Tag: matt cardona

Matt Cardona surprised he hasn’t returned to WWE yet

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Matt Cardona is surprised that his success outside of WWE hasn’t brought him back to the company yet.

It’s been more than five years now since the former Zack Ryder was released from his WWE contract. Since then, he’s developed a new identity as an indie star through his work in promotions like GCW. Cardona feels like this has been the most successful time of his career, but he’s surprised that his journey hasn’t led him back to WWE.

“Honestly? Yeah,” Cardona said on Insight with Chris Van Vliet when asked if he’s surprised WWE hasn’t re-signed him yet. “But, obviously, you know, I’m missing something, I don’t know what it is. Listen, people say to me all the time, especially like we just had WrestleMania, WrestleCon, thousands of people at WrestleCon, probably every other fan, if not every fan: ‘When are you coming back?’ Well, it’s not up to me. Or at the WrestleMania hotel… so many people from the office or other wrestling, ‘Hey, man, when are you coming back?’ It’s like, I don’t know. I’ve reached out many times. I shouldn’t say many, a few times, every couple months when something cool happens or I have something to say, ‘Hey, look what I’m doing.’ There’s been no offer. Of course [WWE has written him back]. Everything’s very nice, professional, but there’s no offer. And you know what, it is what it is, I’m going to keep working my ass off.”

Cardona said his mindset after being released was never “What can I do to get back to WWE or get to AEW?” He was more focused on proving himself right than proving others wrong. He has made appearances for AEW and ROH since his WWE release, including challenging Chris Jericho for the ROH World Championship at Final Battle in December 2024. Cardona said that was a dream match against a childhood idol, but AEW has not offered him a contract.

Van Vliet asked Cardona if he would sign with AEW.

“If it made sense,” he responded. “I don’t want to be anywhere just to be a guy on the roster. And I know there’s no guarantees in pro wrestling, but I need like intent, you know? Like we see you doing this, or we envision you being here. I don’t want to just collect a check. Kind of been there, done that.”

Cardona said he has a great relationship with AEW, and his Major Wrestling Figure company works with Jazwares, the company that makes AEW action figures.

This Wednesday (May 14) was Cardona’s 40th birthday. He is a free agent but does compete for TNA Wrestling in addition to his work on the indies. On the episode of Impact that airs tonight, Cardona will be part of a four-way match to determine the next challenger for TNA International Champion Steve Maclin. It’s Cardona vs. Mance Warner vs. Ace Austin vs. Elijah.

Big Vinny V: TNA Impact recap with Joe Hendry vs. Matt Cardona

Posted on by Vincent Verhei

Image: TNA

Heavy is the head that wears the crown as no sooner had Joe Hendry won the TNA World title than he found himself defending it against Matt Cardona on last week’s TNA Impact — the first live edition of the show in nearly a decade.

We talk about all that and more on today’s Big Vinny V Show.

We also had a Knockouts division trios match that set up Masha Slamovich’s next challenger, an invader from NXT, Josh Alexander explaining why he quit TNA and then, apparently, un-quitting; a short, big-name tag match that set up a new challenger for Moose, the X-Division champion; the resolution of 23, PCO’s departure, and an indie star making his national TV debut; Fraxiom defending the NXT Tag Team titles against The Rascalz in an EXCELLENT wrestling match with a dumb finish; a former X-Division champion returning to apparently feud with Mike Santana; and the TV format that instantly made Impact a leader for best weekly wrestling show in 2025.

All this and more on the latest Big Vinny V Show!

Click Here to Listen (sub needed) or watch on YouTube with a subscription

Live TNA Impact notes: JBL, Tully Blanchard, Matt Cardona, WWE NXT

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Some notes from Thursday’s live TNA Impact which also saw the return of Mustafa Ali, a new Digital Media Champion, and Mance Warner’s debut.

Joe Hendry retained the TNA World title over Matt Cardona with help from JBL —

Matt Cardona made a surprise return to TNA for the first time since Bound for Glory, and was immediately booked in the main event of Impact against Joe Hendry for the TNA World Championship. Hendry retained the title — after John Bradshaw Layfield once again appeared as Hendry’s personal enforcer, just as he was at Genesis. JBL’s storyline intentions remain unclear, as the WWE Hall of Famer also cost Hendry the World title at Bound for Glory.

Tully Blanchard —

Former Four Horseman Tully Blanchard was shown in the crowd during Thursday’s Impact as his daughter Tessa cut a promo on her family’s history in the industry, and her intentions to dominate TNA going forward.

WWE NXT presence —

Nathan Frazer & Axiom defended the NXT Tag Team titles against The Rascalz on Thursday’s show, with former Rascal Wes Lee from NXT getting involved as well. Lee and fellow NXT talent Tyson Dupont & Tyriek Igwe distracted and attacked Zachary Wentz and Trey Miguel, allowing Fraxiom to retain their titles.

Cora Jade also appeared on the show, costing Knockouts World Champion Masha Slamovich the fall in a trios match.

Our full report from Matt Boone for Thursday’s show is available here.

The People vs. GCW live results: Hammerstein Ballroom return

Posted on by Joseph Collins

For the first time in three years, GCW will return to the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City for The People vs. GCW.

After a big build, their January 2022 debut received mixed-to-negative reviews which GCW owner Brett Lauderdale will try to erase tonight.

GCW Champion Mance Warner defends against a mystery opponent while the next challenger will be decided in a bout between partners Effy and Allie Katch.

GCW Tag Team Champions Violence is Forever defend against Alec Price & Cole Radrick while the GCW Extreme title and Ultraviolent title will be unified in an eight-person match.

In what should be an athletic affair, El Hijo del Vikingo will take on Sidney Akeem while Tom Pestock (the former Baron Corbin) will debut in a Bloodsport rules match against Josh Barnett.

Former ECW stars Super Crazy, Little Guido & Tajiri will face Arez, Gringo Loco & Jack Cartwheel with another former ECW star — Masato Tanaka — will go one-on-one with Joey Janela.

The card will also feature Matt Cardona against a mystery opponent, a steel cage match and more.

**********

Kick Off Show.

There was a 90 minute kick off show. It started off with clips of matches from various GCW events that set up tonight’s matches. There was a pretty good Matt Cardona hype video.

Preshow Scramble Match: Manders pinned Marcus Mathers in a match which also had Mr. Danger, Marcus Mathers, Fuego Del Sol, Rich Swann and Blake Christian (11:03)

The arena was still mostly empty at the start of the match, but there was still a booming GCW chant from the crowd that was there. Mathers got to look good in an exchange with Del Sol, and the commentators put over he was WWE’ID. Christian did some ariel stuff with Mr. Danger and Swann. The opening few minutes were two guys doing stuff in the ring, four guys selling on the floor.

Christian hit a snap spinning powerslam on Del Sol. Manders (the only guy in the match who isn’t super flippy) got dropped with a quadruple superkick. Christian hit a fosbury flop onto four guys on the floor. Mr. Danger hit a top rope springboard moonsault onto all five guys. Back in the ring, Christian hit Danger with a top rope Spanish Fly. There was a stacker superplex on Swann, and then Fuegeo hit Manders with a coast-to-coast dropkick. Del Sol hit a springboard DDT on Christian, and Dangers hit a moonsault on Del Sol. Mathers hit a fisherman’s bustper on Danger. Manders tossed Matthers out of the ring with a suplex, and Christian took him out with a superkick. Christian followed up with a 450 foot stomp.

Swann caught Manders with a springboard cuter for a near fall. Manders hit a destoryer off the top on Del Sol while he was on Manders shoulders. Mathers dove into a Oklahoma stampede from Manders, who finished him off with a lariat. All those flips and the finish was a clothesline.

– Allie Katch and Effy gave promos ahead of their top contender’s match later.

PCO won the Kick-Off Rumble.

There were already a bunch of guys brawling in the ring with this started, but then there were more entrants every minute or two. First was Crowbar, who came in and hit everyone with a crowbar. Zeyda Steel (who is a woman) entered next and actually got the corwbar from Crowbar. The tag team champions from Juggalo Championship Wrestling, The Back Seat Boys, (brought out by the Insane Clown Posse) enterted next. Sam Stackhouse was the next entrant. This was just a mess.

Shane Mercer came in next. There were so many men in the ring I was started to fear it might break. Brook Havoc (another woman) entered next. She was followed by CPA, an accountant. Big Vin was the next entrant and he gave someone a big chokeslam. The final participant was PCO.

PCO tossed a bunch of guys. Havoc eliminated Steel. Shane Mercer eliminated the Back Seat Boys. The camera cut to a wide shot, but you couldn’t really tell what was goign on. Sam Stackhouse use a cartwheel kick to eliminate someone. Havoc sent Stackhouse (who weighed like 400 pounds) to the floor with a rana. Shane Mercer then gorilla pressed Havoc and dumped her onto a crowd on the floor. This left him with PCO. They fought onto the apron, where PCO chokeslammed Mercer to the floor and got the victory.

After the match, PCO got the microphone and smashed a TNA championship belt (the Digital Media title) with a sledgehammer. PCO started running down TNA and the show quickly cut away from PCO and went to a pretaped package.

I guess PCO wasn’t happy in TNA.

– Brett Lauderdale crows about his ticket sales and how they’re better than any show that ran in this building “in the last 30 days or so.” He put over GCW’s success and promised to bring it to all 50 states. He talked up how GCW was successful without a coprorate TV contract or “a billion dollar safety net.” He also recognized some GCW fans who have passed away, including his mother. He rambled on for way too long.

– Dave Prazak joined the commentary team.

The People vs. GCW Main Show

Dave Prazak and Veda Scott were on commentary for the main show.

Matt Tremont won the DLC Match for the GCW Ultraviolent Championship & Extreme Championship which also featured Drew Parker, Dr. Redacted, Rina Yamashita, Matthew Justice, Ciclope, John Wayne Murdoch, Brandon Kirk, and Maki Itoh (15:55)

Most of the entrances occurred during the pre-show. “DLC” means “Doors, ladders and chairs” with the two belts hanging above the ring. This was the retirement match of Brandon Kirk, win lose or draw. Murdoch grabbed a mic and declared that Itoh didn’t not belong in the match, and he was jumped by everyone else to start the match. Itoh is the “Extreme” champion, which is one of the belts hanging above the ring. Parker & Murdoch climbed a ladder and were yanked down by their groins by Yamashita. Itoh did the Terry Funny spinning ladder spot. Guys threw chairs at each other’s heads, then came off the top rope with chair shots to the head. Cicople gave Yamashita a spinebuster. Cicople hit a springboard moonsault onto a pile on the floor. The pan to a crowd shot, but I gotta say the building looked a lot better when AEW was in it last month.

Brandon Kirk went through the first door. Murdoch hit Parker with a destroyer. Itoh hit Murdoch and Justice with a spinning DDT. Kirk went for a pumphandle slam, but Itoh countered that with another spinning DDT. Itoh hit a dive onto a pile on the floor. Nobody has made any attempt to get the belts.

Yamashita and Redacted tried to come off of opposite corners while wearing trash cans, but wound up crashing into each other. Now the match has just stopped while everyone builds ladder struckers in the ring and door/table structures on the floor. Yamashita and Cicople double-teamed Redacted, suplexing a ladder onto him. Out of the ring, Itoh and Murdoch were laid out on tables by Parker. On the top of a ladder, Cicople forced a kiss onto Yamashita, then superplexed to the floor through some tables. Then Drew Parker came off the top of another ladder with a swanton through Itoh and Murdoch. Then on a ladder-scaffold, Justice gave Redacted a death valley driver through a table against the ring barricade. This left Kirk to climb the ladder, but Drew Parker cut him off. Kirk then gave him a pump handle powerpomb through the ladder.

With everyone down, Kirk set up another ladder-scaffold before starting to climb for the belt. Murdoch low-blowed Kirk and sent him through the ladder he’d just set up. Oh the irony! Matt Tremont and Murdoch climb a ladder, and Tremont stopped him by hacking away at him with a fork, sending Tremont crashing down. Tremont pulled down both belts to win the titles.

– A pre-match video on Allie Hatch had me convinced she was winning tonight.

Effy defeated Allie Katch by decision for the GCW World Title shot in the Main Event (4:35)

Katch backdropped Effy to the floor and followed him out with a tope. Katch’s head ended up under the guardrail, but the commentators said she injured her leg. Later it was confirmed she injured her leg. Effy broke character checking on Katch, and the show cut to a wide shot while Katch was tended to by the crew.

Mance Warner (the champion) came out and attacked Effy with the title belt. Warner chokeslammed Effy through the time keeper’s table. Effy was declared the winner in what was obviously not the planned finish.

The New York OG’s (Homicide, Grim Reefer & Amazing Red) defeated Real F’n Pros (Kerry Morton, Tony Deppen, Griffin McCoy) after a lot of time killing.

Kerry Morton started a pre-match promo by saying “It’s a damn shame that GCW gets real professional wrestlers” and immediately became the babyface for me. There was a lot of mic work that felt like it was trying to fill the time left from the last match. And there was really no need for that.

Then, an announcement is made that they can’t actually start the match because “the commission” was not at ringside because they were dealing with the Allie Katch injury. This led to Morton grabbing another mic to run down some more people. The Real F’n Pros decide to leave since they’ve already been paid. Homicide got a mic and started cursing and demanded someone ring the bell. The Grim Reefer offered to hunt down the commissioner and “slap him in his f*n face.”

The finally cut away for some pre-tapes.

The match got underway once a second ambulance got on site. The first ambulance took Allie Katch to the hospital after her leg injury.

Morton did some great heel work from the apron while Deepen was triple teamed by the OG’s. Morton pulled a joint out from behind the Grim Reefer’s ear and broke it in half. Reefer sold for the heels. Morton’s heel work was tremendous. Reefer was completely gassed taking basic punishment from the Real Pros. Reefer pulled out another joint, lit it, then hit a top rope dive onto Deepen and McCoy. Homicide got the tag and took out Deepen and Morton with cutters. Morton’s team triple-teamed Homicide. Morton grabbed Homicide’s fork, but Ricky Morton ran in and took the fork away from his kid, then gave him a destroyer. A Code Red and A Cop Killer ended the match for the New York OG’s.

After the match, Amazing Red was inducted into the 2025 Independent Wrestling Hall of Fame. This would have been a great thing to do when they were trying to kill time before the match.

The Gahbage Daddies (Cole Radrick & Alec Price) defeated Violence is Forever (Kevin Ku and Dominic Garrini) for the GCW Tag Team Championship (14:28)

The match spilled to the floor very early. The Gahbage Daddies went for spinning DDTs on the floor, but they were blocked. Price was dropped with a brainbuster on the ring apron. Back in the ring, the champs double-teamed Radrick. This led to some pretty good old-school tag psychology where Vioence is Forever kept cutting off Radrick from getting the tag to Price.

Price finally got the tag and hit a blockbuster on Ku for a near fall. Price hit knee strikes on the champs. Garrini ate several kicks, and Price hit him with a top rope splash for two. Garrini dropped Price with a northern lights bomb. Ku hit a Regalplex on Price (with a boot from Garrini for good measure) for a near fall. Price and Garrini took each other out with a double clothesline.

Ku and Radrick exchanged forearms, and Ku caught him with a sleeper. Garrini had Price locked in a submission, but Radrick broke that up. Ku hit a brainbuster on Radrick, but Drake came off the top with a swanton bomb to break the pin up. Ku and Garrini hit Radrick with a spike piledriver, but it only got two.

Radrick hit an inverted powerbomb for a near fall. The Gahbage Daddies went for their finisher, but the champs countered it, and Ku dropped Drake with a top turnbuckle brainbuster. The Gahbage Daddies made a fast comeboack on Ku, hitting him with a cutter and a rebound lariat. Then then hit their finish, the Gahbage Disposal (a top rope stop from an electric chair) on Ku to get the pinfall and the championship.

This was decent. The Garbage Daddies went into the crowd to celebrate their title win.

Charles Mason defeated Richard Holliday in a Steel Cage Match (12:17)

Holiday reported Mason for murder, but apparently the charges didn’t stick and now we have this cage match. Because a snitch is worse than a murderer, according to commentary. During the entrance for Mason, various criminals are shown on the screen and Luigi Mangione gets a face pop.

Mason seems to understand his character, I will give him that. Mason was pretty dominant early. He sent Holliday headfirst into the cage but walked into a cutter. Holliday sent Mason into the cage headfirst but it didn’t faze him. Holliday hiptossed Mason into the cage to finally slow him down. They brawled up to the top of the cage. Holliday tumbled to the mat, and Mason came off the top of the cage with an elbow.

Perro (Holliday’s ally) broke into the cage and chokeslammed Mason. Mason kicked out of the pin attempt, so Perro threw a door and some chairs into the ring. Perro set up Mason for a powerbomb through the door, but Mason’s ally Slade entered the ring and speared Perro through the door. The wooden door set up like a table, not the cage door. Slade and Perro brawled out of the cage and into the crowd.

Holiday found a chain, but Mason had a chair and beat Holiday to the punch. With the chair, I mean. Mason went for a last big swing, but Holliday caught him with a low blow. Holliday admitting to snitching on Mason and leveled him with a superkick. Holliday hit a spinning suplex for one. Mason hit a spinning lariat and a meteoria in the corner. Mason hit a death valley driver for two, then locked in a sleeperhold. Holiday went for a suplex, but Mason countered into another sleeper, and locked in a body scissors. Holiday tried to use the chain to break it, but Mason grabbed it and used it to choke out Holliday to get the win via ref stoppage. This wasn’t too bad, either.

Sidney Akeem defeated El Hijo Del Vikingo (10:38)

Some pretty great mat stuff started things out. Vikingo offered Akeem a handshake, but he declined and hit a crossbody and a forearm. Vikingo came back with a superkick. Akeem went for a suplex to the floor, but Vikingo escaped with a knee and a kick. Akeem dodged a dive from Vikingo and hit him with a bodypress on the floor from the apron, basically on his back.

Back in the ring, Akeep hit a top rope crossbody for a near fall. Vikingo came back with a missle dropkick off the top that sent Akeem to the floor. Vikingo hit a tope and immediately grabbed his left knee. Back in the ring, Vikingo hit a frog splash for two. Akeem hit a spin kick and a pump handle slam for a near fall. Vikingo hung up Akeem in the ropes and hit a double stomp for a near fall. Both guys avoided cutters and knocked each other down simultaneously with kicks.

Akeem hit his handspring cutter (The Final Act) for two. Vikingo crotched Akeem on the top rope, then hit a destoryer from the top rope onto the ring apron. Back in the ring, Akeem hit the Final Act a second time and got the pinfall.

Arez, Gringo Loco & Jack Cartwheel defeated Tajiri, Super Crazy & Little Guido (12:35)

The ECW guys looked very old. Guildo did soem pretty good matwrok, and Tajiri hit some crisp arm drags. Super Crazy kept up with Arez desipte putting on a good deal of weight since his ECW days. A cheap shot from Arez led to all six guys getting in the ring, and Cartwheel’s team triple teamed Crazy and sent him to the floor. Arez stomped on Little Guido, and Cartwheel hit a slingshot elbow off the ropes. He went to the top for a skytwister press, but Guido rolled out of the way.

Crazy got the tag and hit his opponents with clotheslines. Tajiri took out Loco and Arez with the handspring elbow. Tajiri and Crazy tied them up with tarantuals, and Guildo locked Cartwheel in an armbar. The fight then went to the floor.

Super Crazy climed up the second level balcony and hit a moonsualt on the pile. That’s an insane risk considering what’s already happened on this show. The match eventually went back to the ring, and Arez and Crazy each lock one of their opponents into a surfboard. Arez sent Crazy to the floor, and Loco and Cartwheel followed out and hit him with dives. Arez then hit the pile with a moonsualt to the floor of his own.

Back in the ring, Tajiri misted the referee. Arez then hit Tajiri with the red mist! Loco hit Guido with a split legged moonsault and got the pinfall.

This show feels like it’s been on forever.

Josh Barnett v. Tom Pestock in a “Bloodsport Fight” (10:04)

Pestcok is the former Baron Corbin, but he has legitimate Golden Gloves and BJJ experience. This match has a 15 minute time limit with a five minute overtime if necessary. The ropes have been removed from the ring for this.

Pestock got a takedown and then a heel hook. Barnett looked like he might have an armbar, but Pestock countered and got in a full mount and turned that into a cross arm breaker. Barnett escaped and caught Pestock with some short rights. Pestock threw some elbows into Barnett’s ribs. Barnett got a headlock, but Pestock countered with a headscissors and then went right back into a cross arm breaker again. Barnett was able to block it. Barnett rolled up on Pestock and went for ankle, but Pestock was able to roll on top to counter. Pestock got on top and drove some knees into Barnett’s ribs, then went into a guillotine. Barnett countered that with a suplex, then locked in an armar into a cross arm breaker. Pestock tried to power out, but Barnett countered into a knee bar. Pestock escaped and started pummeling him with forearms. Pestock hit a verticual suplex and some more forearms. Barnett got on top and hit a punches, but Pestock rolled over and fired back.

Both men got to their feet, and Barnett went after Pestock with kicks to the legs. Pestock blocked a kick and leveled Barnett, then hit a pair of backdrop suplexes. Barnett countered a third with a go-behing and went for another legbar, locked it in and Pestock (who had been the crowd favorite) had to tap out.

I don’t’ know what it was but the crowd was into Pestock.

Megan Bayne defeated Atticus Cogar (13:49)

Cogar wore headgear exactly like Bayne’s. Bayne quickly hit a spear for a near fall. Bayne backdropped Cogar and hit a chop in the corner. Bayne buried knees in Cogar’s midsection and hit a spalsh in the corner, then followed that up with a butterfly suplex. Sliding lariat got Bayne a near fall. Cogar shoved Bayne off the turnbuckles to the floor.

Cogar draped Bayne across the barricades and came off the apron with a splash. Cogar set up a table on the floor. Cogar caught Bayne coming in the ring with a DDT for a near fall. Cogar kicked a chair into Bayne’s face. Cogar tried to drive skewers into Bayne’s head but missed. They exchanged German suplexes, and Cogar hit a half and half suplex and a superkick. Cogar found some more skewers and shoved them into every corner of the ring.

Bayne came back with forearms and an overhead belly to belly suplex. Cogar went for a crossbody, but Bayne caught him and gave him a fallaway slam into a steel chair. Cogar hit a headbutt, then came off the top with a stomp for a near fall.

Bayne escaped an air rad crash and hit a sitout powerbomb for two. Bayne went to the top, but Cogar caught her with a kick. Cogar followed him up and hit an air raid crash that was supposed to be on the apron but they went straight to the floor. They went back into the ring and Bayne kicked out of a cover attempt. Bayne hit Cogar with an F5 for a near fall. Bayne grabbed some of the skewers, but before she could skewer him, Otis Cogar (Atticus’ brother) ran in and gave Bayne an uranage, then a moonsault. But Atticus only got a near fall. Otis went for a second moonsault, but Sawyer Wreck sprayed him with a fire extinguisher. Wreck then hit Atticus with a taser, and Bayne hit a tombstone on Atticus to get the pinfall.

Joey Janela defeated Masato Tanaka (12:38)

I don’t think having this many guys who were stars in ECW 30 years ago is the flex the guys running this thing think it is. Tanaka turned Jalena inside-out with a clothesline. Janela dropped Tanaka with a death valley driver on the ring apron. Janela set up some tables on one side of the ring. Jalena then walked Tanaka over to the tables and whipepd him into the ring barricade. Tanaka sent Jalena over the ring barricade and hit him with a chair. Janela then positioned himself onto a table for Tanaka to dive onto him.

Tanaka then threw a bunch of chairs in the ring. Back in the ring, Janela cuaght Tanaka with a DDT. Tanaka hit Jalena with a swinging DDT into the pile of chairs. Janela suplexed Tanaka into the pile of chairs. Then back onto the apron , and Janela powerbombed Tanaka through the table on the floor.

Jalena set up the chairs in the ring. He went for a powerbomb, but Tanaka countered with an elbow and hit Diamond Dust for a near fall. An elbow sent Janela into the chairs and Tanaka went to the top, but Janela caught him. Janela superplexed Tanaka through the chairs and got a one count. Janela hit Tanaka with a pair of chair shots to the head for two.

Janela threw a door and a table into the ring while Tanaka grabbed his head. Janela set Tanaka up in the corner for a superplex, but Tanaka turned it into a spinning DDT into the table. Jalena kicked out at two. Janela sent Tanaka through the door with a death valley driver.

They fought with chairs and forearms in the center of the ring. The each hit rolling elbows and knocked each other down. Janela hit a superkick, then a package piledriver on a steel chair to get the pinfall.

Janela grabbed the mic afterwards and said, “it’s been a long f*cking night.” Yeah, no kidding. Janela got the crowd to give Tanaka ovation. Janela started to talk about his spring break show and the lights went dark. Then clips of Sabu were shown. Including stuff from ECW, Raw, and WCW so I don’t know how they’re getting away with that. Anyway the lights came back up and Sabu was in the ring with Janela. Janela announced that Sabu would have his retirement match with Janela at his spring break show.

Matt Cardona defeated Tommy Invincible (1:44)

Cardona cut a promo about how he’s carried GCW on his back for the last four years. Tommy Invincible has a social media following, and the crowd doesn’t respond well to him. Cardona hit Radio Silence right out of the gate, but it only got two. Invincible hit a pair of knees and then did a John Cena impression to a lot of boos. Invincible hit a fistdrop and a cutter for a near fall. The crowd was not having any of this. Cardona hit a low blow and another Raido Silence and that was it.

So after destroying that nobody, Cardona demands more competition.

Matt Cardona defeated Micro Man

It’s midnight, are these guys serious? The smallest wrestler alive Micro Man came out to wrestle Cardona. Cardona won this match after a low blow when his second, Jimmy Lloyd, pulled the ref out of the ring. Cardona demanded another opponent.

Jimmy Lloyd defeated Matt Cardona (2:12)

Lloyd was Cardona’s second, who turned on Cardona and hit him with Radio Silence. Lloyd hit him with a boot wash and a superkick, then dropped him with a big piledriver and got the pinfall.

Effy defeated Mance Warner for the GCW Championship (19:07)

Warner is trying to start fights with the crowd around ringside. Also it looks like there are a lot of empty seats in the Ballroom. Probably because it’s well past midnight.

Effy started off fast and hit a pair of boots in the corner, but Warner grabbed the title belt and walloped Effy with it. The fight went to the floor and Warner dominated with chops and bit Effy’s forehead. Effy suplexed Warner on the floor. Effy whipped Warner into the ringpost and into the guardrail. Effy threw some chairs in the ring.

Back in the ring, Effy hit Warner with a chair, then dropped him crotch-first onto a chair. Effy went for a cannonball off the top, but Warner moved and Effy hit the chair. Warner hit Effy with a chair. Warner then chokeslammed Effy into the edge of a set-up steel chair. What was left of the crowd was behind Effy, and they definitely weren’t as loud as they were earlier in the night. Warner set up some more chairs in the ring. Effy sent Warner into the chairs with the TKO. Effy followed up with a tombstone into a set up chair.

Effy smashed Warner with a door. Warner hit him with the door. Warner tried to springboard into Effy, but Effy caught him and spinebustered him threw the door. Effy gave him a curbstomp into a chair for another near fall.

Effy threw more doors and chairs into the ring. Any booker with good sense would have sent these guys home by now. The crowd does not care about any of this. Effy and Warner fought on the apron, and Warner tried a piledriver through the table and it didn’t break and both guys are out of it. And the crowd couldn’t care less.

Back in the ring, Effy kicks out of a pin attempt. The crowd barely reacts. Warner goes to the floor to throw more stuff around. Warner hit a member of the ring crew with a steel chair. Back in the ring, Warner put a door across some steel chairs (a “door bridge” the commentators called it). Warner DDT’d Effy off the top through the door, and Effy kicks out. And maybe four people clapped.

Warner dumped Effy to the floor and demanded a count out. Effy got in before the ref counted ten, so Warner dumped him out again. Effy made it back in the ring, and Warner beat him with a steel chair. Warner hit him with a knee for one, and finaly the crowd reacted a bit. Warner pulled a screwdriver out of his boot, and Effy hit a spear. Effy got the screwdriver and hit Warner in the head. Effy gutwrench powerbombed Warner through the door, but it only got one. Warner countered a Radio Silence attempt with a powerbomb, then hit a DDT for another near fall.

Warner then left the ring to grab a guitar. But Cole Radrick ran in and stopped him. Radrick pulled out a brass ring (which would get him a title shot), but Radrick didn’t use it. Instead, he gave Effy the guitar and left. Effy hit Warner with the guitar, then hit the Radio Silence (which he calls the Sack Ryder), and got the pinfall. The win got barely any crowd reaction.

This show was about two hours too long. There’s only so many times you can see guys get hit with chairs or go through tables or doors before it gets redundant. And I’d guess about 1/2 the crowd left before the end of it.

Matt Cardona: ‘I have earned the opportunity to go back’ to WWE, never got AEW contract offer

Posted on by Josh Nason

Matt Cardona is still hoping he will have the opportunity to return to WWE someday.

Cardona appeared on The Ariel Helwani Show Monday to promote this Sunday’s The People vs. GCW event from New York City’s Hammerstein Ballroom — an interview in which he revealed he never got a contract offer from AEW.

During his appearance, Helwani asked him about WWE and observed that he felt Cardona was better and more over than those who he sees on TV every week.

Cardona said that while he feels he is as successful as he’s ever been at this moment, he would be lying if he didn’t want another WrestleMania moment or to compete at Madison Square Garden again or to be on SmackDown with his wife, Chelsea Green.

“I don’t I think I deserve anything…but I think I have earned the opportunity to go back. I don’t think it’s cocky to say that if my music hit at the Royal Rumble, whether it be Zack Ryder or Matt Cardona, the place would explode, the roof would come off the place, social media would explode, I would move merch, I know that,” he explained.

Cardona later admitted he’s had gear ready for the Royal Rumble for the past few years just in case. He also will be in town for this year’s event, appearing at a convention in town.

He added that while there has been “cordial communication” between himself and WWE, there has never been any offer. He isn’t sure why that is, but he said he can’t live his life worrying about that. He is always ready and would “love to go back if the circumstances were right.”

“I would love to be (in WWE) with (Chelsea). Whether we’re on camera or not, I think we’re better together. I want to be there not just because she’s there, but because I belong there. I know I belong there,” he said, later adding he truly believes he would make a difference.

It’s the not the first time recently where Cardona has publicly said he would like to return. Last August, Cardona said he would love to end his career in WWE and last October, he was surprised he hadn’t got an offer from either WWE or AEW.

In mid-December, Dave Meltzer reported Cardona had been offered an AEW contract but Cardona said during the interview that he never was offered one. He isn’t sure why as he said he would be open to working there and has really enjoyed every time he has appeared there.

Cardona appeared in Ring of Honor for the first time at last month’s Final Battle against ROH World Champion Chris Jericho and worked in AEW twice last year, once against Cope and once against Bryan Keith.

Wrestling Observer Live: ROH Final Battle, The Rock, ‘The Year of Griftmas,’ a holiday bonus

Posted on by Jim Valley

It’s a holiday (almost) weekend edition of Wrestling Observer Live.

ROH Final Battle from the Hammerstein Ballroom took place Friday featuring a strong main event from Athena and Billie Starkz, an excellent Survival of the Fittest match for the men’s TV title, and the pop of the night: Nigel McGuinness challenging Lee Moriarty for the ROH Pure title. Let’s discuss.

Als on today’s WOL: The Rock got roasted for a post on X and the annual reading of a Christmas tradition, AEW Rampage & Collision thoughts, WWE SmackDown, and I also provide a little holiday bonus content.

Happy Holidays! Check it out. Ho, ho, ho!

Click Here to Listen (sub needed)

Ring of Honor Final Battle live results: Athena vs. Billie Starkz

Posted on by Jeff Moss

Ring of Honor returns for its final streaming special of the year with tonight’s Final Battle from the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City.

ROH Women’s World Champion Athena defends against former Women’s TV Champion Billie Starkz while ROH World Champion Chris Jericho defends against Matt Cardona.

Men’s TV Champion Brian Cage will defend his title in a six-way Survival of the Fittest match while Women’s TV Champion Red Velvet defends against Leyla Hirsch.

Pure Champion Lee Moriarty defends in an open challenge while ROH Tag Team Champions Dustin Rhodes & Sammy Guevara defend against The Righteous in a bullrope match.

The main card is rounded out by Katsuyori Shibata vs. Tommy Billington; Mansoor vs. Atlantis Jr.; and Jay Lethal vs. QT Marshall.

The Zero Hour pre-show will feature the Undisputed Kingdom vs. The Infantry; Grizzled Young Veterans vs. Dark Order; Lee Johnson & EJ Nduka vs. Gates of Agony; and Harley Cameron vs. Hanako.

**********

It is the final battle of the year, live from the Hammerstein Ballroom in NYC as we kick off the appropriately named FINAL BATTLE 2024! Starting with ZERO HOUR! 

The Grizzled Young Veterans (Zack Gibson and James Drake) defeated The Dark Order (John Silver and Alex Reynolds w/Evil Uno)

Kicking off Zero Hour is a match with a little bit of a story to it. A couple of weeks ago, Gibson and Drake noticed that some extras were eating catering before they got a chance to. That resulted in them beating up said extras. John Siver of the Dark Order saw this and didn’t like it, so he stole the Vet’s trademark scarves in retaliation. Then there was an 8-man tag match and now we’re here (Hey, I said it was a “little bit” of a story).

Reynolds and Drake started things off with a standard tie up, but it wasn’t long before Gibson asked for a tag and was granted it. He took the fight to Reynolds, but it Silver quickly tagged in. What Silver lacks in speed he makes up for in strength. Both he and Gibson were able to go toe to toe, because what they both lack in hair, they make up for in talent!

Silver’s strategy seemed to be working for a submission, which was and interesting tactic against two very good technical wrestlers. Drake dragged him to the top rope but Silver flipped things and executed a hurricanrana, opening up hot tags for both Reynolds and Gibson. They flew at each other until Reynolds stacked Gibson up with a powerbomb.

The Dark Order took over with a Reynolds and Silver hitting a spiked spear/suplex on Drake the outside. The Vets followed that a few minutes later with a standing Doomsday device on Reynolds. At this point, Uno got involved (waving papers like the late Brodie Lee). Gibson grabbed the papers and tore them up, distracting everyone enough to allow Silver and Reynolds to land a fully of suplexes, stunners and double kicks on Drake, who was pulled outside at 2 by Gibson.

Silver then seemed to have pulled a hamstring which the Vets took and vantage of to hit a High/Low to get a pin and take the win. No scarves were hurt in this match.

Hanako defeated Harley Cameron

Cameron, a former Outcast, has been hanging around ROH sporadically over the last few months, usually to passive-aggressively take shots at Rachel Ellering for some reason. Hanako is a joshi star in the Stardom promotion and she and her tag partner Maika were runners up in the Goddesses of Stardom Tag League 2024 Final tournament this year.  

Cameron started the match by doing some warmup pushups. The very-tall-for-a-Joshi-star Hanako didn’t let it go for long though, using her strength and size to whip Cameron into the ropes for a big shoulder block. Cameron tried to lift Hanako up, but did not have the power. Switching tactics, Cameron punched her in the back instead.

Hanako landed a big stalling suplex to keep momentum in her favour. Cameron was clearly outmatched here and ate strike after strike for her efforts. Cameron lured Hanako to the outside and duped her into running into the steel ring steps. That gave Cameron an opening to finally get some offence in.

Hanako battled back, hanging Cameron up in a Tree of Woe. Cameron countered it though and hit a Backstabber and a shining wizard. Cameron tried a splash from the top rope but Hanako caught her mid air and Torture Rack Slammed her to get the pin.

The Undisputed Kingdom (Mike Bennett and Matt Taven) defeated The Infantry (Shawn Dean and Carlie Bravo w/Trish Adora & Shane Taylor)

Since joining up with Shane Taylor Promotions a few weeks ago, the Infantry have shown a newfound aggressive streak and certain, shall we say, morally casual attitude. The Undisputed Kingdom started the year as ROH Tag Team Champions and since then have made impacts elsewhere, most notably Matt Taven’s quest to become the ROH Pure Champion. 

Bravo and Dean jumped Taven and Bennett as they approached the ring, getting the upper hand before the bell. They put Bennett into the barricade and then Taven dove over the top rope to nail both Bravo and Dean. Then the match started, for reals, with Bennett and Bravo as legal.

The Infantry were agressive in this match, with Dean hitting a brutal cutter on Taven on the ring apron (the hardest part of the ring!). Taven and Bennett were separated early and Taven found himself in the middle of a bunch of double teams in the Infantry’s corner. Bravo caused a distraction and Taylor punched Taven square in the face behind the ref’s back.

The Kingdom for their part were trying to find something, anything, to throw at their (seemingly four) opponents. In the end though it was good ol’ kicks to the face that got a hot tag to Bennett who cleaned house and unloaded a series of chops on Dean, and then Bravo. Bennett then used Dean as a weapon, Spiccoli Driver-ing him onto his partner Bravo.

A hot tag to Taven brought him in fresh to clear the Infantry out of the ring with kicks. Bravo was left in the ring to take a Spiccoli Driver and Just the Tip from the Kingdom, but it was only worth a two count. Taylor jumped up on the ring apron to cause a distraction so Adora could hit Taven and set up Bennett for a Boot Camp. But this too was only, uh, two.

Taven wrapped Dean around the ring post, leaving Bravo open for a Rockstar Supernova and a pin from Bennett to get the Undisupted Kingdom the win.

Gates of Agony (Bishop Kaun and Toa Liona) defeated LEEJ (Lee Johnson and EJ Nduka)

The horribly named LEEJ (Lee Johnson and EJ Nduka) take on the Gates of Agony here in what is kind of a grudge match? Johnson has had singles matches against Liona (lost) and Kaun (won) with Nduka as his backup in case things got out of hand. Liona in particular has it out for Johnson and stopped Kaun from showing respect to him on the last episode of ROH On Honorclub.

Johnson and Liona kicked things off with Johnson having Liona a little more scouted this time and fed him all the speed. Liona was taken aback, allowing Nduka to tag in and assault, I mean, isolate him in the corner. Johnson tagged in and Liona got him with a massive backbreaker on the top turnbuckle, followed up by a devastating dropkick and suplex on the outside.

It was then the Gates’ turn to isolate, dragging Johnson to their corner for repeated cannonballs, chops and stomps. Johnson finally got a tag to Nduka and he faced off against Liona, tow big men swinging big arms in a violent manner until Nduka got Liona off his feet with a big Lariat, followed by a Spear.

Liona got Nduka off his feet and they stomped him in the corner. All four men entered the ring and started hitting finishers. Finally Nduka climbed to the top of the ringpost and hit a massive moonsault on Kaun for a two count. Kaun dragged Nduka outside and Liona drove his head into the steel steps with his knee. Kaun caught Johnson and Slammed him on the same steps.

Kaun dragged Johnson back into the ring and hit two huge double powerbombs on him to get the victory.

After the match, The Gates tried to show respect, but LEEJ beat them down!

And now…. Final Battle! Kicking things off is what’s sure to be a banger:

Atlantis Jr defeated Mansoor (w/ Mason Madden)

The Story So Far:  There isn’t one! Mansoor is one half of the crowd-favourite MxM Collection and Atlantis Jr is a CMLL star and former ROH TV Champion. These guys are both excellent in the ring though and have some history.

Tips were touched and the match started with the two similarly sized men wrestling until Mansoor took Atlantis down with a quick rollup. From there, Mansoor controlled the match and the posing. He had a takedown and pose for everything Atlantis threw at him. This earned his respect and the two men shook hands. Really.

Then it was Atlantis’ turn for some offence getting a few quick two counts before putting Mansoor in a Figure-4-like knee hold. Madden got involved, grabbing Atlantis and pulling him to the floor to pose on the ring apron (the sexiest part of the ring!). Mansoor dragged Atlantis back in for a series of suplexes.

Mansoor went for Atlantis’ mask but couldn’t get it off. Atlantis tried to fight out of it, but a big kick put him back down. Atlantis got his second wind and hit a series of backbreakers on Mansoor. Atlantis hit a really impressive trap slam for a two count and then went to the top rope. Madden distracted him, yelling “booga booga booga.” Really.

Mansoor hit a really hard looking slam in the corner that dropped Atlantis square on the head. From there, the two battled back and forth until Atlantis went for a splash, but Mansoor got his knee up. Mansoor played hurt, giving Madden a chance to get involved, slamming Atlantis in the ring. Madden then posed, but who should appear from under the ring?

DANHAUSEN!

He punched Madden in the junk while Atlantis tossed Mansoor out of the ring. He dove over the top rope onto Madden and Mansoor. Then, he dragged Mansoor back in the ring and hit a big splash to get the pin and the win.

After the match, Madden head butted Atlantis in the ring, beating him up until interrupted by Danhausen. He cursed Madden and poured teeth in his mouth. Danhausen then raised Atlantis’ hand as Madden slunk away.

-Backstage the Nueve, Chris Jericho was interviewed, but the first part was cut off due to technical audio issues. When it was resolved though, Jericho declared New York as his home town and listed a bunch of purposely wrong facts about New York and it’s local sports teams. It was delightfully insulting. He promised to leave the “Grand Apple” as still ROH Champion.

Katsuyori Shibata defeated Tommy Billington

The Story So Far: Tommy Billington is the nephew of the legendary Dynamite Kid. Dynamite was one of the best wrestlers to ever lace them up, so it makes sense that his son is fighting Shibata, a guy who calls himself “The Wrestler.” Yeah, I know that’s a stretch to connect, but it’s really all the reasoning I’ve got for this one. All I know is that this is going to be a very, very good match.

A tie up off the top led to some spectacular technical chain wrestling. Applause broke out. Billington got a solid headlock on Shibata and ground him down to the mat. Shibata literally did a headstand to break a hold and slap an ankle lock on Billington. Billington reversed it and sent Shibata through the ropes, following it up with a dive onto Shibata on the outside.

Back in the ring, Shibata locked in a figure four on Billington in the center of the ring. Billington turned it over, putting the pressure back on Shibata. The two rolled back and forth a few times until a rope break. They then traded suplexes, ending with Shibata planting Billington with a leg sweep.

Shibata got Billington in a triangle choke while Ian Riccaboni shouted Canadian city names. Billington managed to get to the ropes, breaking the hold and sending Shibata to the mat with a clothesline. Billington went to the top rope and hit a huge DDT from the top rope! Shibata bounced back though and locked in a sleeper hold until Billington was forced to tap.

An excellent, excellent match though!

Jay Lethal (w/Karen Jarrett and Sanjay Dutt) defeated QT Marshall (w/Aaron Solo)

The Story So Far: QT Marshall and Jay Lethal were both big deals in ROH at one time or another. Lethal returned to ROH a few weeks ago looking to enter the title picture. For some reason, Marshall took great offense to this, thinking that Lethal should be wrestling him if he wants fame and glory. So… now they’re going to fight. But first, duelling awesome Macho Man entrances for both.

The match exploded to a start with Lethal going high early and knocking Marshall out of the ring. Marshall lured Lethal out and drove him into the barricade before tossing him back in. Lethal seemed to bounce back out with a suicide dive though.

Back in the ring, Marshal landed a tornado DDT but Lethal fought back and the two had a flurry of chain wrestling. Marshall bounced Lethal’s head off the top rope and that slowed things down considerably. Marshall tried to get the upper hand, but Lethal was ready for it and the two exchanged blows until Lethal hit a neckbreaker. He followed that up with a figure four leglock.

Marshall tried a quick rollup but no dice as Lethal resonded with a big bang. Lethal climbed to the top rope but was knocked off by Solo. Solo started harassing the Karen Jarrett and suddenly, music hit. Jeff Jarrett stomped down to the ring and hit him with a guitar.

Back in the ring, Marshall hit Lethal with the CrossRhodes of all things, but it only got a two count. He went for a super diamong cutter, but Lethal dodged it and led him into a cutter off the ropes. Lethal missed a Lethal Injection, and Marshall tried one of his own in response.

The two traded forearms and near falls until Lethal managed to land a picture perfect pair of Lethal Injections to get the win.

For a long time, I’ve been wondering about the point of this match and now it is clear: it was to allow a thousand Macho Man impressions to ring out in one glorious Hammerstein Ballroom chorus!

ROH Women’s World TV Championship: Red Velvet (c ) defeated Leyla Hirsch

The Story So Far: These are two women who are very good at very violent wrestling and they do not like each other. Velvet has been the ROH Women’s TV Champion since Death Before Dishonor when she won it from Billie Starkz. Velvet has successfully defended it against Diamante twice, once in a brutal street fight. Now she takes on Hirsch who got hurt in a Texas Death Match against the aforementioned Diamante, and was out for the latter half of the year, returning a few weeks ago. 

Velvet was rapped to the ring by excellent MC, Red, and then she and Hirsch locked up. Velvet had a height advantage on Hirsch, but Hirsch hit hard and hit a lot. Her strength more than evened the odds as she sent Velvet to the mat and attempt an armbar. Velvet squirmed away though, taking a second to reset.

Velvet came out swinging though, sending Hirsch to the corner for some big stomps. Hirsch fought back though, suplexing Velvet. This managed to make Velvet mad though and she shot up and knocked Hirsch to the mat. Hirsch stomped Velvet’s arm in retaliation and flipped her into the turnbuckles.

Hirsch landed a swingout german suplex from the top rope on Velvet, but it only got a two count. Velvet grabbed at her shoulder and she and Hirsch rose, trading open handed slaps. Hirsch caught Velvet though and got her up for a power bomb followed by a springboard moonsault and then good ol’ kick in the arm.

Hirsch worked the arm while Velvet screamed in pain. Hirsch landed a shining wizard but got cocky on the pin and only got a two. Hirsch then locked an armbar on Velvet’s injured arm. Velvet rose and turned it into a powerbomb to get Hirsch off her. Velvet landed a solid right hand on Hirsch, seemingly knocking her cold. Velvet went for Mama’s Kitchen, but Hirsch was playing possum and fought out of it.

Velvet then dove under the ring and grabbed a spare turnbuckle. The ref rook it away from her, and went to put it to the side. Velvet produced a hidden wrench while his back was turned and hit Hirsch with it, knocking her out and allowing Velvet to get the pin and retain the ROH Women’s TV Title.

ROH Pure Championship Open Challenge: Lee Moriarty (c ) vs ????

The Story So Far: Lee Moriarty has been ROH Pure Champion since July, taking the title from Wheeler Yuta at Death Before Dishonor. He’s successfully defended it three times against the likes of Angelico, Preston Vance and most recently, Matt Taven. Now he wants to take on the “best of the best” and has issued an open challenge. 

If this is your first rodeo, a Pure Rules match has a 30-minute time limit. Each competitor gets three rope breaks and one closed fist warning. After that they can be disqualified. Any outside interference is a DQ and can cause a title change. If there is no clear winner by pinfall or submission by the time limit the match will be awarded based on points by a panel of judges. Fun Fact: this has never happened to my knowledge (I didn’t look very hard though). Tonight the judges are: Jerry Lynn, Christopher Daniels and Rocky Romero.

Shane Taylor accompanied Moriarty to the ring and who is the brave soul answering the Open Challenge? Why none other than legendary former ROH Pure Champion Nigel McGuinness!

Moriarty was shocked but pleased to see one of the greatest Pure Champions in ROH history. In fact it was McGuinness that retired the original version of the title before it was revived a few years ago. McGuinness and Moriarty have a long history too as training partners and opponents. This is honestly way better than anyone that had been speculated about!

McGuinness pulled out a Mic and suggested they do this under the “old” Pure title rules. Taylor got a mic and ran down McGuiness as old news. McGuiness goaded Taylor and Moriarty in a very non PG way. Moriarty asked Taylor to let him do this the old way and Taylor reluctantly agreed. So, what are the “old” rules?

No Judges (See? Told you), wins are gotten by pinfall or submission. Three rope breaks are allowed and zero closed fists. Simple, no?

The match started with back and forth wristlocks, which in any other match would be boring, but in a Pure Match they are impossible to look away from. At 2:03, Moriarty accidentally used a rope break when McGuiness got him too close to it. This is a vintage McGuinness strategy.

At 2:54, McGuinness took a shot from Moriarty that the ref deemed a closed fist and docked Moriarty a rope break. That incensed Taylor who demanded a second official to keep the other one honest. A ref came to the ring and the match resumed with duelling waistlocks and open handed palm strikes.

McGuinness began working Moriarty’s elbow and shoulder, pushing him closer and closer to using that third rope break. Moriarty reversed it into a Border City Stretch at 5:40, causing McGuinness to use a rope break. Taylor lured McGuinness to the outside and Moriarty tried to jump him, but McGuinness moved, leading to Moriarty hitting Taylor. The ref counted and Moriarty beat the count by one second, diving back into the ring.

Moriarty delivered a huge Eurpoean uppercut to McGuinness and went up to the turnbuckle. McGuinness popped up and hit a London Bridge to get a two count. The two traded pinning attempts until Moriarty locked in a second Border City Stretch, forcing rope break #2 for McGuinness at 9:56.

Moriarty locked in a third Border City Stretch and McGuinness needed to use his final rope break at 10:44. From here on out, there would be no saving McGuinness on the ropes. Speaking of, Moriarty used the rope as leverage in a pinning attempt, but the second ref caught him. McGuinness hit Moriarty with a big lariat, but he couldn’t get a three count on the champion.

McGuinness hit another London Bridge and the Ref counted to three, but the second official saw Moriarty’s foot on the rope and since he had one rope break left, the pin didn’t count. That meant that all rope breaks had been exhausted as the two men traded blows in the center of the ring.

The time hit 15:09 as Moriarty tried a quick pin attempt that McGuinness kicked out of. Yet another Border City Stretch was applied, but McGuinness had no more rope breaks. He struggled until he could flip the hold. Moriarty hit a massive DDT, but again only got a two count. Back to the Border City Stretch and Moriarty used the ropes (which was now legal) as leverage and McGuinness was forced to tap out.

The crowd and Moriarty gave McGuinness his flowers, the champion raising the challenger’s hand.

ROH Tag Team Championship Texas Bull Rope Match: The Sons of Texas (Dustin Rhodes & Sammy Guevara) (c ) defeated The Righteous (Vincent & Dutch) 

The Story So Far:  Ok, I’ll try to tell this story as succinctly as possible. Sammy Guevara and Dustin Rhodes won the ROH Tag titles from the Undisputed Kingdom back in August. Since then they’ve defeated the Dark Order, a couple of low-tier teams and the Undisputed Kindom in a Bunkhouse Brawl Match. The Righteous, Dutch and Vincent, decided they were done just hurting people and want some gold to go with said hurting. They turned their attention to Rhodes and Guevara (now going by the name Sons of Texas). Dutch was trained in part by Rhodes’ father, the incomparable Dusty Rhodes and has a special bullrope and cowbell that the American Dream gifted him.

Dutch has used that to get under Rhodes’ skin, saying the Dusty wished he was his sin instead of Dustin! The two teams have jumped each other in the back, played mind games and on the last episode of ROH on Honorclub, The Righteous jumped Rhodes at his training facility and left him in a pool of his own blood. This is a bitter, bitter feud that will be settled in a double Bull Rope match which means, essentially there are no rules and they will be linked to each other by the wrist by a bullrope.

Before the ropes could be applied though, Rhodes and Guevara attacked Dutch and Vincent, battling in, out and around the ring with the Righteous getting the better result. They thew Rhodes and Guevara back in the ring as the ref tried to attach the ropes. Vincent and Dutch kicked those ropes away and the brawl continued.

Guevara and Rhodes got the advantage and beat down Dutch and Vincent. They grabbed the ropes and Rhodes attached himself to Dutch, and Guevara tied himself to Vincent. The bell rang and the “match” “officially” “began.”

Rhodes and Guevara set the Righteous up on opposite corners and hit tandem Shattered Dreams. The Righteous used the bells on the ropes to re-arrange Rhodes and Guevara’s faces. The ropes at this point were becoming a bit of an issue as well. The pairs kept getting tangled with each other in the ring. So Rhodes, brought Dutch to the outside and hit him with a chair. Meanwhile, in the ring, Vincent used his rope to wrench Guevara’s arm.

Rhodes and Dutch fought up the ramp with Rhodes using the bell to punish Dutch. Dutch responded with a Bossman slam, knocking the wind out of him. Dutch then produced a table covered in barbed wire. He dragged the table and Rhodes to ringside and dragged him to the top of the ringpost. Rhodes blocked it though and sent Ditch flying backwards through his own barbed wire table!

The two pairs were close to each other on the outside, so Vincent knocked Rhodes silly. That fired up Guevara, but Vincent used the rope to send him into the ring post and hit an Orange Sunshine. Vincent then pulled a pair of scissors from under the ring and cut himself out of the bullrope. Now loose, and with Guevara out, Vincent used the rope to choke Rhodes against the ring post.

Rhodes held on until his arms went limp and just before the ref called the match, Guevara jumped in and took out Vincent. Guevara hit a cutter off the barricade on Vincent and went under the ring. He brought out a table (no barbed wire on this one) and set it up. He then went back for a ladder and set it up next to the table. Guevara placed Vincent on the table via kick to the face and climbed the ladder.

Guevara paused at the top of the ladder and then launched himself down onto Vincent, but Guevara took too much time and Vincent rolled off the table, sending Guevara plummeting through it. Vincent then faced off against Rhodes in the middle of the ring. Rhodes had him on his heels, but was still tied to Dutch, hampering his movements. Dustin went to remedy this and Dutch smashed the cowbell over his head.

Vincent and Dutch wailed on Rhodes in the ring while the crowd booed. Rhodes wouldn’t quit though and took shots from both until Vincent hit Orange Sunshine. The ref began to count and Guevera popped up and broke up the pin. Guevara hit a cutter on Dutch and sent Vincent to the outside.

Rhodes and Dutch faced off in the ring with Rhodes hitting the biggest Texas Destroyer in the Lone Star State. Guevara slipped him the Rhodes Family Cowbell and an emotional Rhodes pointed to the sky in a touching gesture. Then he smashed Dutch in the face with the bell and got the pin to retain the titles for his team.

ROH World TV Championship Survival of The Fittest Match: Komander defeated Brian Cage (c ), AR Fox, Blake Christian, Willie Mack and Mark Davis

The Story So Far: Brian Cage is the ROH World TV Champion. That’s it. He won the belt from Atlantis Jr on the Zero Hour of AEW Wrestledream 2024 and don’t think about why ROH titles change hands on non-ROH shosw too hard, it will hurt. Speaking of hurt, Cage has successfully defended the title against AR Fox while working a double as part of the Callis Family in AEW and ROH. Now he must defend against five other worthy competitors in Fox, Komander, Mack, Davis and for some reason Blake Christian. Christian is totally worthy as well, but I don’t really understand how he got here.

Cage entered last as the Champion is known to do and did so in his Callis Family black gear. A shame as Cage’s ring attire has been awesome in the past, but this new subdued Cage is equally scary. The bell rang and immediately, Christian dragged Komander out of the ring and someone shoved Mack. they didn’t show who, but he flew through the ropes none the less.

After the opening brawl, Cage and Davis faced off. Davis seems to be a cross between JBL and what Cage would look like if he didn’t work out. He tossed Cage out of the ring, just in time for Mack to jump back in. The always underestimated-ly fast Mack sent Davis out of the ring with a high knee. Fox jumped in then and immediately jumped back out onto Christian, then inand out again onto Cage and Mack. Then just a plain ol’ kick to Komander as he pulled him back in the ring.

Komander did his superhero thing which confused the heck out of Fox. Komander threw him out of the ring with in what was rapidly becoming a reverse-battle-royal of a match. Komander went high and tried a 450, but Fox was gone and Christian was in the ring to catch him. As was becoming a theme, Christian then dove back out of the ring.

In the ring, Cage fought off Davis, Fox and Komander. He then suplexed Komander and Fox AT THE SAME TIME. Grabbing Komander, Cage lifted him above his head with only one hand! In case it isn’t obvious, Cage is very strong. Mack got into the ring and stacked Fox and Komander on his shoulders for a fall away slam x2. He then delivered a standing moonsault to Davis and Cage came back in to get a stunner. Fox, Davis and Christian thought that looked fun, so they both took a stunner each from Mack. Komander got a special Super Stunner, and then Cage jumped back in and pinned Mack.

It was here that we discovered that this was an Elimination match.

Fox took advantage and DDT’d both Cage and Davis. He then hit a stunner on Christian followed by a sit-down Powerbomb. Fox DDT’d Komander on the ring apron and then did a cannonball flip onto the crowd gathering outside the ring. Fox hit a spanish fly and a 450 on Komander but it was only a 2-count. Cage then got involved and powerbombed Fox from the top rope to pin him for elimination.

Davis and Cage faced off next, with big fists being thrown at big heads. Unfortunately, Christian got too close and caught a punch in the face for his trouble. Davis and Cage traded about a dozen German suplexes and Komander hit a high flying move on Davis, sending him to the outside. Komander almost eliminated Cage, but Cage caught him midair and slammed him. Christian tried to use the distraction to roll up the champion and Cage threw him from the ring.

Davis took control with a big lariat to Cage followed by a piledriver. Davis then pinned Cage, eliminating him and guaranteeing a new ROH TV Champion! Christian took advantage of the shock and eliminated Davis with a rollup, leaving Komander and Christian as the final two!

Komander went high with a big crossbody and Christian returned a kick for it. The two battled in the ring, trading suplexes and high flying move attempts. Christian dropkicked Komander from the top rope, and locked in a half-surfboard to jam Komander’s knees into the mat. Komander slithered around Christian and locked in an abdominal stretch, but Christian backed him into the turnbuckle.

Komander went to the top rope and Christian shoved him off of it, diving through the ropes and driving Komander into the barricade. Christian put him back in the ring and went up for a splash. Komander moved though and the two traded super- and dropkicks.

Komadner hit a super-poisonrana and Christian staggerd from the ring. Komander hit a massive flipping splash on him outside the ring and dragged him back in. Komander walked the ropes, but Christian knocked the ref into the ropes, sending him off. Christian then hit a curb stomp, but it only got a two-count.

Christan hit a side slam from the second rope on Komander, but Komander responded with a Mexican Destroyer. He then hit Christian with a 619 and a Shooting Star press to get the pin, eliminate Christian and become the new ROH Television Champion!

-Kanemaru and Sho were announced as the opponents for the Sons of Texas in a match for the ROH Tag Team Titles at Wrestledream. Neat.

ROH World Championship: Chris Jericho (c ) defeated Matt Cardona

The Story So Far: Mark Briscoe was a wildly popular ROH World Champion, but met his match when he ran up against “The Nueve” Chris Jericho in a Ladder War. Jericho walked away with the title and has successfully defended it against Tomohiro Ishii on (checks notes) AEW Dynamite. Aside from that, the Champion has cut a few promos but has barely been shown on ROH TV, except in pre-taped footage. Somehow, the challenger has had even less to do with ROH in the same period.

Matt Cardona has become one of the top Indie stars in the world in the last few years, winning titles and matches in just about every promotion with three ropes and some turnbuckles. He arrived in ROH a few weeks ago to take this shot at Jericho’s title. So, to recap: The ROH Champion who is never on ROH is taking on a worthy challenger who has also not been on ROH. Regardless of how little sense it makes though, these two haven’t met since 2016 where Cardona got a win over Jericho and should put on one hell of a match!

Cardona entered from outside the building on the frigid streets of New York. He walked through the front doors of the Hammerstein all the way to the ring. His Ghostbusters-themed gear was looking fantastic and he gave his parents at ringside a hug.

Jericho entered with the “Nuev-ettes” to the dulcet tones of Frank Sinatra singing “New York, New York.” He also had a foam Statue of Liberty hat that only a tourist would wear on his head.

Cardona had Jericho on his heels early in the match, coming at him aggressive and fast. He dragged Jericho over to where his father was sitting and Cardona Sr. pie-faced him. Cardona Jr. then threw Jericho into the steel ringsteps.

Cardona picked up the ROH Title belt and brought it into the ring as Jericho staggerd to his feet. Cardona whipped Jericho with with the belt. Bryan Keith tried to help on Jericho’s behalf, but Cardona dispatched him and leapt onto Keith and Jericho on the outside. Finally, Jericho managed to get a backdrop onto the ramp to stop Cardona’s rampage.

Jericho waited in the ring, urging the Ref to count Cardona out. Cardona made it back at 19 though to avoid ending the match and Jericho chopped him in the corner. Jericho battled back and sent Cardona to the outside where Keith stomped him while the count started again. Cardona made it back faster this time though and Jericho took control of the match, jeering at the crowd.

Jericho exited the ring and confronted Cordona’s Dad, returning the pie face. That brought out the rage in Cardona and he charged Jericho, who dodged and sent him into the ringsteps. Jericho then grabbed a camera, played with it for a second, then put it down and slammed Cardona into the steps again, followed by sending him face-first into the ringpost.

Jericho, cocky now, got Cardona back in the ring and began toying with him. Chops, light kicks, soft covers. It was enough to wake up Cordona who began trading chops with Jericho. Jericho came out on top and set Cardona up for a frankensteiner.

Cardona recovered and drop-kicked Jericho, looking for a surprise pin. It was only a two count through and Jericho executed a Lionsault to get his own two-count. He went for the Lion Tamer, but Cardona reversed it into a spine buster. The crowd began to “Woo” as Cardona went to the top rope. Jericho climbed the ladder though and and superplexed him. Cardona no-sold it though and hit a tiger driver. Jericho responded with a Codebreaker, but it only got a two.

Jericho finally got Cardona in the Liontamer, but Cardona wriggled out and Keith climbed up on the apron with the ROH Title belt. Cardona shoved Jericho into him, knocking him off. Jericho battled back and locked in a second Liontamer. Cardona was able to get to the rope this time, where Big Bill was waiting! He kicked Cardona in the face and Jericho went for a pin but Cardona wasn’t done yet!

Cardona hit a codebreaker of his own and came within a hair of winning the title before Jericho kicked out. Cardona hit a Ruff Ryder from the tope rope and went fort a pin, but Bill distracted the ref and Kieth jumped in to hit Cardona with the belt. Jericho rolled over him and got the pin to retain the ROH World Championship.

After the match, Big Bill and Kieth beat up Cardona in the ring. They choked him out until the one and only Bandito made his return and ran to the ring to clear it out and save Cardona.

ROH Women’s World Championship: Athena (c ) defeated Billie Starkz

The Story So Far: Athena and Starkz may be destined to do this forever. Last year at Final Battle 2023, these two had a violent barnburner of a match. Since then, Stakz and Athena grew close, with Athena making Starkz one of her Minions along with Lexy Nair. Starkz won the inaugural ROH Women’s TV Title Tournament, but lost the belt to Red Velvet, disappointing the Minion Overlord (Athena).

Since then, Athena has demoted Starkz to Minion-in-Training and generally treated her like an afterthought. That frustrated Starkz who got mopier and mopier until it all boiled over during a tag match on the most recent ROH on HonorClub. After Athena used her as a weapon to get a victory (like literally threw her at her opponents several times), Starkz snapped and destroyed Athena’s custom ROH Women’s World Title. That brought about a brutal brawl (wow, lotta “b’s” there) that left Starkz unconscious after Athena sent her face into the title belt. 

Starkz arrived with a big smile in Wonder-Woman gear in tribute to Sumie Sakai. Athena entered in full Two-Face cosplay! I think I read this comic…

After introductions, the bell rang and the rematch was on! Athena began laying in the shots, driving Starkz face into the turnbuckle. Starkz scrambled and started throwing her own ‘bows and chops to the champion. The frustration that had been boiling for months was on full display as Starkz rained down blows on Athena.

These two know each other so well, that it was a virtual seesaw of momentum. One always had the counter or response to whatever the other threw at them. Athena tried to keep the pace slow while Starkz leaned into speed to keep Athena guessing.

Athena knocked Stakz over with a back elbow and Starkz popped back up to lay in some lariats. Athena sent her to the corner and Starkz kicked her way out. Athena caught Starkz’ leg when she attempted a big kick and wrapped it into a standing submission lock. Starkz twisted her way into an armbar, but Athena reversed THAT into a big slam.

Athena went back to working Starkz’ leg, raining down the kicks and stomps and wrapping Starkz up in the ropes to hang from it. Athena dragged Starkz from the ring and walked her around it by the hair like a dog. She jawed at Starkz’ Mom in the audience and went to send Starkz into the steps, but she didged it and Athena hit the steel. Starkz then hit a flatliner onto the steps, bouncing Athena’s head off of them.

Starkz tried to get Athena up in an Electric Chair but her knee gave out. She charged Athena who grabbed her in a powerbomb on the floor at ringside. Dragging Starkz back into the ring, Athena wrapped her injured knee around the ringpost. But Starkz jerked back and knocked Athena’s head against the post. Athena staggered back into the ring and Starkz met her with a DDT.

Starkz hit a Smash Mouth on Athena, but only got a two-count. Starkz began kicking Athena in the face, trying to stun her into submission. Starkz drove her knee into Athena’s spine, pulling back on her arms and chin. Athena fought out of it, but Starkz was able to set her up for a brainbuster on her own knee. Starkz climbed to the top rope, but Athena kicked her and pulled her into a fallaway slam from the top rope.

Athena caught a blast of energy and sent Starkz to the corner for some kicking. She followed that up with a springboard on a dazed Starkz to get a two-count. Athena looked like she was running out of ideas as Starkz rose and hoisted Athena on her shoulders. Athena rolled through it though and hit a codebreaker.

Athena went up for the O-Face, but Starkz caught her mid air and slammed her. The two began exchanging kicks and punches back and forth. Athena caught Starkz in the face with a kick and went up for a pile driver. Starkz reversed it though and landed a pile driver of her own. Athena kicked out at two though.

The two battled on the outside until Starkz hit an Alabama Slam on the ring apron. Athena rolled off and Starkz climbed up and hit an amazing Swanton onto her on the floor. Starkz dragged Athena back into the ring, but she kicked out once again. Fighting back to standing.

Athena picked up Starkz and threw her over the top rope. The ref checked on Starkz and Athena hit a suicide dive that got both of them. Athena pulled Starkz back into the ring, but there was no one to count! Lexy Nair appeared from under the ring and handed Athena a mic. She tried to hit Starkz with it, but missed, letting Starkz get her into an Electric Chair and a two-count.

Athena exposed the turnbuckle as Starkz hit a poison rana. Starkz charged and hit her head on the exposed turnbuckle. Athena climbed up and hit a perfect O-Face from the top rope. She pinned Starkz and won the match, retaining her title and continuing her reign as “Forever Champion!”

What a great night of wrestling!

Matt Cardona: ROH Final Battle is ‘the opportunity I’ve been waiting for’

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Matt Cardona is determined to prove himself at ROH Final Battle.

At tonight’s pay-per-view from the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City, Cardona will challenge Chris Jericho for the ROH World Championship. Ahead of the match, Cardona spoke to The Takedown and explained what this moment means to him. He sees it as arguably the biggest opportunity of his career so far and knows that he needs to deliver.

“This is arguably the biggest opportunity of my career.,” Cardona said. “These past five years, everybody has seen it, unless you’ve been living under a rock. I have been working my ass off to reinvent myself to prove that I’m ‘Alwayz Ready,’ to prove that I’m the ‘Indie God,’ to prove that I’m the ‘Death Match King,’ to prove that I am ‘The Complete.’

“Now it’s put up or shut up. Here it is, the opportunity I’ve been waiting for. Pay-per-view in New York City against Chris Jericho. One of the guys who inspired me to get into the business with a World title on the line. This is it. This is the opportunity. It’s in my backyard. I’m protecting my turf. Jericho says he’s the King of New York. Come on, that’s BS. Maybe he was born there. Maybe his dad played for the Rangers. But he is not the King of New York. If anybody’s the King of New York, it’s me.”

The only other time Jericho and Cardona have faced each other one-on-one was a quick match for WWE in 2016, when Cardona was still known as Zack Ryder. Jericho had high praise for Cardona in an interview with Busted Open Radio recently, comparing him to Bret Hart in the way that Cardona is a “meat and potatoes” wrestler where everything he does looks solid.

Dave Meltzer reported earlier this week that Cardona has been offered an AEW contract, but it’s not known if he has signed that deal. Cardona told The Takedown that his focus right now is solely on Final Battle.

“Listen, I cannot think about the future,” Cardona said. “I need to think one show at a time.

“I can’t be looking ahead. I need to focus day-by-day. That with independence, that’s what’s made me so successful is that I’m treating each opportunity like it’s the biggest deal. Because if I don’t treat it like it’s a big deal, then it’s not a big deal. So I go all in on every single thing that I do. I take one match at a time, one day at a time.”

Ring of Honor TV live results: Final Battle go-home show

Posted on by Jeff Moss

Tonight’s ROH on HonorClub will be the final episode before Friday’s Final Battle.

ROH Women’s World Champion Athena will team with Billie Starkz ahead of their clash for Athena’s title on Friday.

Following Chris Jericho’s attack on Matt Cardona at last Saturday’s GCW show, there will be an update on Cardona ahead of his challenge for Jericho’s ROH World title Friday.

Lee Johnson will team with Bishop Kaun ahead of an expected Friday tag team match that will include EJ Nduka and Toa Liona which Tony Khan has heavily hinted at.

Sidney Akeem (the former Scrypts/Reggie in WWE/NXT) will return to ROH against Serpentico.

In eight-man tag team action, the Undisputed Kingdom (Matt Taven & Mike Bennett) will team with Dark Order (Alex Reynolds & Evil Uno) against the Grizzled Young Veterans and Shane Taylor & Lee Moriarty.

The card is rounded out by Queen Aminata vs. Lady Frost, and the Murder Machines (Lance Archer & Brian Cage) vs. the Iron Savages.

**********

ROH on Honorclub episode #95 arrives to send us straight into December 20th’s Final Battle event at the Hammerstein Ballroom in good ol’ NYC. The card has firmed up in the last couple of weeks, but there’s always room for more!

Lee Johnson (w/EJ Nduka) defeated Bishop Kaun (w/Toa Liona)

Last week, Johnson lost a fight to Toa Liona that resulted in a beatdown until Nduka came down for the save. Not satisfied with the level of punishment Linoa gave him, Johnson this week faces Kaun, but he’s skipping the waiting and just bringing Nduka to the ring with him right away. One can only assume that a tag match between all four men is on the horizon. 

The two men locked up with Kaun having the obvious size advantage. Johnson’s speed and agility though more than made up for it and he remained defiant of the bigger man, shoving him in the corner. That got Johnson a big shoulder to the chops though, with Kaun keeping the match slow and heavy, exactly in his wheelhouse.

Johnson caught Kaun with a big dropkick, sending him to the outside and following it up with a front flip over the top rope onto Kaun. Back in the ring, Kaun flipped things and tied Johnson up in the ropes, leaving him prone to multiple dropkicks. Kaun worked Johnson’s knee over and over again, trying to take away his speed and possibly ability to walk.

Kaun flipped Johnson over with a lariat and hit a big driver. Johnson looked like he was done, but fought back with a neckbreaker and a standing moonsault. Kaun resumed the beatdown, but Johnson was able to sneak in a quick rollup for the 1-2-3!

After the match, Kaun wanted to shake Johnson’s hand, but Liona stopped him and shoved Johnson. That brought in Nduka to stare down both of them. Liona and Kaun backed away out of the ring slowly.

-Lee Moriarty was interviewed backstage about his open challenge for the ROH Pure Title. Moriarty said he’s ready for Final Battle, and anyone who answers the challenge. Moriarty wants to face the best to show everyone that he’s the best!

– After a commercial for Final Battle, Leyla Hirsch and ROH Women’s TV Champion Red Velvet were interviewed back stage under the condition there be no violence. The two jawed at each other and got in each other’s faces, but that’s about it.

Queen Aminata defeated Lady Frost

Aminata and Frost were once top contenders for the ROH Women’s World Championship, but lately have been spending more and more time just being around. Aminata failed to win the Wrestle Dynasty International Women’s Cup Qualifier Tournament Semi Final (boy, that’s a lot of words) she was part of in November, and Frost  has taken losses from Billie Starkz, Reyna Isis and Athena in the last few months. Both women are looking to right the ship here. 

The two tied up with Aminata getting the upper hand. She blocked a Frost suplex attempt and followed up a gymnastic exchange with a huge kick. Frost was not that easy to get by though and Frost rained down elbows on Aminata, which she no-sold. Frost finally got Aminata off her feet and kicked her into the corner for some chops.

Frost hit a Fisherman’s Suplex on Aminata for a two count before putting her into a sleeper hold. Aminata does not sleep though (I can’t back that up) and battled out of it, driving Frost into the turnbuckle. Aminata followed that up with a backbreaker and snap suplex. She hit Frost with a huge knee that looked like it put her away, but only got a two.

Frost delivered a Snowball Fight to Aminata in the corner and climbed the turnbuckle for a tornado clothesline. At this point it was a really exciting match, with lots of near falls and big moves, but the crowd was sitting on their hands.

The perked up a bit when Aminata locked in a modified tarantula stretch, pulling Frost’s arm practically out of it’s socket and forcing her to tap out (with the other arm, of course).

-The camera switched to a shot of the parking lot of a training facility where Dustin Rhodes got out of his truck and entered the building. The camera turned around to reveal Dutch and Vincent, the Righteous, lying in wait for him. They snuck in and found Dustin… vacuuming the ring? Sure. Anyways, they jumped him from behind and beat him down, choking him with cables and smashing his head with the cowbell. Vincent stole Rhodes’ phone and Facetimed Sammy Guevara (Rhodes’ partner) to show him the devastation. The Righteous left laughing, leaving Rhodes in a pool of his own blood.

Murder Machines (Brian Cage & Lance Archer) (w/Don Callis) defeated Iron Savages (Beefcake Boulder & Bulk Bronson) (w/Jacked Jameson)

I haven’t made it a secret that I’m not a huge fan of the Iron Savages schtick. I find it pretty derivative and obnoxious (which as heels, maybe I’m supposed to?). Anyways, watching them get beat up by Cage and Archer, each taking a break from their usual teams, was a pretty great time. Cage is using this as a warmup for Final Battle where he’ll defend his ROH TV Title in a 6-Way Survival of The Fittest Match. 

With four gigantic men in the match, it was no surprise that it was a hard hitting affair. Big clubbing chops, huge strikes and lots and lots of posing. Cage and Bronson started things off and literally just punched each other back into the ropes over and over. Boulder tagged in and stomped over to Cage who was more than happy to do the same thing with this big man. Boulder managed to knock Cage off his feet, so Archer tagged in and the hitting resumed.

Boulder (who looked a little jaundiced for some reason) found himself in the corner taking big running elbows from Archer. Archer put Bronson and Boulder in a choke hold and tried to choke slam them both, but they are very big men and were able to fight out of it for a Beefcake bomb. The Savages were in control as they tried a double team on Archer, but he rolled out of the way causing Bronson’s face to meet the mat. Cage jumped in and suplexed Boulder out of the ring.

All four men battled in the ring until Boulder was sent to the outside with a clothesline and Bronson was the recipient of a Choke Bomb (Chokeslam and powerbomb at the same time) giving Murder Machines the victory. After the match Don Callis got a few stomps in on Bronson, much to the joy of Cage and Archer.

-QT Marshall and Jay Lethal are fighting at Final Battle for… reasons. They were interviewed in what appeared to be a hotel conference room, but Marshall was late. They started anyways, but before Lethal could say anything, Marshall arrived and interrupted. Lethal started talking about how it feels to return to Ring of Honor (it feels amazing), Marshall talked about he’s been disrespected. He asked for the match with Lethal, but Lethal doesn’t think it’s a big deal. Lethal retorted saying no offense to Marshall, but he wanted to be in the Title Picture, not wrestling a random match (I feel the same way). This conversation went on for way, way too long, with both men trying their hardest to make the match mean something, but it didn’t really work. In the end, Marshall sucker-punched Lethal and they’ll fight tomorrow. Moving on…

-It was then announced that on the Final Battle Zero Hour pre-show, the Infantry would take on the Undisputed Kingdom, Harley Cameron will be up against Hanako of Stardom and two big tag matches. First, LEEJ vs the Gates of Agony and then the Dark Order vs The Grizzled Young Veterans.

ROH Classic Match: ROH Women’s Champion Athena vs Billie Starkz at Final Battle 2023

A preview of the rematch happening tomorrow night, this was as good a match as one can get from two women who are very, very good at wrestling. Athena had a facemask on due to injury and Starkz’ bratting was top notch. The two fought in a hard hitting, near 30-minute violent battle and I’m pretty sure you know who won. If we get a match half as good tomorrow night, it’ll be an easy Match of The Year contender.

Serpentico defeated Sidney Akeem

Serpentico and his partner Angelico have spent 2024 as standouts in ROH. Their laid back but also exciting at the same time matches have always been a highlight. Serpentico goes at it solo here, taking on Akeem who is looking to avenge his loss in his ROH Debut in November to Johnny TV. 

Serpentico matches are always fun, so it was no surprise that this one was as entertaining as it was. Akeem has always been underrated as a worker and was able to keep up with all of the speed and high-flying of Serpentico. He even managed to get the drop on Serpentico with a big kick! Akeem then flew over the top rope, almost seeming to pause in midair before dropping onto Serpentico.

It was like watching two video game characters. The moves with crisp, the shots landed and the big showcase spots were just that. Akieem was very impressive hitting a Skywalker stomp and a moonsault in quick succession. Battling on the top rope though, Serpentico took over, sending Akeem to the mat and following it up with a big senton to get the win.

ROH Women’s Champion Athena & Billie Starkz defeated Blair Onyx & Missa Kate

In reference to Starkz and Athena, this match dares to ask the most burning question in all of wrestling: Can they coexist!? The answer is yes, their existence on this plane in the same place at the same time is not in any question. However, the tag team they are forming just a day away from their showdown at Final Battle is less clear. They will be taking out their frustrations with each other on Blair Onyx and Missa Kate. Starks beat Onyx back in October, but this will be Chicago-native Kate’s ROH Debut. 

Athena sent Starkz out to start things off against Kate. It didn’t last long though as Starkz got a blind tag as soon as Athena was near enough. She and Kate battled for a bit before Onyx tagged in. Starkz hit a flying headscissor and laid her out in the corner. Athena distracted Starkz, trying to “warn” her about a DQ allowing Kate and Onyx to get the drop on her with a double team.

Athena grabbed a bind tag and jumped in to pick up Starkz and use her as a weapon. She threw Starkz at Onyx, then grabbed her again to do the same to Kate. Athena then used Starkz in an unwilling Flapjack to take out Kate and locked a submisson on Onyx, getting a quick tapout.

Starkz, furious, grabbed Athena’s personalized belt and ran up the entrance ramp. Starkz ripped the photo of Athena off the title and smashed the belt. Athena tried to attack, but Starkz laid her out with a huge forearm. They two fought until security showed up, at which point Athena laid out Starkz with a massive dropkick. She thew Starkz into the barricade and then beat her up until more security came. Athena took out the guards and started ramming Starkz’ head into the steel ring steps. She then smashed Starkz’ face with the title belt and left her lying, screaming her way into the back. Great end to a great show!

Oh, wait, there’s more!

-It was announced that two more matches have been added to the Final Battle card: Mansoor vs Atlantis Jr and Katsuyori Shibata Vs Tommy Billington!

-Next, ROH World Champion “The Nueve” Chris Jericho crashed Game Changer Wrestling’s HIGHEST IN THE ROOM 3 event on Saturday to take out his Final Battle opponent, “The Complete” Matt Cardona.  They showed footage of the attack while Jericho ran down Cordona in a promo. At Final Battle, these two will fight it out for the first time since 2016, when Cardona pinned Jericho in March 2016. 

Eight Man Tag Team Match: Grizzled Young Veterans (James Drake & Zack Gibson) & Shane Taylor Promotions (Lee Moriarty & Shane Taylor) defeated The Dark Order (Alex Reynolds & Evil Uno, w/John Silver) & The Undisputed Kingdom (Matt Taven & Mike Bennett)

This team up makes perfect sense. The Grizzled Young Veterans and Shane Taylor Promotions have a similar bad attitude and the Dark Order and the Kingdom are both looking to elevate themselves back into ROH Tag Team Title contention. Also, last week Taven failed to win the ROH Pure Championship from Moriarty, so there’s already beef on both sides. As mentioned earlier, Moriarty has laid out an Open Challenge for his title at Final Battle so maybe this sets up a rematch? Let’s find out! 

In a great case of “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” the Kingdom and Dark Order did a synchronized pose to kick things off, signalling that they are going to be working as a unit. GYV and STP were not so cordial.

Gibson and Reynolds started things off and as expected it was a fast, technical exchange. Lots of kicks and whips. Uno tagged in and Gibson begged off, choosing to tag in Moriarty instead. Uno ended up getting the better of the Pure Champion, chopping him into the ring. Bennett, Taven and Reynolds all put their boots up on the top turnbuckle and Uno rammed Moriarty’s face into them.

Bennett tagged in and Drake got a blind tag so that he and Moriarty could double team Bennett. Bennett responded with at Thez Press and tagged in Taven who knocked Drake into next week. Gibson tagged in and a double clothesline from him and Drake put Taven on his back. That brought in the big man, Shane Taylor.

Taylor isolated Taven in the corner so Moriarty could tag in and the GRV could stomp Taven into the ground. Taven fought back and hit a spinning heel kick on the legal Gibson, giving him the chance to get a hot tag to Bennett. Bennett stacked up Moriarty, Drake and Gibson in the corner for chops. Then he delivered spinebusters to them all and went for the pin on Moriarty, but Taylor broke it up.

Uno and Taylor ended up facing off in the ring with Uno getting the upper hand until Moriarty hit him from behind. Then Reynolds hit HIM from behind and a brawl with all 8 men broke out. The dust settled with Uno and Moriarty legal. Drake and Gibson took out Silver on the outside, drawing the dark order into a brawl at ringside. These two teams fought to the back while Taylor hit Bennett with a big elbow in the ring.

Taylor missed a running elbow and Bennett tried to take advantage, but Moriarty tagged in, rolled him up and used the ropes for leverage to get the pin!

Final Battle is tomorrow starting a 7pm with Zero Hour! Here’s the card as of now:

ROH World Championship: Chris Jericho (c ) vs Matt Cardona

ROH Women’s World Championship: Athena (c ) vs Billie Starkz

ROH Tag Team Championship Texas Bull Rope Match: The Sons of Texas (Dustin Rhodes & Sammy Guevara) (c ) vs The Righteous (Vincent & Dutch) 

ROH World TV Championship Survival of The Fittest Match: Brian Cage (c ) vs AR Fox vs Blake Christian vs Willie Mack vs Mark Davis vs Komander

ROH Women’s World TV Championship: Red Velvet (c ) vs Leyla Hirsch

ROH Pure Championship Open Challenge: Lee Moriarty (c ) vs ????

QT Marshall vs Jay Lethal

Mansoor vs Atlantis Jr

Katsuyori Shibata vs Tommy Billington

Chris Jericho explains why Matt Cardona reminds him of Bret Hart

Posted on by Joseph Currier

During a Thursday appearance on Busted Open Radio, Chris Jericho explained why Matt Cardona’s wrestling style reminds him of Bret Hart.

The ROH World Championship will be on the line when Jericho defends against Cardona at Final Battle from the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City this Friday night. It’s the first time the two have faced each other since Cardona’s days as Zack Ryder in WWE. Jericho told Busted Open Radio that he’s impressed with how Cardona has reinvented himself on the indies, and he sees a lot of Bret Hart in the way that Cardona is a “meat and potatoes” wrestler.

“Matt Cardona — he’s really done a good job of reinventing himself, of recreating himself,” Jericho said. “And dare I say, he reminds me a lot of Bret Hart. Everything he does is very solid, it looks great, he’s very meat and potatoes in the best possible way. Matt’s not the type of guy that’s going to do a moonsault off the balcony — and neither am I. So we’ll leave that to the guys that do that. And I expect we’re just going to beat the sh*t out of each other with a raucous crowd who are sick of Jericho proclaiming to be the king of New York.”

Jericho said he’s very happy with how the build to this match has gone. Last weekend, there was an angle where Jericho made a surprise appearance for Game Changer Wrestling and attacked Cardona. An update documenting that attack will air on ROH TV tonight ahead of Final Battle.

This is Jericho’s second reign as ROH World Champion. Dave Meltzer reported earlier this week that Cardona has been offered an AEW contract, though it is not known if Cardona has signed or not.

Final Battle is the first of three straight nights of AEW/ROH action at the Hammerstein Ballroom. A live Collision episode is taking place from the venue this Saturday, then there will be a Dynamite taping on Sunday for next Wednesday’s Christmas Day show.

Tony Khan Ring of Honor media call audio & notes: GCW relationship, future residencies

Posted on by Josh Nason

Ahead of a busy weekend in New York City, AEW & ROH head Tony Khan spoke to the media for nearly an hour Tuesday to help promote this Friday’s Final Battle, the full audio of which is below.

The call was relatively light on news other than Khan being asked about his relationship with GCW given Chris Jericho’s surprise appearance there Saturday where he took out Effy and Matt Cardona.

Khan said Cardona requested the appearance to help promote his match with Jericho Friday and that if Cardona wins the title, he could defend it in other promotions as he has a lot of indie bookings ahead. Khan appeared to play down any interpromotional possibilities, saying how they shoot angles in other promotions frequently. He didn’t directly address the question about his relationship, or lack thereof, with GCW owner Brett Lauderdale.

He was also asked about running more residencies in smaller buildings and said they do have more opportunities in the future to do “things” like that in big cities. Khan came off as very careful (or was simply distracted) with his words as if not to accidentally reveal something.

He wasn’t asked about the rumors of a TV deal other than saying there is “more interest and opportunities” to do more with ROH which he is excited about. He didn’t expound on what those exactly are.

Other notes:

  • Khan has never been to the Hammerstein before.
  • More matches will be announced for the Final Battle show this week.
  • He said Ross Von Erich’s injury is taking longer than expected to heal, but hopes to have him back soon.

Click here to listen

Matt Cardona offered AEW contract, status uncertain

Posted on by Ian Carey

Matt Cardona has been offered an AEW contract, although it’s unclear if he is close to signing a deal with the company.

Cardona will challenge Chris Jericho for the ROH World Championship at Final Battle in the Hammerstein Ballroom on Friday. He returned to AEW earlier this month to build an angle for the match.

Dave Meltzer addressed Cardona’s contractual status with the company on last night’s Wrestling Observer Radio. Meltzer was asked if AEWShop.com selling a Cardona t-shirt was a sign he is close to signing. 

“I know he was offered a contract. I don’t know if he’s signed or anything. So yeah, I guess maybe close,” Meltzer responded. 

In October, Cardona mentioned being “legit shocked” he had not received a contract offer from either WWE or AEW.

Cardona said:

“Listen, if WWE or AEW called and there was a good offer with some intent to use me in a certain way, of course, I’d have that conversation. But I’m not going to BS it, I haven’t gotten an offer from either of those companies. So until then, I just gotta keep raising my stock and elevating myself and trying to change the game on the independent level.”

In August, Cardona said he wants to end his career in WWE. 

“I’m proud to be the ‘Indie God,’ I’m proud to be the face of GCW, but when it’s all said and done, I want to end my career in WWE. I want to have another WrestleMania moment, I want to be in Madison Square Garden, but as Matt Cardona. Zack Ryder is dead.”

Chris Jericho appears at GCW event, attacks Matt Cardona and Effy

Posted on by Josh Nason

AEW’s Chris Jericho made a surprise appearance at GCW Highest in the Room 3 Saturday in Los Angeles, attacking both Matt Cardona and Effy.

Cardona was taking on Effy in a singles match and after a low blow, Cardona was about to hit him with a belt shot when a disguised man hit the ring. He nailed Cardona with a bat, leading to Effy hitting a rough rider to pick up the win.

Effy was confused as to who the man was and then Jericho revealed himself, followed by a Judas Effect to Effy for good measure. Jericho then removed his sweatshirt to reveal an AEW t-shirt and laid in a few more bat shots to both Cardona and Effy before leaving to boos.

Effy was in the news three weeks ago after comments he made about Tony Khan and his father, Shad, on a podcast were then followed by Ricky Starks being pulled from several GCW dates. Starks was supposed to be on Saturday’s card against Cardona but was then replaced by Effy. Willie Mack, who occasionally still works for AEW and ROH, was also pulled from GCW appearances this past week.

Both AEW and GCW will be running the Hammerstein Ballroom as AEW/ROH is holding three shows there this upcoming weekend while GCW will appear there on January 19th — something that also became a public issue three weeks ago.

It’s unclear as of this point as to whether Jericho’s appearance is an olive branch between the two companies or an previously agreed upon one-off build to Jericho and Cardona’s ROH World title match at Final Battle this Friday.

Ring of Honor TV live results: International Women’s Cup qualifier

Posted on by Jeff Moss

The Ring of Honor representative for the Wrestle Dynasty International Women’s Cup qualifier will be decided on tonight’s ROH on HonorClub.

ROH Women’s Champion Athena, Women’s TV Champion Red Velvet, Billie Starkz and Leyla Hirsch will battle in a four-way with the winner advancing to a four-way on January 5th in the Tokyo Dome against representatives from AEW, CMLL and Stardom.

The show will feature a contract signing between ROH World Champion Chris Jericho and Matt Cardona for their impending Final Battle match.

Ahead of their Tag Team title defense against The Righteous at Final Battle, the Sons of Texas (Dustin Rhodes & Sammy Guevara) will be in non-title action.

The show will see title defenses by ROH Pure Champion Lee Moriarty against Matt Taven, and NJPW Strong Tag Team Champions Grizzled Young Veterans against MxM Collection.

The lineup also features the return of Madison Rayne, Toa Liona vs. Lee Johnson, and The Outrunners vs. Tony Nese & Ariya Daivari.

**********

It’s the penultimate show before Final Battle 2024 on December 20th! That said, there’s still an awful lot of room on the card (only three matches announced so far), so let’s see if tonights ROH on HonorClub can fill in some blanks. So it made total sense that the show started with a Qualifying match for a non-ROH Tournament!

Wrestle Dynasty International Women’s Cup qualifier: Athena defeated Red Velvet, Billie Starkz and Leyla Hirsch

It started with a promo from Billie Starkz that was quickly interrupted by the ROH Women’s Champion, Athena who turned it into a MeM. She asked Starkz for an apology for her behaviour the last few weeks, oh, and also to lay down for Athena so she can win their 4-way International Women’s Cup qualifier. Starkz protested, but Athena reminded her that she owed her and danced away. Hirsch and Velvet, slated to meet at Final Battle for Velvet’s ROH Women’s TV Title, glared at each other.

Starkz didn’t offer up a Code of Honor to Athena off the top and Athena (after telling the other women they suck) left the ring and did jumping jacks to let the other three fight. In said fight, Starkz sent Velvet to the outside and kicked the much shorter Hirsch in the face. Velvet returned with a high crossbody onto Starkz and Hirsh. Athena then threw Velvet into the barricades.

From there, the match went back and forth until everyone put everyone else into a submission lock. They all got tired at the same time and let go though. Starkz began cleaning house, executing a triple swan dive and got back-to-back two counts. She stared at a prone Athena, but did not try and pin her. Athena then used Hirsch as a spingboard to hit a hurricanrana on Starkz.

Velvet and Hirsch tried to hit a suplex off the top rope on Athena, but Starkz ran in and TRIPLE superplexed them. Starkz had Hirsch pinned, but Athena broke up the count. The two argued and Athena commanded Starkz to lie down. Before she could though, Velvet knocked both to the outside where Hirsch double clotheslined them.

Hirsch and Velvet gave us a Final Battle preview, going one-on-one while Starkz and Athena recovered. Hirsch seemed to get the better of Velvet, but before a pin could be made, Starkz jumped in and tossed Hirsch out. Athena then shoved Starkz out of the ring and pinned a stunned Velvet to win the match and advance in the tournament.

The Outrunners (Turbo Floyd & Truth Magnum) defeated Premier Atheletes Tony Nese & Ariya Daivari (W/Josh Woods and Mark Sterling)

The Outrunners are everyone’s favourite throwback tag team and have quickly moved into prime positions in the AEW Tag Hierarchy.  The Premier Athletes want everyone to say they “rule” instead of “suck” when cued. This match marks the return of Tony Nese who’s been off TV relentlessly celebrating the birth of his twins. The Athletes entered to Sterling’s usual rap and the Outrunners entered to a huge pop from the audience.

Nese and Magnum started things off with a quick posedown (Magnum won) and Nese cheap shotted him to get him isolated in the corner. Magnum fought out and tagged in Floyd who Atomic Dropped Nese. Diavari jumped in and got a double atomic drop for his trouble.

Later, Daivari and Nese double teamed Magnum and tossed him to the outside for Sterling and Woods to stomp on. Nese pulled them back into the ring and then missed corner shots, allowing Magnum to fight his way to a hot tag to Floyd. Floyd exploded into the ring, slamming Daivari and Nese in quick succession.

At this point, Magnum fell with Daivari on his shoulder, causing a brief pause in the action while his knee was checked. Nese hit a pumphandle driver on Floyd that got a two count. A few pie-faces later and Floyd was Turbo-Charged and fought off both Daivari and Nese and Magnum joined him to deliver a double elbow and Total Recall to get the win.

-Dustin Rhodes joined us from the back to speak about the Righteous. Rhodes says there’s no quit in him or his family, so they can play their little mind games, but it wont get them the ROH Tag Titles. He called out Dutch specifically and the Bull Rope that Dusty gave him. Rhodes said that even though Dutch knew his father, he never understood him. Dutch has crossed the line and at Final Battle, it will be a double Bull Rope match!

Madison Rayne defeated Allysin Kay

Rayne, best known for her run in TNA as a 3-time Knockouts Champion, had her last ROH match way, way back on ROH on HonorClub episode 25, in which she picked up a win over Dani Mo. Since then, she’s been working behind the scenes as a producer and this match would be her big return to action. Kay, the definition of “journeywoman” has wrestled for over SEVENTY different promotions in her career. Her most recent ROH match was a Proving Ground match against ROH Women’s TV Champion Red Velvet a few weeks back. 

These two veterans were pretty much guaranteed to have an awesome match, and it absolutely was. Kay had the strength advantage on Rayne, but there was no ring rust there. Both women traded shots and holds, looking for the other one to make a mistake somewhere.

Rayne hit a hurricanrana from the top rope, and then a crucifix driver on Kay to get the pin and win the match. Super fun!

-Next, The Dark Order joined us in the back. Last week, the Grizzled Young Veterans (GYV) harassed an extra they felt shouldn’t have gotten lunch before they did. The Dark Order’s John Silver saw this and wasn’t impressed, so he stole their scarves, which he and Evil Uno and Alex Reynolds had a good laugh about. So this week, Silver and Raynolds did a hilarious(?) impression of of GYV. The Veterans saw what was going down and stormed over. Reynolds and Silver fought back, but Uno stepped in the middle and glared at his Dark Order buddies, as if disappointed in their antics.

Toa Liona defeated Lee Johnson

Last week, Liona and his Gates of Agony partner, Bishop Kaun picked up a win over Griff Garrison and Preston Vance. This week, Liona looks to go at it alone against Ring of Honor super-worker, Lee Johnson. Johnson (who has a gigantic tag partner of his own in EJ Nduka) has fared pretty well in singles matches in 2024 (11 wins, 4 losses) but has failed to put any kind of gold around his waist. 

This match had a fast start with Liona’s strength and Johnson’s speed keeping them even as they ran through a bunch of quick moves and holds. Johnson made the fatal mistake of trying to chop Liona, which as you can imagine only made him madder. Johnson tried kicks and knees, but Liona took them all.

Johnson went high for a frog splash, but Liona kicked out at two. Johnson popped up looking for the Big Shot Drop, but Liona powered out of it, smashing Johnson with a top rope sit-down drop for the pin.

After the match, Liona tried to pick up Johnson, but the two started fighting. Liona hit a big kick on Johnson and that brought out the very large EJ Nduka. The two big men stared each other down until Lion left and Nduka helped Johnson to his feet.

NJPW Strong Tag Team Champions Grizzled Young Veterans (James Drake & Zack Gibson) defeated MxM Collection (Mansoor & Madden)

So as mentioned above the Veterans have been beefing with the Dark Order (specifically Reynolds and Silver, after Silver stole their scarves) and had an altercation with them earlier in the evening. Which led directly to this NJPW Strong Tag Team Championship match against… (checks notes) MxM Collective for some reason. Also Johnny TV was there.

With all that out of the way, tips were touched and Gibson started off against Mansoor. Drake jumped in, but Mansoor reversed it into a double neckbreaker. That brought the tag to Madden who dominated the legal man, Drake. Madden tried to forcibly make Drake touch tips (I do not like that sentence) and Drake caught a flurry of offense.

Mansoor found himself isolated in the GYV corner with Gibson and Drake wailing on him. He tried a long-distance tip-touch to bring in Madden, but no dice as Drake and Gibson started a brawl. They eliminated Madden and then hit a high splash on Mansoor for a two-count.

Madden hit the ring and took out both Drake and Gibson with side kicks and slams. Mansoor tagged in and Gibson tossed Madden into the stairs on the outside. That left Mansoor alone against Drake and to be choked with a scarf by Gibson behind the ref’s back. GYV finished Mansoor off and retained their titles.

Also, Johnny TV was there.

-Backstage, Board of Director Member Paul Wight joined us from the back to announce that Jay Lethal will be coming back to ROH at Final Battle! Lethal, anxious to get into the title picture, asked who his opponent would be, but before Wight could answer, QT Marshall arrived. He lamented the idea that Lethal might get a title shot before he does. The two fought and Wight made the match for Final Battle: Jay Lethal vs QT Marshall!

ROH Classic Match: Shane Taylor vs Kenny King in a Fight Without Honor (Final Battle 2021, Baltimore, Maryland)

What can I say about this match? It’s two very violent men doing violence to each other and doing it very well. Ladders, tables, trash cans, Kendo sticks, all used and destroyed in the first FEW MINUTES of this match. Super fun and worth a watch!

ROH Tag Team Champions Dustin Rhodes & Sammy Guevara defeated Eric Dillinger & Josh Crane

Rhodes and Guevara have been ROH Tag champions since Mid-August, when they took the titles from the Undisputed Kingdom. From there, they’ve had a handful of title defenses, a Bunkhouse Brawl and a bunch of multi-team/person matches. As mentioned earlier, they’ve currently got The Righteous waiting for them at Final Battle and possibly somewhere in the arena tonight.  As for their opponents, I couldn’t find anything on Crane, but Dillinger is the Asylum Wrestling Revolution (AWR) Champion and has been since 2022!

Crane and Guevara started things off, but Rhodes and Dillinger brawled on the outside. Rhodes left him laying and tagged in and out with Guevara, trading strikes on Crane in the corner. Dillinger tried to help his partner, but was tossed onto his prone partner for a Guevara standing slam.

Rhodes tagged in and took a punch each from Dillinger and Crane. Rhodes was sent to the corner and came out with a big boot to Dillinger. Guevara tagged in and met Dillinger and Crane with a high crossbody. A Texas Destroyer and a GTH followed by a CrossRhodes ended things with Guevara getting the pin on Crane.

Suddenly, the Righteous’ music hit and they ran down the ramp. Vincent grabbed a mic and called Dutch back, addressing Guevara and Rhodes. Vincent asked the crowd if they wanted to see these two teams fight TONIGHT. They responded in the affirmative, but Vincent decided that they didn’t deserve it. Vincent ran down Dusty with a “polka dots” joke, causing Rhodes to grab a chair as the Righteous beat a hasty exit.

ROH Pure Champion Lee Moriarty defeated Matt Taven

Taven has won every title in ROH except the Pure Title. Taven has been showing some previously unseen technical prowess though and has picked up wins over Josh Woods and Aaron Solo in Pure Rules Matches. Moriarty has been holding the Pure Championship since July when he won it from Wheeler Yuta. Moriarty successfully defended the title against the likes of Angelico and Preston Vance and has been having great success as a member of Shane Taylor Promotions. The real question here is why is this match taking place now with Final Battle just over a week away? 

Anyway, a Pure Rules match has three rope breaks and one closed fist allowed for each competitor. After that, it’s a DQ. If the match goes to it’s time limit, judges will award the match based on points.

Taven and Moriarty started off trading wrist locks, clearly in a feeling our process. for the next three minutes it went back and forth, Taven showing more of the surprising technical skill we’ve seen in past week and Moriarty finding a counter for every bit of it. A big kick to the sternum knocked the wind out of Taven and Moriarty got a two count. At 5:16 Taven used his first rope break to get out of a hold.

The pace slowed considerably, which allowed Taven to recover until Moriarty put on a stretch, causing Taven to reach for the ropes and use his second rope break at 6:31. Taven recovered and connected with a huge kick to Moriarty’s head.

In what I can only hope is a first in a Pure Rules Match, Taven hit an Atomic Drop on Moriarty followed by a big knee and got a two-count. Moriarty wishboned Taven’s hand and hit a huge straightjacket slam into a Border City stretch causing Taven to use his third Rope Break at 9:11.

The crowd got behind Taven as he went to the top rope and hit a big splash into a choke hold, forcing Moriarty to use his first Rope Break at 10:43. Moriarty also got his warning for a closed fist a few seconds later. Moriarty then wrapped Taven up in a Tarantula-style hold in the ropes, forcing Taven to tap out.

-Backstage, Athena joined us to talk about Final Battle. Who would her opponent be? Athena let us know that she’s moving on from Final Battle and is focusing on her International Tour. An angry Billie Starkz stomped in and demanded answers from Athena about their match earlier in the night. Athena said she’s been waiting for an apology. Starkz smirked and offered to give her one at Final Battle. For some reason, Athena decided that it would be a match instead at Final Battle. I won’t lie, It was hard to follow, but the bottom line is that Athena and Starkz will face off at Final Battle for the ROH Women’s World Championship!

Chris Jericho/Matt Cardona ROH World title contract signing for Final Battle

Final Battle is on Dec 20th, so that means time is running out for ROH World Champion Chris Jericho to get the paperwork in order! Last week, Matt Cardona revealed himself as Jericho’s opponent at Final Battle, but still needs to put his John Hancock on the contract. So, as with all matters of HR in wrestling, they are going to take care of it in the ring! 

Let me just say that of all the recurring wrestling tropes that exist the “Contract Signing” is my least favourite. At best they are the same thing over and over again, where one person jaws at the other, they fight, usually at the cost of a table and then the one left standing angrily signs whatever documentation is needed. (I do like that they bring out special chairs for them though). 

Anyway, Jericho came out with a Yankees hat on, as is apropriate for the King of New York. Cardona came out with his usual amount of pomp and circumstance. Tony Schiavone played host and gave a mic to Jericho. Jericho ran down the local sports teams while rhyming off his accolades. Cardona tried to talk, but was shushed by Jericho.

Jericho told Cardona he’s lucky Jericho granted him a shot at the ROH Title. He congratulated Cardona on having his biggest match ever; this one. But there will be no way that he will get the title from him. Cardona had enough and interrupted Jericho, telling him to shut up.

Cardona called Jericho a bull-spit artist and completely fake about his proclaimed love for Ring of Honor. Cardona called his shot at the ROH Title the biggest match of his life. It’s not about Jericho or the Title, it’s about Cardona needing to prove to himself that he’s the best. He then signed the contract. Angrily. Jericho asked to borrow a pen from Schiavone, then said that he should probably step out of the ring now.

Jericho went to sign the papers, but delayed, faking the crowd out over and over again. Finally, he signed, reluctantly. He stuck his hand out and Cardona took it… and threw Jericho into the ropes! He then put Jericho through a table and stood tall with the ROH Belt over top of him as the show ended.

Matt Cardona vs. Bryan Keith set for AEW Rampage Winter is Coming

Posted on by Ethan Renner

The first match has been announced for Friday’s AEW Rampage Winter is Coming.

Before he challenges Chris Jericho for the ROH World Championship at Final Battle, Matt Cardona will get in the ring with “The Bad Apple” Bryan Keith on Friday’s Rampage episode.

Cardona appeared in a backstage promo segment on Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite, and will also appear in a Final Battle contract signing segment with Jericho on Thursday’s Ring of Honor TV show.

Final Battle takes place on Friday, December 20 at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City.

The Cardona vs. Keith bout is the only item officially announced for Friday’s Rampage. The Winter is Coming branding will also be used for Saturday’s Collision episode.

The lineups for AEW Rampage Winter is Coming, and AEW Collision Winter is Coming:

AEW Rampage Winter is Coming, Friday, December 13, 10 p.m. Eastern time on TNT —

  • Matt Cardona vs. Bryan Keith

AEW Collision Winter is Coming, Saturday, December 14, 8 p.m. Eastern time on TNT or following NBA coverage —

  • FTR call out The Death Riders
  • Continental Classic Blue League: Kyle Fletcher vs. Mark Briscoe
  • Continental Classic Blue League: Kazuchika Okada vs. The Beast Mortos
  • International Women’s Cup qualifier: Willow Nightingale vs. Jamie Hayter