Ring of Honor heads to Friday night for a special Boxing Day Brawl edition of their weekly show on HonorClub.
Men’s ROH Pure Champion Lee Moriarty defends against former men’s ROH TV Champion Komander.
Boom & Doom (Big Boom AJ & QT Marshall) along with Big Justice will take on The Frat House of Griff Garrison & Cole Karter.
Eddie Kingston makes his return to ROH for the second time this month as he goes one-on-one with James Drake as Drake’s teammate Zack Gibson faces former WWE ID prospect Bryce Donovan.
Former Pure Champion Katsuyori Shibata takes on Lio Rush while former Women’s ROH interim TV Champion Mina Shirakawa will also be in action.
The Premier Athletes will be in another mixed league trios bout while The Swirl take on reigning GCW and Xcite Tag Team Champions Alec Price & Jordan Oliver.
Our live coverage begins at 7 pm Eastern.
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On the 13th day of Christmas, My true love gave to me:
13 Lios rushing, 12 Frathouses boozing, 11 Orders darkening, 10 Swirls swirling, 9 Doom’s Booming, 8 Tag Teams fighting, 7 Komanders a-leaping, 6 Shibata’s wrestling, 5 Eddie Kingston fights! 4 Shirakawas, 3 Premiere Athletes, 2 Grizzled Vets and a Pure Title Match with Lee Moriarty!
Eddie Kingston vs. James Drake (w/Zack Gibson)
Gibson was on the mic as the Vets entered, running down New York City (the show was from the Hammerstein). He referred to the city as a “post-apocalyptic third world country.” So clearly, these are the good guys. Fortunately, NYC’s own Eddie Kingston arrived and the fight was on.
Kingston jumped Gibson from behind with a chair and then laid out Drake. The ref grabbed the chair and Drake kicked Kingston into the corner where he and Gibson beat him down. Kingston got back up though and the bell rang officially starting the match.
Drake had the upper hand thanks to the previously mentioned jumping and threw everything he had a Kingston, knocking him from pillar to post. Kingston started giving as good as he was getting, dropping the straps and chopping Drake into next week.
Kingston got a sleeper on, but Gibson got involved to break it up. Drake raked Kingston’s eye, but that didn’t stop the Mad King who started throwing lariats with everything he had. The Maching Gun Chops rained down on Drake and Kingston managed to get a neckbreaker in.
Drake tried to steal one with a rollup, but Kingston wasn’t fooled. Drake hit a dropkick on Kingston, further working his neck in the corner. Kingston popped back in with an exploder and a DDT to get the pin.
Match Result: Eddie Kingston defeated James Drake
Gibson immediately jumped into the ring and he and Drake tried to take down Kingston. Gibson choked him with his scarf (*now available at AEW Shop) while Drake leapt from the top rope and crushed Kingston with a guillotine.
Mixed Six Person Tag Team Match: The Premier Athletes (Ariya Daivari, Stori Denali & Tony Nese) (w/Mark Sterling) vs. Ashley Vox, Jon Cruz & VSK
Off the top, Santa Claus was in the ring with announcer Bobby Cruz, but the Atheletes marched to the ring and made him say “Athletes…?” to which he responded “Suck!” So Stori Denai chokeslammed him. I’m pretty sure that makes them the bad guys, but who’s to day?
Nese and VSK started things off with Nese using his strength to keep VSK guessing. Nese sent him to the Athletes corner and tagged in Daivari. VSK ate a backdrop, but it gave him a chance to get a tag to Cruz.
Cruz and Daivari fought for a bit before Denali was tagged in. She threw Cruz to his teams corner and demanded Vox get in the ring. Vox tried as hard as she could but Denali just picked her up and threw her at the ground. Denali was about to chokeslam her, but Cruz got in and took a bounce off the ropes. Daivari grabbed his ankle though and Nese was back in only to tag Daivari again.
Vox jumped in a superkicked Daivari, which brought Denali back in for that chokeslam on Vox that ended the match.
Match Result: The Premier Athletes defeated Ashley Vox, Jon Cruz & VSK
-Backstage, Lexi Nair interviewed Komander about his Pure Title match against Lee Moriarty. It was all in Spanish unfortunately, so I have no idea what he said, but I assume it was something along the lines of “I’m going to win.”
Mina Shirakawa vs. Rebecca Scott
Shirakawa is the former Interim ROH Women’s Television Champion and absolutely adorable. Scott is also adorable, but hasn’t been an interim anything. Yet.
The two tied up and Shirakawa took control right away with her feet and fists. She picked up Scott and dropped her back to the ring. She tried to grapevine the legs, but Scott rolled her up for a two count. Shirikawa jumped right back up with a sling blade.
Shirakawa leapt from the top with another sling blade from that top turnbuckle. Scott kicked out at two though.
Scott caught a kick from Shirakawa but went off the ropes and right into Shirakawa’s right hand. Shirakawa put Scott in the figure four in the center of the ring and Scott was forced to tap out.
Match Result: Mina Shirakawa defeated Rebecca Scott
-Backstage, Jay Lethal had a conversation with ROH World Champion Bandido. Lethal brought up that both he and Bandido have had issues with the Swirl (the tag team). He suggested that they team against them next week. Bandido was all for it and the match was on for next week!
The Swirl (Blake Christian & Lee Johnson) vs. Alec Price & Jordan Oliver
Price and Oliver actually got an entrance with music and everything, so they must be doing something right! The Swirl swirled their way out in matching blue gear, still oblivious to how terrible their team name is.
The “middle-finger-of-honor” was adhered to and the bell rand with Christian immediately rolling Price up for a two count. They sped around the ring with Christian pausing only to strut to taunt jay Lethal.
Price pulled down the top rope sending Christian out, but Johnson was right there. Oliver tagged in and the two double teamed Johnson for a few minutes, actually gaining some momentum. Johnson dodged a charge in the corner and got the tag to Christian.
Christian and Johnson sent Oliver and Price to the outside and delivered their signature dives to them. The Swirl then started mugging for the camera before Christian brought Oliver back in to the ring so he could plant his knees in his back.
Christian snapmared Oliver into a headlock and taunted Bandido with some finger guns. Christian knocked Price off the apron and went back to Oliver, who countered a running start into a sidewalk slam. A diving tag brought in Price and a more subtle tag brought in Johnson.
Price dropkicked Christian and then hit a double springboard sling blade on Johnson. Johnson then turned him inside out with a lariat. Oliver tried to help, but Christian hit him with a springboard which allowed price to crush Christian with a DDT.
Oliver and Price hit a super brainbuster from the top rope, but Johnson broke up the pin before they could get Christian. That woke everyone up and Christian hit a springboard 450 on Oliver and then a Lethal Injection/Brain Buster combo with Johnson to pin Oliver and get the win.
Match Result: The Swirl defeat Alec Price & Jordan Oliver
Zack Gibson (w/James Drake) vs. Bryce Donovan
After the earlier beatdown of Eddie Kingston, the Vets came back to the ring for Gibson’s match against Donovan, saying virtually the same things about NYC that Gibson said the first time. Gibson demanded that everyone in the crowd and in the back put some respect on the GYV name. No word on if they did.
Donovan put his hair up which probably enraged Gibson, who wrestled him right down to the mat. Gibson threw Donovan into the corner and splashed him, pulling him back to the center for a suplex. Donovan woke up and hit a scoop slam and big elbow.
Donovan carried on with a European Uppercut and went up top, but Gibson pulled him down by the ankle. Gibson tossed Donovan over the top rope where Drake was waiting to talk trash to him. Donovan climbed back into the ring and Gibson threw his head at the turnbuckle, repeatedly.
Gibson kicked Donovan in the face and started throwing elbows and forearms, picking Donovan apart. Gibson put a headlock on, but Donovan was able to get to his feet. Gibson put his knee into is kidney, but Donovan threw a lariat and picked him up on his shoulders. Gibson wiggled off and Donovan hit a Boss Man Slam, but only got a two count.
Gibson sidestepped an attack in the corner and hit a front-facing codebreaker. He threw a lariat to take Donovan’s head off, and that was it. Gibson made the pin and got the victory.
Match Result: Zack Gibson defeated Bryce Donovan
-Backstage, Dalton Castle and the Outrunners were interviewed. Before they could get much out though they were attacked by a very Grinchy-looking MxMxTV who challenged them to a trios match next week that would be a Fight Without Honor!
Boom And Doom (Big Boom AJ & QT Marshall) (w/ Aaron Solo & Big Justice) vs. The Frat House (Cole Karter & Griff Garrison) (w/ Jacked Jameson & Preston Vance)
On the way down to the ring, Vance attacked one of the pledges to show how… cool? he is? I guess? Anyway, they posed and did their thing. The audience was way behind Boom and Doom though, cheering as they boomed their way to the ring, saying hi to literally everyone in the crowd.
Marshall started off against Karter while everyone yelled at each other around the ring. Karter got cocky with Marshall who slapped the taste out of his mouth. Karter popped back up and directed Marshall to the Frat House corner for a double team with Garrison.
Marshall tagged in AJ and whipped him into Garrison in the corner. AJ then hit a big slam, but could only get a two-count. AJ started throwing punches in the corner, but Garrison responded with an uppercut. He stomped AJ, preventing him from making a tag.
Karter tagged in to take over the stomping and switched things up with some punching. He threw hands at AJ’s midsection before tagging in Garrison who brought some fists of his own. Jameson grabbed AJ and choked him on the ropes while the Ref was distracted.
The Frat House hit a double suplex on AJ but could only get a two count. AJ Reversed a lariat into a belly-to-belly suplex and got the tag to Marshall who cleared the ring and sent Garrison out with a backspring kick.
Marshall threw Karter out too and dove onto the whole Frat House, taking them out. He dragged Garrison back into the ring, but Vance got up on the apron to cause a distraction. That let Garrison dropkick Marshall out of the ring, but Solo and Justice were there to save him.
Garrision dragged Marshall back into the ring and worked his elbow. Karter tagged in and threw strikes in the corner. He dropkicked Marshall and bounced his head off the turnbuckle. Garrison tagged in and threw Marshall to the corner. Garrison leapt, but Marshall moved and Garrison hit the ring post.
Marshall crawled to his corner to make a tag, but Karter pulled AJ off the apron, preventing the tag. Garrison sent Marshall out, where Vance and Jameson tried to hit him with a chair, but Justice got in the way and Solo took the chair. They all yelled at each other and the confused Ref threw Solo and Justice out of the ringside area.
While all that was happening, Vance tried the chair thing again but this time got caught by the ref, who threw him and Jameson out too!
Back in the ring, Marshall caught Garrison with a flatliner and got the hot tag to AJ. Aj threw some Booms and then hit a big slam on both Garrison and Karter. He switched it up and hit them both with Full Nelson Slams. Garrision ate a cookie cutter from Marshall.
AJ got Karter with a powerbomb then tagged in Marshall. AJ and Marshall hit a super blockbuster from the top rope and pinned Garrison for the win.
Match Result: Boom And Doom defeated The Frat House
Katsuyori Shibata vs. Lio Rush
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I love Lio Rush. I also love Shibata for personifying my N64 NWO World Tour make-a-wrestler, also named, “The Wrestler” (His moveset was all armbars).
Shibata showed some arrogance off the top, which is hard to do when Rush is in the ring. The two locked up Greco-Roman style with Shibata winning the test of strength and just missing Rush with a superkick.
Rush changed mometum on a couple of whips, looking for some Liger Rolling Heels but Shibata caught him and rolled him onto his back for a face stomp. Shibata took Rush out on the ring apron (the wrestlerest part of the ring!) where he suplexed him. He then hit one more on the outside for good measure.
Shibata threw Rush into the barricades before tossing him back into the ring. He clubbed Rush across the back and laid him our with some palm strikes. Shitbata turned his attention to Rush’s shoulder before throwing some big chops, sending Rush staggering.
Rush got his second wind though, taking Shibata out at the knees then hitting the Liger Heels before a big suicide dive onto Shibata on the outside. Rush went up top once he got Shibata back into the ring, but Shibata got his knees up and delivered a cannonball into Rush in the corner.
Rush fought back again hitting a suprise cutter, but only getting a two count. Rush went up top again, but Shibata was able to kick him and then suplex him off the top turnbuckle. Shibata then, seemingly for no reason at all, grabbed a handful of tights and hit a low blow into an arm bar. The ref shrugged and gave him the match.
Match Result: Katsuyori Shibata defeated Lio Rush
ROH Pure Champion Lee Moriarty defends against Komander
And then, just like that, it was main event time! Komander earned this match by going the distance in a Proving Ground match. Moriarty earned it because he’s the champion and he has to.
The 60-minute timer began and the two locked up. They traded wristlocks and a cocky Moriarty started doing squats to break out of the hold. Moriarty put on a headlock and transitioned to an armbar. He got an early Border City Stretch on, forcing Komander to use his first rope break 90 seconds into the match.
Moriarty worked Komander to the mat, but he popped right back up. Moriarty wristlocked him back ro the mat, but prevented the rope break. Komander leapt up onto Moriarty’s shoulders, but Moriarty kept the lock on. Komander managed to break it with a gator roll, but Moriarty caught him with a paintbrish and put Komander in a waistlock.
Komander ran up the turnbuckles and leapt backwards over Moriarty, but Moriarty had it scouted and cut him off, dropping him to the mat. Moriarty put some knees in Komander’s gut and Komander started clutching his knee.
Moriarty gutwrenched Komander to the mat and wrapped him up in a pretzel hold. For added measure, Moriarty clawed Komander’s ribs. Komander got out of it, but Moriarty was right there to work him into an octopus stretch.
Komander forced himself out of it with a hip toss and threw hands at Moriarty. He hit a hurricanrana, but Moriarty turned it into an STF, forcing Komander to use his second rope break at 52:08.
Moriarty kept control though, working Komander into the corner for some strikes. Komander dodged a charge though and took the opening to hit a big DDT, planting Moriarty on his head.
Komander went for a suplex, but Moriarty blocked it and punched him, earning his warning for a closed fist. Komander walked into a back elbow, but kicked his way to the top rope and hit a walking crossbody on Moriarty.
Moriarty caught Komander in a flapjack near the ropes, forcing Komander to use his final rope break to break up the pin. Moriarty dragged him into a Border City Stretch and Komander tried to get a rope break, but had just exhausted them.
Komander hit a Spanish Fly followed by a thrust kick, sending Moriarty to the outside. Komander hit a spingboard moonsault onto Moriarty over the top rope. The clock ticked as Moriarty crawled towards the ring. Komander helped him in and hit a poisonrana. Moriarty kicked out at two.
Komander went for a cross arm breaker and Moriarty dragged them to the ropes, using his first break at 46:14. Komander hit a running thrust kick and went up top. He went for his running moonsault, but Moriarty got the knees up. He put Komander into a Gory Special around the ropes and Komander had to tap out at 45:23.
Match Result: Lee Moriarty defeated Komander
After the match, respect was shown as the two shook hands in the ring.
