Ring of Honor presents its weekly show on HonorClub tonight.
The March 5 episode was taped on Sunday, March 1 in Jacksonville as part of the promotion’s standalone TV tapings.
A Four Leaf Clover four-corner survival match with the winner receiving an immediate title match is advertised with Daddy Magic vs. Shane Taylor vs. Lee Johnson vs. AR Fox.
The Bang Bang Gang’s Juice Robinson and Austin Gunn will take on MXM Collection.
“The Dynamite Kid” Tommy Billington and Adam Priest will take on The WorkHorsemen’s JD Drake and Anthony Henry.
Bryan Keith and Big Bill, now wrestling as Paid In Full, will be in action on the show as well.
Also scheduled is Josh Woods vs. Nathan Cruz, Komander vs. Sidney Akeem, Top Flight vs. Grizzled Young Vets, Persephone vs. Sara Leon, Mina Shirakawa vs. Zayda Steel, and Lacey Lane vs. Robyn Renegade.
Our live coverage kicks off at 7 p.m. Eastern.
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It’s a little early in the month for “Four Leaf Clover” matches, but there’s no time like the present for Ring of Honor! Tonight’s matches are from the first set of “new era” ROH tapings that will happen regularly in Jacksonville and surprisingly not in Tony Khan’s back yard.
Persephone vs Sara Leon
So, ROH definitely has a new look in this new era. One that honestly, harkens back to some of the classic days of ROH, small rooms, loud music, raucous crowds.
And raucous they were as Leon and Persephone locked up with Persephone getting a quick headlock. Leon ran the ropes bug was caught by a dropkick from Persephone. She hit a snapmare on Leon and then stood on her hand while dancing. Like you do.
Leon went for a running knee, but Persephone caught her and countered it into a suplex. Persephone grabbed a hammerlock and drove her knee into Leon’s stomach. Leon fought back, but it was shortlived as Persephone started throwing lariats.
Leon managed to get a headscissor on Persephone and send her into the ropes. She hit her with a knee then threw her with a German suplex for a two count. Leon locked in a rear naked choke but Persephone rolled it over for a two count.
Persephone threw a head butt and then a missile dropkick off the top turnbuckle, but Leon kicked out of the cover at two. Persephone got Leon up for a Crucifix Bomb, but Leon got out of it. Persephone put her away with a spear and then landed the Crucifix for the 1-2-3.
Match Result: Persephone defeated Sara Leon
Komander vs Sidney Akeem
Komander as we know is a former ROH TV Champion and Akeem is a former guy-who-works-at-wwe. But he’s on a 2-match win streak, so that’s good.
They tied up with Akeem getting a wristlock, but Komander reversed it by flipping around the ropes. Akeem was pretty flippy himself and the two tried to catch each other off the ropes. Neither one could, so they stopped for a reset.
Akeem caught Komander with a head scissor and nailed a meteora. Komander had gone for a rollup, but Akeem flipped out of it. Akeem hit a standing moonsault and chopped Komander into the corner. Komander dodged the charge and hit a spingboard crossbody for a two count.
Akeem blocked a DDT then popped up with a kick to Komander’s head. Komander came back with a few of his own. Akeem managed a pumphandle slam/elbow combo but could only get a two count. Akeem hit a Spiccoli Driver, but Komander reset and flipped over him. Akeem, not to be out done, backflipped over and delivered a stunner.
Akeem went up top and went for a senton, but Komander moved and Akeem rolled through. Komander leapt off the top rope with a spingboard dropkick sending Akeem to the outside to receive a suicide dive. Komander tossed him back into the ring and hit his rope-walk moonsault to pick up the victory.
Match Result: Komander defeated Sidney Akeem
Top Flight (Darius & Dante Martin) w/ Zayda Steel and Christopher Daniels vs Grizzled Young Veterans (Zack Gibson & James Drake) w/Isla Dawn
Gibson and Darius kicked things off with a lockup. They traded wristlocks in a lightning fast exchange until Darius dodged a leg sweep and hit an atomic drop. Gibson tagged in Drake and Darious slapped the palm of Dante.
They had their own quick exchange until Drake dropped Dante with a dropdown and then an armbar (darmbar?). Dante managed to get a flying headscissor in, but Drake sent him to the mat via fistfull of hair.
Gibson tagged in, but Dante blocked the double team with hurricanrana. Darius came in to help and fought off Drake, leaving Gibson and Dante to fight. Darius tagged in officially and he and Gibson traded chops.
Drake few across the ring to knock Dante off the apron and send Darius to the outside with some stiff shots. Gibson held him while Drake flew over the top rope and came down on him with a slingshot backbreaker.
Gibson threw Darius back into the ring and held him while Drake sent some fists into his gut. Darius slapped Drake which seemed to make him angry, so he stomped and punched him for a minute before tagging in Gibson.
Gibson went for a pin, but Darius arched his back to get his shoulders off the mat. Gibson responded with a sleeper hold, but Darius fought back but Gibson dragged him down and went for a suplex. Darius blocked it though and when Gibson tried again, he hit a suplex of his own.
Drake and Dante tagged in and the fresh men fought with Dante hitting a springboard dropkick and whipping Drake into the corner. Dante hit a springboard clothesline, followed by a press slam, but Gibson broke up the cover.
Darius and Dante sent Gibson to the outside just in time for Dawn to level Steel, causing a distraction. that gave Drake and Gibson control of the ring, but Dawn and Steel fought into the ring, knocking Drake off the top rope.
That let Darius and Dante get a double team on Gibson with a double facebuster to pick up the win.
Match Result: Top Flight defeated Grizzled Young Veterans
Paid In Full (Big Bill & Brian Keith) vs Kiran Grey and Darian Bengston
Paid In Full decided they’d seen enough of Sky Flight celebrating their win and entered, staring down GYV who paid them off a few weeks ago. No word on if it was Pounds or Dollars.
Anyway, as per usual, Keith started off by throwing his poncho at Bengston, who was in his best Headbangers cosplay for the match. Keith knocked him around the ring a bit, hitting an exploder suplex for a two count.
Bengston caught Keith with an elbow, but Keith came roaring back with a big forearm. Grey tagged in and Bengston held Keith while Grey threw some punches. Bill tagged in and charged at Grey, crushing him in the corner. He hit another big splash in the corner and then axehandled Grey in the chest.
Keith tagged in, but Bill shoved Bengston out of the ring for good measure. Bengston knocked himself out on the railing, and Bill hit a big boot on Grey. Keith made the cover and that was it.
Match Result: Paid In Full defeated Kiran Grey and Darian Bengston
Pure Rules Match: Josh Woods vs Nathan Cruz
Woods is a former ROH Pure Champion and Cruz is a “European superstar.” So that’s cool.
The clock began and Woods threw Cruz around the ring with a could of armdrags into an armbar, forcing Cruz to use a rope break at just 20 seconds in. Cruz tried a wristlock, but Woods easily worked him into a bent arm hold.
Cruz hit a back fist, trying to get some control, but Woods put him on his back and went for a hip toss. Cruz blocked the first three, but the last one sent him tumbling out of the ring. Woods got him back into the ring and a staaaaaaaaaallllling suplex, but Cruz kicked out of the cover at two.
Woods continued to work Cruz’ arm, until Cruz pushed him up against the ropes and Cruz hit a neckbreaker. He stomped a prone Woods, until Woods popped up with a back elbow. That didn’t stop Cruz who hit a back suplex for a two count.
Cruz got Woods in a neck vice, but Woods fought back until Cruz went for a sleeper. Woods turned it unto a judo throw and an arm bar in the middle of the ring, forcing Cruz to tap out at 4:23.
Match Result: Josh Woods defeated Nathan Cruz
-Tommy Billington and Adam Priest were interviewed backstage. Priest complained about The Lethal Swirl, before turning his attention to The Workhorsemen. He said they will come up short and then Billington spoke on Jay Lethal. He warned Lethal that he’s coming for him after they are done with The Workhorsemen.
Adam Priest & Tommy Billington vs The WorkHorsemen (Anthony Henry & JD Drake)
Priest and Henry kicked things off, with Priest getting control early on. Billington tagged in for a double team and then took over with a shoulder tackle and series of armdrags on Henry. Billington went up top for a picture perfect missile dropkick and a two count.
Priest tagged in and they tried a double suplex, but Drake came through the ropes and caught his partner. They escaped to the outside, and Billington dove after him, but Henry got him with a snap piledriver on the outside.
Henry turned his attention to Priest, slamming his hand on the steps then throwing him back into the ring for some chops. Drake tagged in officially and took over the chopping. Priest fought back though until Drake sent him off the ropes for a shoulder tackle.
He kicked and head butted Priest, standing on his neck and talking trash. Drake hit an insiguri, which should not be possible for a man that size, and got a two count on Priest. Henry tagged back in and fishhooked him until the ref made him stop.
He stomped on Priest’s hand and set him up for a piledriver, but Priest countered it only to find that Billington was still hurting on the outside and couldn’t get to a tag.
That gave the Workhorsemen a chance to wear him down, with Drake hitting an impressive Shining Wizard from behind. Drake hit a senton and tagged in Henry who stomped on a beaten up Priest. BIllington finally got back up on the apron, so Drake dragged Priest to the opposite corner to tag in Henry and continue the assault.
Priest fought back though and got a hot tag to Billington who dropkicked his way into the fray. He sent Drake to the outside to catch a DDT From Priest, and then dove onto Henry on the outside. Henry got abck into the ring and Billington rolled him up once, twice and then finally got him on the thrice.
Match Result: Adam Priest & Tommy Billington defeated The WorkHorsemen
Mina Shirakawa vs Zayda Steel (w/Christopher Daniels and Top Flight)
Steel looked like her earlier fight with Isla Dawn didn’t slow her down much and Shirakawa looked like a neon dream as always.
Steel and Shirakawa locked up off the top with Steel getting a wristlock, but Shirakawa getting a reversal on a Irish whip into the corner. Steel went for a rollup, but Shirakawa wasn’t going down that easy and climbed the ropes for a big kick followed by a sling blade.
Steel went for a kick, but Shirakawa caight her in a Texas Cloverleaf into a backbreaker. Shirakawa smashed Steel’s knee into the mat. Steel tried throwing some forearms but Shirakawa no sold them and knocked her down into a figure four.
Steel rolled them both to the ropes, forcing the hold to be broken. Shirakawa went back to the knee but Steel hit a Thez Press and peppered her head with shots. Steel landed a neckbreaker for a two count and went up top for a crossbody.
Steel tried to get a double underhook, but Shirakawa punched her way out of it. Shirakawa dragged her to the mat and then hit a twisting crossbody over the top rope. Shirakawa went up top again for a missile dropkick and then a sling blade from the opposite corner.
Shirakawa went for the Glamorous Driver, but Steel countered and stacked her up for a two. Shirakawa caught Steel in a dropkick with a dragon screw and then discus elbow. The locked on the figure four in the center of the ring and Steel was forced to tap out.
Match Result: Mina Shirakawa defeated Zayda Steel
-Backstage, ROH Women’s Champion Athena pulled a camera man into her locker room where Deonna Purrazzo was laid out. Athena said that Maya World should take note and then announced that Billie Starkz was going to face Purrazzo for her ROH Pure Title. At some point. Maybe next week? Maybe Global Wars? Who’s to say.
Bang Bang Gang (Austin Gunn & Juice Robinson) vs MxM Collection (Mansoor & Mason Madden)
Somehow, the Bang Bang Gang were the silliest looking team in this match. They look like that friend you have that always wears Hawaiian shirts and cargo shorts. Not becuase they were wearing them, but they just looked like they had that vibe.
Anyway, MxM were without the newly shorn Johnny TV and gave everyone the tip touching they deserved. Robinson picked his nose and then touched Mansoor’s tip. Gross.
The match started and they locked up with Mansoor’s wristlock winning out. He moved into a flexing armbar and did some hari pulling until Robinson counterd with a few wristlock flips of his own. Robinson hit an inverted Atomic Drop and then hit a re-verted Atomic Drop for good measure.
Robinson’s crotch-based offense continued with a knee to the groin followed by a suplex before tagging in Gunn. Mansoor resorted to biting Gunn, and Gunn ran the ropes, eventually tripping him up. Gunn threw some jabs and a satellite DDT, with Madden coming in to break up the cover.
That let Mansoor get him a tag and Madden laid out Gunn in the corner. He hoisted Gunn up on his shoulder, but Robinson got a blind tag and the two double teamed the larger Madden. They traded splashes in the corner and then tried to double suplex him.
Madden blocked it though and managed to hit a Mansoor assisted double suplex on them both. Mansoor tagged in and stomped Gunn, returning the nut-shot favor. Madden tagged back in and they double teamed Gunn, posing when appropriate.
Madden sent Gunn to the corner, holding him there with a foot. Mansoor tagged back in, preventing a tag and stomping Gunn’s arm. Gunn managed to scoop Mansoor up for a two count, but couldn’t get a tag to Robinson. Mansoor back body dropped Gunn and tagged in Madden instead.
Madden picked up Gunn and Mansoor hit a leg drop over Madden’s knee on him. Madden dropped a few elbows then went for one off the second rope, but Gunn moved out of the way. Hot tags were made to Mansoor and Robinson and Robinson hit another atomic drop and some jabs.
He hit yet another Atomic Drop and sent Mansoor into the corner. Mansoor got his foot up and leapt after him, but Robinson hit him in the shnuts again. Then he hung him up on the ropes, crotch first. MAdden tried to help, but ended up next to his partner straddling the ropes. Gunn and Robinson shook the ropes and then sent Madden off the ropes. Madden caught them both with a double spear.
Robinson and Gunn finally hit the double suplex and then Robinson threw Mansoor onto Madden before hitting another Atomic Drop. Robinson pinned Mansoor and that was it for his ability to have kids. Also, the Bang Bang Gang won the match.
Match Result: Bang Bang Gang defeated MxM Collection
-Backstage, the ROH Tag Team Champions, Sammy Guevara and The Beast Mortos addressed the crowd. Guevara said that they were the best and that his back-to-back-to-back title reign has never been seen before. He said that Tony Khan said they have to defend their belts, so he issued an open challenge for any former world tag team champions to step up and get stepped on.
Lacey Lane vs Robyn Renegade
Renegade had the size advantage in this match and used it to throw Lane off of her a couple of times. Lane came back with a kick to the gut and wrist lock throw. Renegade came back with a dropkick and charged, but Lane dodged and sent her through the ropes.
Renegade rolled out of the ring and Lane nailed her with a baseball slide. Lane threw her back into the ring, but as Lane was climbing back through the ropes, Renegade stomped her head to the mat. Renegade hit her with a facebuster, but Lane kicked out at two.
Lane tried to roll Renegade up, but Renegade swatted her off. Lane took a neckbreaker, but was able to kick out at two. Lane came up with some back elbows to pick up some momentum. Renegade got a fistfull of her hair, but that just seemed to make Lane mad as she DDT’d her.
The two traded blocked suplexes until Renegade tried a big shot to face. Lane came back with a crescent kick and a Spiccoli driver into a leg drop to pick up the win.
Match Result: Lacey Lane defeated Robyn Renegade
Four Leaf Clover Four Corner Survival Elimination Match: AR Fox vs Lee Johnson vs Matt Menard vs Shane Taylor
So, this match would be an elimination match, with the winner getting an “immediate” title shot against “any champion anywhere in the world of wrestling.” There would only be two men in the ring at a time though, the others forced to tag in and out. So, thats neat. Also nice to see the richest man in wrestling, AR Fox returning.
During his entrance, Lee Johnson was referred to as from “The Lethal Twist” which is a) way worse and b) way to close to my trademarked “Lethal Swirl.”
The bell rang and everyone took a moment to size everyone else up. Menard and Taylor started off with Taylor sending Menard to the corner and saying he was too “greasy.” In spite of that, they locked up with Menard ending up in the corner. He thumbed the eye of Taylor to get an advantage, but couldn’t get the big man off his feet.
Taylor hit a shoulder tackle on Menard then dropped a very big elbow. Johnson got a blind tag to Taylor, which meant Fox also had to come in?
Anyway, they tied up with Johnson flipping out of Fox’s wristlock. The two chain wrestled with neither getting the advantage. Fox swept a leg and tried for a cover, but Johnson kicked out. The two jumped and ran around the ring until Taylor pulled Fox out of the ring and slammed him into the barricade.
Johnson followed for some reason and Taylor hit a Tower of London on the ring apron (the crumpetest part of the ring!). Taylor and Menard returned to fighting in the ring, but also AR Fox was there and then Johnson, so who knows who was legal and what tags mean anymore.
Taylor knocked down Fox and Johnson, but Menard landed a DDT. Fox powered up just in time to get book-ended by Taylor, who then swiftly eliminated… Menard. This was a very weird match.
Taylor chopped Fox in the corner, then refused to do it a second time to mess with the audience. Fox used the moment to send Taylor and Johnson out of the ring to hit a really impressive spingboard inverted shooting star press on both of them on the outside.
Fox threw Taylor back in the ring (in spite of the fact the much lighter Johnson was right there) and got a two count. Taylor fought back with some punches and a big splash in the corner. He did the same to Johnson, but on the ricochet, Fox rolled him up and eliminated Taylor!
That gave Johnson a chance to shine and he took Fox to the mat so he could gently kick him in the face. Johnson chopped Fox, who grabbed the ropes to prevent an Irish Whip. Fox hit a neckbreaker, picking up some momentum. He landed a powerbomb, but Johnson kicked out at two.
Fox went up top and went for a swanton, but Johnson got his knees up. He sent Fox to the corner for a hell of a kick and then they traded superkicks in the middle of the ring. Johnson got a brainbuster out of nowhere, and scooted up the turnbuckles.
Fox popped up and threw some forearms before going for a DDT. Johnson countered it though and hit a frog splash from the top turnbuckle. Somehow, Fox kicked out at two.
Johnson went for a fisherman’s suplex, but Fox blocked it. Fox went up top and hit a 450, getting the pin and winning the match.
Match Result: AR Fox defeated Lee Johnson, Matt Menard and Shane Taylor
Earning him an INSTANT championship match against:
AEW International Title Match: Kazuchika Okada (c) vs AR Fox
Okada charged off the bell and drove Fox into the corner. Okada beat on Fox, hanging him up on the ropes by the throat. He rolled him out of the ring and Fox landed hard, clutching his knee. Okada DDT’d him on the floor and rolled back into the ring to break the count.
Okada tossed Fox back into the ring and Fox came up with some shots to the gut. Okada DDT’ed him in the middle of the ring about it, but could only get a two count. Fox came up with some forearms and Okada ate a kick. Fox DDT’d him through the ropes and then threw a lariat or three.
Okada was dazed as Fox hit elbows in the corner. He rolled through into a cutter, but Okada kicked out at two. Okada caught Fox in the air and dropped him on his head, followed by a scoop slam.
Okada went up top and hit a falling elbow. He threw a middle finger at the crowd and Fox tried to steal one via rollup. Okada kicked out and Fox kicked him. Fox went up top and nailed a 450, but Okada kicked out at two.
Fox went for a high impact move, but Okada caught him in midair, but Fox ducked two Rainmakers. He couldn’t avoid the third though and Okada nailed him and got the three count.
Match Result: Kazuchika Okada defeated AR Fox
OK, it’s a new era in ROH, so here are my Yay and Boo impressions:
Yay! – The wrestling was great as always!
Boo – There was way too much of it. Two hours, almost no breaks and 10+ matches are simply too long for this show.
Yay! – The new intimate setting is great for bringing back that “indie” feel to the show.
Boo – They need to have way more people in the audience and to lose the large white backdrop.
Yay! – There seemed to be little tidbits of story throughout the show!
Boo – The Four Leaf Clover Match into an Instant Championship match was not great. The rules weren’t clearly spelled out and it kinda seems unfair to the winner to have to face a Champion INSTANTLY after a match like that.
Yay! – There’s a ton of potential here for Tony Khan to turn ROH into the indie darling it started out as, so hopefully we will see incremental changes and improvements that bring Ring of Honor to a whole new level!
