Prior to July’s TV tapings, MLW announced that Shimmer promoter Dave Prazak had joined the promotion’s office of wrestling operations and would be spearheading the relaunch of the MLW women’s division.
Savoy recently took part in ROH’s Women’s World Championship tournament, losing to Miranda Alize in the quarterfinals.
In 2017, Savoy was an entrant in WWE’s inaugural Mae Young Classic. She made it to the second round of the tournament. Savoy also appeared for AEW in the women’s Casino Battle Royale at All Out in 2019 and as one of the participants in last year’s women’s Tag Team Cup.
“A hybrid wrestler, Savoy blends technical finesse with Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, making her a complex challenge for any adversary,” MLW wrote.
A globetrotting grappler, Savoy has been a force in Japan’s Stardom organization, where she has toured extensively since 2018. A dominant force in SHIMMER, Savoy has the record for being the longest reigning Shimmer Champion of all-time, at 721 days.”
The ROH Women’s World Championship tournament kicked off with three competitive and diverse matches.
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Quinn McKay welcomed us to the broadcast and seemed more ecstatic than usual, which was due to the fact that this week’s episode of TV marks the start of the Women’s World Championship tournament.
McKay then previewed the three first round matches that we’ll see tonight. They are: Miranda Alize vs. Alex Gracia, Mazzerati vs. Nicole Savoy, and Sumie Sakai vs. Rok-C.
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Miranda Alize defeated Alex Gracia (8:43)
Chelsea Green joined commentary for this bout.
Alize and Gracia exchanged a few different holds and attempts at moves but eventually came to a stalemate. The lucha-based styles of both women led to a few fun air-based maneuvers, but the two couldn’t seem to connect chemistry wise.
After a short commercial break, Alize and Gracia exchanged some stiff strikes and even a few headbutts. Gracia laid in a few really good chops in this match. Alize started growing frustrated with Gracia’s constant comebacks and eventually hit her signature Drive By knee strike for the win.
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Nicole Savoy defeated Mazzerati (8:45)
Mazzerati tried to talk big, but Savoy straight up outwrestled her in the first portion of the match. Savoy used her usual wrestling tactics that are submission based, leading to commentary comparing her to Jonathan Gresham.
These two seemed to have much better chemistry than Alize/Gracia. Savoy would attempt her signature half nelson suplex multiple times, but Mazzerati had a counter for it every time.
That didn’t stop the “Queen Of Suplexes” from hitting some, well, suplexes. Savoy hit a beautiful butterfly suplex, which led Mazzerati to counter with a Northern Lights suplex.
Mazzerati got some more great offense in during the home stretch, nailing Savoy with a stiff superkick. Savoy was able to recover and duck a few kicks from Mazzerati before eventually trapping her in a half-nelson suplex for the win.
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Rok-C defeated Sumie Sakai (9:36)
Sakai overwhelmed Rok-C with a flurry of offense early on, but Rok-C regained her confidence rather quickly and was able to reverse the momentum back in her favor.
Rok-C’s offense is so smooth and rhythmic that it reminds me of Sasha Banks. Her offensive style is very similar to Banks as well. She continued her momentum and nailed Sakai with a pair of double knees in the corner into a commercial break.
When the broadcast returned, Sakai was in full control. She targeted the lower back of the self proclaimed “Prodigy” and even showboated a little bit. Sakai went to the top rope to try and capitalize on her momentum, but Rok-C nailed her with two kicks to the head. Rok-C would follow it up with a top rope flip into a close near fall on Sakai.
Lots of near falls ensued in the following minutes, including a couple of phenomenal roll-up near falls. Rok-C would eventually get the better of Sakai and successfully complete a roll-up for a three count.
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Final Thoughts —
I thought this was a fun and exciting three-match lineup to kick off the ROH Women’s World Championship tournament. Rok-C and Sumie Sakai delivered a home run, while the other two bouts delivered an RBI. I’m very happy that ROH is focusing on younger stars like Rok-C and giving them big and meaningful wins over veterans like Sakai.
In recent weeks I’ve introduced a scale in order to let you know if the current week of ROH TV is worth your while. The scale is as follows:
Must-Watch TV
Go Out Of Your Way
Recommended Viewing
Watch YouTube Clips
Avoid At All Costs
This week’s episode of ROH TV is: Go Out Of Your Way
ROH’s Women’s World Championship tournament will be kicking off with three matches airing on ROH television later this month.
ROH announced today that Miranda Alize vs. Alex Gracia, Mazzerati vs. Nicole Savoy, and Sumie Sakai vs. Rok-C will air on the ROH TV episode that premieres the weekend of Saturday, July 31.
The tournament features 15 participants, with Angelina Love getting a first-round bye. One of the spots in the tournament is still open.
Quinn McKay has been involved in an angle where Angelina Love and Mandy Leon have twice prevented her from qualifying for the tournament. If McKay defeated Leon on this past weekend’s ROH TV episode, McKay would have gotten the final spot. But McKay lost when Love gave Leon brass knuckles to use behind the referee’s back.
After the way that McKay vs. Leon ended, Maria Kanellis-Bennett will be making two announcements regarding the tournament early next week.
The ROH Women’s World Championship is a new title that’s replacing the former Women of Honor World Championship. The finals will take place at ROH’s Death Before Dishonor pay-per-view this September.
Two women were awarded with a Ticket to Gold, while Rok-C and Laynie Luck continued their respective rises in the wrestling world.
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Lenny Leonard checked in and announced that Maria Kanellis-Bennett would be giving out not one, but two Tickets to Gold on this episode. Leonard also revealed that tonight’s featured match would see Rok-C pitted against Laynie Luck.
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Ticket to Gold: Mandy Leon
Kanellis-Bennett said it was important to include all different types of women in the ROH Women’s World Championship tournament, and she then introduced Mandy Leon. Leon was snarky and claimed that she already knew she was going to be in the tournament.
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Rok-C defeated Laynie Luck (9:46)
The first portion of this match saw Rok-C show off a more aggressive side, while also displaying a showboat attitude as well. Every time Luck would do a dance move, Rok-C mounted a little more frustration.
Luck eventually realized it was go time and flipped her switch, delivering some stiff slams. It’s important to note that commentary played up the fact that Rok-C could be the youngest Women’s Champion in ROH history — potentially could be foreshadowing.
Luck has really educated feet and throws a great dropkick. She also throws a superb knee strike.
Rok-C eventually shifted to another gear after hitting a great top rope Thesz press. She followed that up with a few stiff strikes before hitting an outstanding Code Red for the win.
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Ticket to Gold: Nicole Savoy
Kanellis-Bennett returned and called Nicole Savoy. Bennett revealed that fans on ROH’s The Experience Facebook page overwhelmingly voted to see Savoy in the tournament. Savoy was grateful for the opportunity and discussed her previous experience in ROH.
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Final Thoughts —
Rok-C is really, really good. She’s been the standout of the newly introduced women and it seems as if ROH is high on her as well. I hope she goes far in the tournament — if she doesn’t win the whole thing.
No discredit to Laynie Luck though, she’s really impressive as well.
The tournament did need recognizable faces, and Mandy Leon is just that. I don’t want Leon or Angelina Love to win the tournament, but they were needed to draw eyes to the tournament.
I’m a big fan of Nicole Savoy’s work. She rightfully deserved a spot in the tournament as well.
This summer’s ROH Women’s World Championship tournament has a couple of new entrants.
It was announced on this week’s ROH Women’s Division Wednesday episode that Nicole Savoy and Mandy Leon will be taking part in the Women’s World Championship tournament. Both wrestlers were presented with Tickets to Gold by Maria Kanellis-Bennett. The Tickets to Gold grant competitors a spot in the tournament.
Savoy was voted into the tournament through the fan support she received on ROH’s The Experience Facebook page. Savoy made her ROH debut in December 2019 and is returning to the promotion for the first time since February 2020.
Savoy was an entrant in WWE’s 2017 Mae Young Classic. She also took part in AEW’s women’s Casino Battle Royale at All Out 2019 and teamed with Big Swole in AEW’s Women’s Tag Team Cup last year.
Shimmer and Stardom are also among the promotions Savoy has wrestled for during her career.
Leon is a veteran of the ROH roster. She joins her The Allure stablemate Angelina Love among the tournament entrants. Love is getting a first-round bye in the tournament, which was a stipulation of her defeating Quinn McKay on ROH TV last month.
Savoy and Leon had also been set to participate in the ROH Women’s World Championship tournament when it was originally supposed to take place last year. The tournament was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The ROH Women’s World Championship is a new title that’s replacing the former Women of Honor World Championship. Here’s the updated list of participants for the tournament:
Nicole Savoy made her return to AEW on tonight’s Women’s Tag Team Cup tournament event, with semifinals now set for next week.
Savoy went under the name of Lil Swole, teaming with Big Swole to take on Rache Chanel and Leva Bates. The Swoles defeated Bates & Chanel to move on to the semifinals. Savoy had previously competed in last year’s Casino Battle Royal at All Out.
Savoy has wrestled for a number of independent promotions since 2011, including appearances in SHIMMER, RISE, and Stardom. She also competed in the 2017 Mae Young Classic tournament, advancing to the second round before being eliminated by Candice LeRae. She was most recently working Ring of Honor dates prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In another opening round match, Diamante & Ivelisse defeated interviewer Dasha and Rachael Ellering to also advance to the semifinals.
With those wins, the semifinals have now been set for next week’s show. Big Swole and Lil Swole will face the Nightmare Sisters (Brandi Rhodes & Allie) and Ivelisse & Diamante will face Tay Conti & Anna Jay.
A matchup between two new members of ROH’s women’s division is the latest addition to the card for their 18th Anniversary pay-per-view.
ROH announced today that Nicole Savoy vs. Session Moth Martina is set for 18th Anniversary. The PPV is taking place at Sam’s Town Live in Las Vegas, Nevada on Friday, March 13.
Savoy debuted for ROH in December, while Martina debuted earlier this month. Both wrestlers defeated Sumie Sakai in their first matches for ROH.
After Sakai turned heel on Savoy last month, a match between them is set for ROH Past vs. Present on Saturday, March 14. That show is also being held at Sam’s Town Live.
Sakai has been confirmed as the first entrant in ROH’s Women’s Championship tournament. It will begin with first-round matches taking place at Quest for Gold in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Friday, April 24.
Here’s the updated card for the 18th Anniversary PPV:
ROH Television Champion Dragon Lee defending against Bandido
ROH Tag Team Champions Jay Lethal & Jonathan Gresham defending against Villain Enterprises (Marty Scurll & Flip Gordon)
The Briscoes vs. Dalton Castle & Joe Hendry
Dealer’s Choice match: Dan Maff vs. Kenny King vs. Shane Taylor vs. Bateman (winner gets a future title shot of his choosing)
