazaki gets the draping headscissors on Starkz. Knee to the ribs in return by Starkz and she pulls out a table. Billie and Sakazaki jostle by the table until Yuka is sent into the barricade. Adora is sent into Athena with a spear into a tijeras. Starkz hits a bit of a weak over-the-rope piledriver. Trish and Athena on the apron, Athena calls her a dumb bitch so Adora grabs her from behind, shoves her into the ringpost, and then delivers a chokeslam on Athena into the bridge of chairs!
Billie takes apart the announce table and climbs up with Trish. She looks for a suplex, Trish gets her on her shoulders, DVD on the announce table! Adora lays out Athena on the other table…Yuka Sakazaki is poised, magical girl splash to the outside, splashing Athena through the table. Rollup on Yuja from Adora for 2. Swinging backbreaker, and now Adora inadvertently takes out Athena. Sakazaki with the spinning drop, 1, 2, 3!
Trish Adora has been eliminated.
Sakazaki has the trash can as Athena begs for mercy. NOPE, trash can shot! Sakazaki grabs the trash can, Magical Girl splash with the can! 1, 2, Starkz breaks it up! She saved Athena’s title reign. Billie lifts Sakazaki up into an Angel’s Wings off the ropes and pins her for the 1, 2, 3.
Yuka Sakazaki has been eliminated.
Maya World and Billie Starkz go at it now, trading uppercuts. Destroyer by Starkz! 1, 2, NO. Athena emerges with a couple of kendo sticks, and tosses one to Billie. Both her and Billie start whacking away at Maya. They toss a few chairs on top of her and grab some more to bury her, with Athena now pulling out a ladder. They set it up in the ring but Maya kicks Billie from behind, squashing Athena behind the ladder in the corner. Starkz and Maya fight in the opposite corner, now Athena gets involved but hits Billie! Maya with a sunset flip powerbomb, 1, 2, 3!
Billie Starkz has been eliminated.
Huge opportunity for Maya World here. Athena grabs her championship belt, misses a belt shot though. DDT from Maya on the apron! Cover, 1, 2, NO. Maya’s World and We’re All Just Living In It, cover, 1, 2, no. Ankle Lock applied, Athena reaches the ropes but there are no rope breaks. Billie Starkz is still there and has the towel, she’s about to throw in the towel but Athena stops her. Maya pulls Billie in the ring, knocks her out, but Athena is there to land a spinebuster on Maya on the chairs. Chairshot to a prone Maya. Athena uses Billie as a stepping stone and climbs up the ladder. O-FACE OFF THE LADDER! Athena covers Maya, and that’s the 1, 2, 3!
Winner and STILL ROH Women’s World Champion: Athena
Time: 26:12
Rating: *** – I can’t help but feel disappointed in this. The reliance on PLUNDAH was not what many would have expected from Survival of the Fittest, and honestly it felt like it was just there to set up the big O-Face spot for Athena for a future highlight package. Plus there were quite a number of messy spots, mostly down to timing, which wasn’t helped with all the weapon stuff. A regular wrestling-oriented Survival of the Fittest would have been my preference, but there were some notable moments of shine for the others, with Zayda Steel making the most of her limited time, and Maya World getting the rub from being the last surviving challenger.
*Post-match, Diamante heads out to join Athena, who berates Starkz for her conduct in the match. Billie is dejected and exits the ring as Athena and Diamante celebrate. And with that, Supercard of Honor comes to a close. Good night everybody, thanks for joining me!
