The Kingdom (Matt Taven, Mike Bennett, and Maria Kanelis Bennett) made their AEW debut on Rampage Friday, officially calling out FTR.
FTR and Shawn Spears were successful in defeating Brian Cage and Gates of Agony when the trio interrupted their celebration. Kanellis referred to themselves as The Kingdom and called her men the top guys, as they were the ones that built this company on The Kingdom’s back, as they were ROH and IWGP Tag Team Champions before they were. Her promo distracted FTR and Spears long enough for The Embassy to jump them from behind, with The Kingdom eventually joining in. The show ended with Wardlow and Samoa Joe hitting the ring to make the save.
In a backstage interview after their debut, Taven said they came in as they never got their rematch for the ROH Tag Team titles. He and Bennett lost the titles to The Briscoes at Final Battle 2021.
Taven and Bennett, who have teamed together as The OGK since their reunion in 2020, had been wrestling for Impact Wrestling since the start of the year. They had been the Impact Wrestling Tag Team Champions since August, having dropped the titles to Heath Slater and Rhyno at last weekend’s Impact television tapings before departing the company.
Taven, Bennett, and Kanelis, along with Adam Cole, formed The Kingdom in Ring of Honor back in 2015, with Taven and Bennett winning the ROH World Tag Team titles twice. After Bennett left the promotion later that year, the two reunited in ROH following Bennett’s release from WWE.
The full card has been revealed for next month’s NWA Hard Times 2 pay-per-view.
The PPV is taking place at GPB Studios in Atlanta on Saturday, December 4 and will be available via Fite TV. The card is headlined by an NWA World Heavyweight Championship match between Trevor Murdoch and Mike Knox. NWA Women’s Champion Kamille will also defend her title against Melina.
An ROH Tag Team Championship match will take place at Hard Times as The OGK (Matt Taven & Mike Bennett) defend against Aron Stevens & JR Kratos. Taven & Bennett won the titles from Dragon Lee & Kenny King at ROH’s Honor for All show this past Sunday.
The return of the NWA Junior Heavyweight Championship has also been announced. At Hard Times, there will be two qualifying matches where the winners will get a spot in the Junior Heavyweight title tournament. Austin Aries is coming to the NWA for a qualifying match against Rhett Titus. There will be a 12-man qualifying gauntlet at the show as well.
The gauntlet match will be one of the bouts on the pre-show for Hard Times. The pre-show will air for free on the NWA’s YouTube channel and Fite.
Here’s the full lineup for Hard Times:
NWA World Champion Trevor Murdoch defends against Mike Knox
NWA Women’s Champion Kamille defends against Melina
There will be an in-ring tribute to Jazz following her announcement that she’s retiring from in-ring competition
No time limit and no DQ match: NWA Television Champion Tyrus defends against Cyon (Da Pope will be the special guest referee)
Nick Aldis vs. Thom Latimer (no seconds at ringside, Aldis and Latimer will both be suspended from the NWA for eight weeks if there’s a disqualification)
NWA National Champion Chris Adonis defends against Judais
NWA Tag Team Champions La Rebelion (Bestia 666 & Mecha Wolf) defend against The End (Odinson & Parrow)
NWA Women’s Tag Team Champions The Hex (Allysin Kay & Marti Belle) defend against Kylie Rae & Tootie Lynn and Lady Frost & Natalia Markova
Colby Corino vs. Doug Williams
NWA Junior Heavyweight Championship qualifying match: Austin Aries vs. Rhett Titus
NWA Junior Heavyweight Championship qualifying gauntlet (Homicide, Darius Lockhart, Ariya Daivari, CW Anderson, Sal Rinauro, Kerry Morton, Luke Hawx, PJ Hawx, Jamie Stanley, Victor Benjamin, Jeremiah Plunkett, and Alex Taylor)
Mick Foley will make a special appearance
ROH Tag Team Champions The OGK (Matt Taven & Mike Bennett) defend against Aron Stevens & JR Kratos
Two championship matches have been made official for ROH’s end of an era Final Battle pay-per-view.
The ROH World Championship will be on the line as Bandido defends against Jonathan Gresham at Final Battle on Saturday, December 11. An ROH Tag Team title match has also been confirmed for the PPV, with Matt Taven & Mike Bennett defending against The Briscoes.
Gresham announced last month that he was leaving ROH’s Pure division and entering the World title division. He was set up as Bandido’s challenger for Final Battle by defeating Brody King at Honor for All on Sunday.
Bandido won the ROH World Championship from Rush at Best in the World this July.
Taven & Bennett defeated Kenny King & Dragon Lee to win the ROH Tag Team titles at Honor for All. On ROH Week By Week, Taven called The Briscoes the greatest tag team in ROH history and said that, if this is the end, there would be no greater honor than facing them at Final Battle.
ROH is going on hiatus after Final Battle and taking the first quarter of 2022 to reimagine the company. Talent won’t have their contracts renewed after Final Battle and are able to work wherever they want immediately.
Final Battle is taking place at Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena in Baltimore. Here’s the updated card for the PPV:
ROH World Champion Bandido defends against Jonathan Gresham
ROH Tag Team Champions The OGK (Matt Taven & Mike Bennett) defend against The Briscoes (Jay & Mark Briscoe)
Matt Taven and Mike Bennett won the Ring of Honor Tag Team titles at Sunday’s Honor for All, defeating LFI’s Dragon Lee and Kenny King for the belts.
This is the second reign for Taven and Bennett, known as The OGK, who first won the titles at September 2015’s All-Star Extravaganza in San Antonio, Texas, in a three-way that included Christopher Daniels and Frankie Kazarian, and the Young Bucks.
The end came after all four men hit their finishers, leading to Amy Rose and Max the Impaler coming out to distract both King and Bestia Del Ring who was at ringside with LFI. Taven rolled up King to get the pin and win.
Lee and King held the titles since July, but only defended them once in an October title defense over SOS.
ROH will put on their final show of the year with Final Battle, a pay-per-view set for Saturday, December 11th in Baltimore, Maryland. Following the event, the company will go dark for three months as they figure out what their future holds.
The Soldiers of Savagery (Moses & Kaun) defeated Dalton Castle & Dak Draper (9:10)
The Briscoes joined commentary for this match.
Dalton Castle and Kaun started off the bout. They exchanged a few moves on the mat as Castle tried to toy with Kaun’s focus. Castle was able to get the upper hand and tag out to Dak Draper. Draper was met by a furious Kaun, who took control of the match back and tagged out to Moses. As the match went into a commercial break, S.O.S had full control of Draper.
The tides turned as the match returned from the break. Castle and Draper hit a few double-team moves as Moses got fired up on the apron for the hot tag.
Once Moses came in, he bulldozed everybody in sight and even scared Castle’s chickens off. Eventually, Moses and Kaun worked together and hit a double-team DDT for the win.
Following the match, Dragon Lee & Kenny King jumped S.O.S. After Lee & King left the ring, S.O.S challenged them to an ROH Tag Team title match. That title match is set for the next episode of ROH TV.
Willow defeated Angelina Love and Miranda Alize in a Women’s Championship Contender’s match (8:32)
Chelsea Green was on commentary here.
Willow was targeted by both Miranda Alize and Angelina Love right off the bat. She tried to fight it off but was met with strong resistance as the match went to commercial.
Willow finally found a way to defend herself against the two other opponents as we returned from the break. Both Alize and Love were hit with a combination of kicks and punches before Willow did a very impressive second rope dropkick on Alize.
Alize and Love stopped teaming together and went to blows with each other. Willow still was firing on all cylinders and kept hitting big move after big move on both women.
Near the end of the match, Love punted Alize off the apron with the Botox Injection kick. Willow capitalized on that by rolling Love up for the three count.
Willow will move on to face the winner of another triple threat match between Trish Adora, Mandy Leon, and Allysin Kay. The winner of that singles encounter will challenge Rok-C for the ROH Women’s World Championship at Final Battle.
The OGK (Matt Taven & Mike Bennett) defeated ROH World Champion Bandido & Rey Horus (12:07)
Mike Bennett and Rey Horus started off the match. They exchanged a few maneuvers but came to a stalemate as a commercial break ensued.
Matt Taven and Bandido squared off but also came to a stalemate, which prompted Bennett to come in and hit some double-team moves with Taven. Taven & Bennett practically played the role of the heels as Horus eventually made a hot tag and cleared the ring.
Taven was overwhelmed by the double team from Bandido and Horus, prompting him to tag out to Bennett. The match broke down here and saw everybody hit big moves. All four wrestlers were eventually down and out at one point.
While Bennett had Horus on his back and in position for a stunner, The OGK hit a double-team move where Taven connected with a kick on Horus and Bennett planted Horus to get the win.
The OGK and Bandido & Horus showed respect to each other and exchanged words after the match.
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Final Thoughts —
Despite all three of these matches being good/great, this episode of ROH TV felt uninspired and lacked a feel of importance.
Also, Bandido has lost four matches since winning the ROH World Championship. Even though they were all tag matches in some way or form, any champion just doesn’t need to lose that much.
Rey Horus loses…way too much. He’s 4-11 this year in the company. Horus is a phenom of a talent so I hope this is leading to something down the line.
I’m very happy with Willow picking up the victory, and I’m rooting for her to get the Women’s title match at Final Battle.
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: Watch Youtube Clips
Two new matches have been added to the card for ROH’s Death Before Dishonor pay-per-view.
It was announced on the latest episode of ROH TV that The Briscoes vs. The OGK (Matt Taven & Mike Bennett) will take place at Death Before Dishonor. Eli Isom vs. Dalton Castle has also been added to the PPV.
Death Before Dishonor is being held at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia on Sunday, September 12.
While running down the Death Before Dishonor card, ROH listed that Bestia del Ring will be replacing Rush in the Six-Man Tag Team title match at the PPV. Shane Taylor Promotions (Shane Taylor, Moses & Kaun) will defend their ROH Six-Man Tag Team titles against La Faccion Ingobernable (Dragon Lee, Kenny King & Bestia del Ring).
Here’s the updated card for Death Before Dishonor:
ROH World Champion Bandido defends against Brody King, EC3, and Demonic Flamita in a four-way elimination match
The finals of ROH’s Women’s World Championship tournament
ROH Pure Champion Jonathan Gresham defends against Josh Woods
ROH Six-Man Tag Team Champions Shane Taylor Promotions (Shane Taylor, Moses & Kaun) defend against La Faccion Ingobernable (Dragon Lee, Kenny King & Bestia del Ring)
Two “top free agents” who were recently released from another promotion will face off against each other
Violence Unlimited (Homicide, Chris Dickinson & Tony Deppen) vs. three Pure wrestlers in a six-man tag team match
The Briscoes vs. The OGK
Eli Isom vs. Dalton Castle
Homicide, Dickinson & Deppen’s opponents will be revealed on ROH Week By Week this Tuesday. ROH noted that one of the Pure wrestlers is from the past, one is from the present, and one is considered part of the future.
Fred Yehi defeated Rocky Romero in a great match, while The Foundation made their first ROH Tag Team title defense against The OGK.
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Quinn McKay made her return as host and checked in from the ROH studio. McKay gave thanks to all the fans who guided her to her first ROH match. McKay said while it was her first, it certainly won’t be her last.
McKay previewed the main event of tonight’s episode, pitting The Foundation’s Tracy Williams & Rhett Titus against The OGK in an ROH World Tag Team Championship match. McKay revealed that Vincent is still on voluntary hiatus, so Matt Taven & Mike Bennett should have a clear path to regain the gold they once held.
McKay also previewed the opening contest, where we will see the “Savageweight” Fred Yehi take on Rocky Romero in a Pure Rules match.
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Right before the opening match started, the camera cut backstage and showed Matt Taven laying on the ground in pain. Mike Bennett came to Taven’s aid and helped him to the trainer’s room.
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Fred Yehi submitted Rocky Romero in a Pure Rules match (14:44)
The Code of Honor was adhered to.
Yehi and Romero went to the mat quickly, which resulted in Yehi applying a deathlock. Romero swept the leg and got out of the hold rather easily. Both guys attempted to apply a couple of different holds, but they all resulted in a stalemate.
Romero had a great headlock applied through a commercial break until Yehi used a rope break to escape the hold. Yehi took advantage of the opening he was afforded and powerslammed Romero.
Romero kept trying to hit big moves, but Yehi had him scouted very well. Yehi applied a wristlock at one point and hit a chokeslam with the wristlock still applied. Romero eventually was able to recover and attempted his Forever Clothesline, but Yehi again had it scouted. This took us into a commercial break.
Back from the break, Romero was able to lock in his signature armbar, but Yehi used his second rope break to escape. Romero went to the top turnbuckle and was positioned, but Yehi yanked him off. Yehi followed it up with a brutal looking T-Bone suplex. Yehi applied the Koji Clutch, but Romero used his first rope break.
As we approached the 15-minute time limit, Romero and Yehi made it back to their feet. Romero tried to deliver a knee to the face, but it was blocked swiftly. Yehi clocked Romero with a forearm that sent him crumbling to the canvas, then applied the Koji Clutch again. Romero hesitated but then eventually submitted.
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Flip Gordon speaks
Flip Gordon came to the ring. Gordon said he was sick of waiting around for ROH World Champion Rush and seeing everybody else fail to beat him. Gordon demanded that Rush come to the ring and give him his World title match right now (despite Rush being suspended from ROH last week).
EC3 came out instead. EC3 said “You’ve been warned” to Gordon and walked off.
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ROH Tag Team Champions The Foundation (Tracy Williams & Rhett Titus) defeated The OGK (Matt Taven & Mike Bennett) to retain their titles (16:01)
Williams and Bennett began the match. Both men exchanged wristlocks, followed by a few headlocks. Williams was able to take Bennett to the mat first though, giving The Foundation an edge. Bennett was able to get back to his feet fast, tagging in Taven.
Taven traded strikes with Williams before being Irish whipped into the corner, where he avoided a running Williams by using the ropes to lift himself into the air. Taven was sent back to the canvas ankle-first, and he immediately limped to tag out.
Bennett worked on Titus throughout a commercial break, but Taven eventually tagged back in. Titus and Williams were able to perform a few double team maneuvers on Taven before Williams cinched in a beautiful cloverleaf submission.
Taven tried to muster up some momentum after clocking Titus with an enzuigiri, but it was stopped after Williams tagged back in and continued to cut the ring in half. Taven was able to deliver his Just The Tip knee strike to Williams eventually, allowing for Bennett to come in for the hot tag.
Titus and Bennett came in and Bennett took control of the match immediately, backing Titus in the corner and delivering about 20 chops. Williams came in to help his partner but was dropped with a hammerlock DDT from Bennett. Bennett kept the heat on and tagged back out to Taven, allowing the duo to hit a great superkick/spear combination. Taven tried to put away Titus with a pin, but it only resulted in a two count. This took us into a commercial break.
Back from the break, Williams tagged in and brutalized Taven with a clothesline. A few moments later, Taven was able to hit a flatliner and turn it into a crossface. Williams lifted himself up and just tossed Taven over his head with ease. A hell of a performance by Tracy Williams here.
As the match continued, there was a great moment where Bennett had Titus in a vice grip. Williams responded by putting Taven in a Boston crab right in front of Bennett. The two had a slap off before both men spiked their opponents with the same style of piledriver. A little bit of an ego-off.
Bennett and Williams continued their face-off, trading stiff forearms. Titus eventually was able to tag in and position Taven in the corner for a big boot, which connected swiftly. Titus then dropkicked Taven into Williams’ grasp — and Williams spiked him with a piledriver for the win.
After the match, Taven and Bennett were discussing his ankle injury when Vincent appeared on the screen. Vincent taunted Taven with Taven’s own catchphrase before vanishing.
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Final Thoughts —
What a phenomenal episode of television for ROH. Both matches more than exceeded expectations, especially the Tag Team title match. It’s definitely worth going out of your way to watch. Matt Taven has really improved as an all-around wrestler, especially when it comes to selling. Rhett Titus, who once was an afterthought for ROH, is on the run of his career right now with constant great performances. Tracy Williams might be the best wrestler in the company. Mike Bennett looked great.
Rocky Romero putting over Fred Yehi was an excellent decision as well. Yehi has true star potential and is a really good wrestler.
I don’t have too much to say about the Gordon/EC3 promo. Gordon is a really awkward promo, and did nobody inform him of Rush’s suspension? EC3 should have just dropped him right then and there.
One complaint I have: I think the Taven/Vincent stuff has gone on too long at this point. The feud should have ended with their match at the 19th Anniversary PPV. I personally want to see Vincent and The Righteous explore new feuds and opponents. Same with Taven.
A Tag Team title match will take place on ROH television later this month.
ROH has announced that The OGK (Matt Taven & Mike Bennett) will challenge The Foundation’s Tracy Williams & Rhett Titus for the ROH Tag Team titles on the ROH TV episode that premieres the weekend of Saturday, May 22. This will be Williams & Titus’ first title defense since defeating La Faccion Ingobernable’s Kenny King & Bestia del Ring at March’s ROH 19th Anniversary pay-per-view to become Tag Team Champions.
Bestia del Ring was replacing Dragon Lee in the Tag Team title match at ROH’s 19th Anniversary PPV. Dragon Lee suffered a ruptured eardrum and had to be pulled from the PPV.
The OGK are 3-0 in tag team action since Bennett made his return to ROH last November. Their most recent win was against Beer City Bruiser & Ken Dixon.
Taven & Bennett formerly held the ROH Tag Team titles for three months in 2015. They also held the IWGP Tag Team titles together in 2015.
Jonathan Gresham defeated Joe Keys in a Pure Championship match, while The Bouncers fell to The OGK in tag team action. After being goaded by Vincent, Beer City Bruiser smashed a beer bottle over Matt Taven’s head in the show-closing angle.
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Per usual, Quinn McKay welcomed us to the program and ran down the card. Jonathan Gresham is defending his Pure Championship against Joe Keys and The Bouncers are squaring off with The OGK.
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Keys had a pre-match video package. Keys revealed that the ROH Dojo participants didn’t have much faith in the system until Gresham took over and went to bat for them. He got emotional at one point, noting that his original trainer RJ Meyer tragically passed away a few months ago. Keys dedicated the match to him and the rest of the ROH Dojo.
Gresham also had some comments before the match. Gresham touted the success of The Foundation at Final Battle. He shamed Flip Gordon for even trying to become a pure wrestler, saying it takes years and years to master that craft.
Gresham applauded Keys for earning a Pure Championship shot and dared him to come at the throne. Gresham’s promo skills have turned the corner since coming back — he’s showing real confidence and ease with the microphone.
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ROH Pure Champion Jonathan Gresham submitted Joe Keys to retain his title (12:42)
Dak Draper joined the commentary team before the match.
The Code of Honor was adhered to.
After a few seconds of back and forth, Gresham locked in a leg head lock on Keys. Keys almost immediately used his first rope break. Gresham stood Keys up and shook his hand, separating themselves and locking up again. Gresham started a shoulder tackle battle that Keys ended up winning.
Gresham and Keys exchanged forearms to the skull before Gresham began targeting the shoulder of Keys. Gresham cinched in a head scissors submission, but Keys escaped quickly and turned it into a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Keys took advantage of the situation and turned Gresham’s attempt at a small package into a beautiful deadlift suplex. Keys kept on the attack, lifting Gresham into a deadlift German suplex.
Keys attempted a Boston crab that didn’t look very good, but it forced Gresham to use his second rope break. Keys kept the speed on and went to the top rope, then flew onto Gresham with a flying headbutt. Keys attempted a pin, but Gresham used his third and final rope break. This was only the second time Gresham has used three rope breaks in a Pure match. He gave Keys a lot in this match.
In the final sequence, Keys missed a diving headbutt and Gresham took advantage, twisting the arm of Keys behind his back and making him submit.
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Mike Bennett was shown backstage getting his ankle taped up. Matt Taven approached him and told him constantly that he didn’t have to go out there tonight and compete. Bennett waived Taven off and told him he’d be out there.
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Danhausen had a promo introducing himself to the ROH fans. Danhausen said he wanted to become a wrestler because it gets him on television and makes him famous in order to take over the world. Danhausen also said he doesn’t swear because it’ll get him taken off TV. He called Brian Johnson an idiot for challenging him again.
Johnson had some words for Danhausen. Johnson said the problem with ROH is that nobody is talking about him. He called the fans clowns for getting Danhausen a contract and said he sacrificed his life for the business. Johnson claimed that Danhausen’s tombstone will read “Mecca vs. Everybody.”
It was announced that the Danhausen vs. Johnson rematch will be a match streamed on HonorClub and YouTube. This doesn’t really make much sense in my eyes, since the hype for it got 10 minutes of TV time.
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The Bouncers hyped themselves up before their match with The OGK. Beer City Bruiser said that their quest to the ROH Tag Team titles starts tonight. Brian Milonas said they’re done messing around and they’re serious contenders now.
Taven and Bennett had a pre match promo as well. Taven apologized to Bennett for involving him in the Vincent feud the second he came back. Bennett said it’s always been about The OGK and to not worry about Vincent anymore, as he’s banned from the building for their match.
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The OGK (Matt Taven & Mike Bennett) defeated The Bouncers (Beer City Bruiser & Brian Milonas) (11:56)
Milonas and Bennett started the match off. Bennett tried to test his ankle out a few times to no avail. He then tried to shoulder tackle Milonas again to no avail. Milonas threw Bennett into the ropes, causing Taven to tag in. The OGK then hit a double dropkick on Milonas.
Milonas drove Taven into his corner and tagged in Beer City Bruiser. The Bouncers were showing more heel tendencies here, which was nice to see. Bennett tagged himself in and tried to start chopping Bruiser, but Milonas tagged himself in.
After a while of tagging in and out, Bennett superkicked Milonas with his bad ankle. Taven came in to check on him, but Bruiser delivered a strong right hand to him and stomped on the ankle of Bennett. Bruiser continued to destroy Bennett’s ankle while Milonas looked on in confusion. Bennett eventually baited Milonas and Bruiser to run at him. Bennett dodged both men and sent them over the top rope and onto the floor. Bennett finally tagged in Taven, who kicked Bruiser and dove onto Milonas at ringside.
Milonas eventually regained control of the match, slamming Taven to the mat and almost getting the pinfall victory, but Bennett broke it up. Taven jumped on Milonas’ back and tried to apply a sleeper hold. Bennett then superkicked Milonas, sending him on his back and crushing Taven.
Bruiser tagged himself in and tried to bulldoze Taven, but Bennett came in and speared Bruiser. That prompted Taven to lock in “The Trendsetter” for the win.
The Bouncers tried to toast with Taven and Bennett after the match, but Vincent and The Righteous interrupted. Vincent insulted Beer City Bruiser, calling him a lost cause in ROH. He also went after Milonas, calling his 18-year career a waste.
Vincent said that Taven’s stock is at a high right now while Bruiser and Milonas are collecting lint in their pockets. Bruiser had heard enough and smashed a bottle across Taven’s head and walked off. Milonas sat there in shock as the show went off the air.
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Final Thoughts —
Another good show for ROH, but it definitely had its flaws. Gresham gave Keys a lot in their Pure Championship contest, but Keys unfortunately messed up a few key moments in the match.
Despite using about seven minutes of TV time to promote a Danhausen vs. Brian Johnson rematch (which I bought into), ROH is deciding to put the match on HonorClub and YouTube. I personally think the match belongs on TV, especially for a guy like Johnson who is trying to build his stock.
The main event was a good match on paper, but it really didn’t deliver. All involved just seemed off in their timing.
The final angle of the show was very good though. Vincent getting so far in the head of Beer City Bruiser to make him turn heel was a good way to complete the turn, as Bruiser was already showing heel tendencies. I don’t really know where Milonas goes from here though.
Though Rush will be back in an eight-man tag match next week, he’s getting to Brock Lesnar territory in terms of his championship run. He hasn’t appeared on ROH TV once since they came back from the pandemic break, only appearing at Final Battle. He should be on TV more, even if it’s just a phone promo.
