Ring of Honor returns for their second show in as many days, headlined by a Six-Man Tag Team title bout as Dustin Rhodes will team with Marshall & Ross Von Erich to defend against MxM Collection & Johnny TV.
Sammy Guevara will go one-on-one with Lee Johnson.
Dark Order’s Evil Uno & Alex Reynolds will take on Rosario Grill & Jon Cruz while ROH World Champion Bandido will team with Komander to challenge The Infantry in tag team action.
The Frat House’s Griff Garrison, Preston Vance & Cole Karter will be in trios action while a CMLL showcase will feature Atlantis Jr.
Lexy Nair will hold a sit-down interview with Serena Deeb and Queen Aminata.
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As tends to happen in ROH, a bunch of stuff transpired outside of ROHâs regular programming since ROH on Honorclub Episode 111. This week, ROH held what they called a âSpecial Episodeâ on Youtube. Officially it was a prelude to the Spring Break Thru episode of AEW Collision, on at a special time in its own right. Unofficially it was a quartet of decent matches that probably should have been part of ROH on Honorclub episode #112. The special featured:Â
- Top Flight (Dante Martin & Darius Martin) (w/Leila Grey) defeated The Conglomeration (Rocky Romero & Tomohiro Ishii)
- Shane Taylor (w/Carlie Bravo & Shawn Dean) defeated KM
- ROH Women’s World Television Title #1 Contendership: La Catalina defeated Taya Valkyrie
- Nick Wayne (w/Mother Wayne) defeated Michael Oku (w/Amira)
- Also, Nick Wayne won the ROH World Television Title from Komander on Collision.Â
So, now that we are all caught up, lets dig into Ring of Honor on Honorclub episode 112!
ROH World Champion Bandido & Komander (w/Alex Abrahantes) defeated Shane Taylor Promotionsâ The Infantry(Carlie Bravo & Shawn Dean) (w/Lee Moriarty & Shane Taylor)
ROH World Champion Bandido is definitely a working champion having won the title just over a week ago and already had a Proving Ground match. Now, this obviously non-title tag match puts him in the crosshairs of the Kingpin of ROH, Shane Taylor. Taylor has re-invented Bravo and Dean in his image and one canât help but wonder if this match is a way for Taylor to jump the queue and get in the Championâs face. Komander is stinging from having just lost the ROH TV title to Nick Wayne on Collision, so his energy level may be low for this match.
Bandido was sporting some taped up ribs as Bravo and Dean jumped their opponents during the Code of Honor. Bandido fought out of it though, but he ended up on the outside and face first into the barricade. The infantry relied on chop-blocks to injure the knee of the Champion, isolating him from his partner.
Moriarty and Taylor jawed on the outside while Dean and Bravo swapped in and out, working the knee of Bandido. Eventually Bandido ducked a big boot from Dean and rolled into a hot tag with Komander. Komander showed no amount of run rust from last nightâs loss as he flew around the ring taking on both members of the Infantry.
Suddenly, Shane Taylor climbed to the ring apron (the hardest part of the ring) and laid a shot into Bandidoâs face. Thinking quickly, Komander propelled Bandido onto Taylor and the champ executed a sunset flip, sending him onto his cohorts on the outside.
Bandido then hit a 21 Plex on Dean to get the win.
Match Result: ROH World Champion Bandido & Komander (w/Alex Abrahantes) defeated Shane Taylor Promotionsâ The Infantry(Carlie Bravo & Shawn Dean) (w/Lee Moriarty & Shane Taylor)
ROH World Six Man Tag Team Title Match: Dustin Rhodes & The Von Erichs (Marshall von Erich & Ross von Erich) (c) defeated Johnny TV & MxM Collection (Mansoor & Mason Madden)
This is it. For all the marbles. Well, all three of them, IE the ROH Six-Man Tag Titles. Rhodes and the Von Erichs have held the straps for 265 days, with many of them spent waiting for the Von Erichs to return from injury. During that time, the MxM Collection made life tough for Rhodes and his Tag Team Championship partner, Sammy Guevara for months. Now, everyoneâs here, theyâre ready and Johnny TV has joined the fray.
And what a fray it was! MxMxTV jumped their opponents from behind as they made their entrance. Rhodes was knocked out and it looked like Ross was injured, but the ref checked he was good to go so the match officially started.
Mansoor and Marshall battled in the ring, Marshallâs hard strikes knocking the smaller Mansoor from post to post. Rhodes stayed out of it, still recovering from the beatdown on the ramp. Ross tagged in and the brothers Von Erich manhandled Mansoor.
Mansoor caught Ross and Madden jumped in to deliver a big kick to the face. TV joined the party and a triple team was on. Even Taya Valkyrie got involved, stomping Ross on the outside with some serious heels (the boots, not the alignments).
With Rhodes still MIA, the numbers game was catching up to the Von Erichs, especially the recently returned from injury, Ross. TV planted him with a diving front wheelbarrow, as Rhodes staggered to his feet. Instantly, Mansoor attacked him on the outside, delivering a hard shot to the ribs.
Ross and Mansoor hit each other with a double clothesline, giving Ross the chance to get a red-hot tag to Marshall. Just as he was about to reach it though, Madden grabbed Marshall off the apron and smashed his face into the ring steps. With that, Rhodes made it to the apron and took the tag from Ross to face off against TV.
Rhodes cleaned house, but Madden caught him and set up a chokeslam. The Von Erichs hit a double dropkick to save their partner. A brawl broke out and all six men battled in the ring. When the dust settled, Madden was hung up for a Shattered Dreams. TV tried to help but Rhodes stacked him on Madden for a double Shattered Dreams followed by a Texas Destroyer.
Ross locked the Iron Claw on Mansoor and Rhodes delivered a modified CrossRhodes to TV to get the pin and retain the titles for his team.
Match Results: Dustin Rhodes & The Von Erichs (Marshall von Erich & Ross von Erich) (c) defeated Johnny TV & MxM Collection (Mansoor & Mason Madden)
Sammy Guevara defeated Lee Johnson (w/Blake Christian)
It was a surprise to see Johnson coming to the ring with Christian, who notoriously does not play well with others. It was also a surprise to see Christian in casual leather pants. However, if there was any question about Johnsonâs drift the heel side, its confirmed by an association with notorious jerkbag Christian. Guevara has been wrestling his truest and bluest in singles and with his Tag Team Champion partner, Dustin Rhodes.Â
Surprisingly, the two locked up off the top and kept the pace slow. Wristlocks and headlock takedowns were a plenty. The two ended up face to face after a double kip-up. Guevara was impressed and offered his hand, but Johnson took the opportunity to deliver a stiff shot to the face.
Christian got involved, pulling Guevara to the outside which allowed Johnson to nail him with a big flip over the top rope. Back in the ring, Johnson began working over Guevara in the corners. Quick Irish Whips and diving forearms were his weapons of choice. Guevara got to his feet and the two traded chops, with Guevara coming out on top.
Guevara managed to get Johnson in the air for a GTH, but Johnson wriggled free. Guevara caught him coming off the ropes though and managed to get a schoolboy threecount for the win.
Match Result: Sammy Guevara defeated Lee Johnson (w/Blake Christian)
After the match, Guevara tried to show respect, but Christian jumped him. Suddenly a newly refreshed Dustin Rhodes appeared and cleared the ring. Then even more suddenly, MxMxTV appeared and beat up the Sons of Texas! Then truly even more suddenly, the Von Erichs appeared and things erupted into chaos with an all-out brawl.
TV landed a shining Wizard on the face of Rhodes as the heels overtook the faces. TV put an exclamation point on things by smashing a Tag Title belt into Rhodes. Guevara tried to protect him, taking the brunt of the beatdown.
The Dark Order (Alex Reynolds & Evil Uno) defeated Jon Cruz & Rosario Grillo
The Dark Order have had their hands full lately with The Frat House. Like many beefed-out jock types, The Frat House doesnât like the Order because they are different. Cruz and Grillo? Iâm sure they get along with them just fine. They seem pretty laid back.
Cruz and Uno kicked things off which was very fun. Uno can move like a man half his size and Cruz is a man half his size. A big boot from Reynolds brought in Grillo, but the Order was waiting and double teamed him. Cruz and Reynolds kept it going with Reynolds getting the upper hand by way of hit elbows in the corner.
Cruz sent Reynolds to the opposite corner and Grillo grabbed his tights to keep him isolated from Uno. The two double teamed Reynolds while Uno watched helplessly.
Uno finally managed to get a tag from Reynolds and he cleaned the ring. Reynolds helped Uno execute a Gory Special and Uno got the pin on Grillo.
Match Result: The Dark Order (Alex Reynolds & Evil Uno) defeated Jon Cruz & Rosario Grillo
Then, (sigh) The Frat House arrived. They had a new flag and new members in the form of a couple of unnamed Pledges. Jameson said a bunch of gibberish about winning or losing and boozing (it made no sense, but rhymed, so people liked it). The Frat House then jumped their own pledges for some reason? Commentary seemed to think that it was because they knew that the Dark Order would be upset by this hazing.
This led to a “match” involving the Frat House taking on their pledges, one of whom we learned was named” “Love Doug.” It didn’t matter much as the Frat House quadruple teamed him and pinned him to get the “win.”
I mean, there was a ref and the bell tolled, but it’d be hard pressed to call this a match.
The Dark Order rushed the ring with chairs, and the Frat House bailed, leaving their Pledges writing around the outside of the ring.
-Backstage, Queen Aminata and Serena Deeb joined Lexy Nair. This was a big deal because it was an announcement of a newly-created ROH Women’s Pure Championship! There will be a tournament to crown the inaugural champion and Aminata and Deeb will face off in the opening first round match. Deeb ran down Aminata and her generation, saying she’s the person this title was made for. Aminata responded saying she believed in herself and that Deeb should be careful what she wishes for because this student is now the master.
Atlantis Jr., Esfinge & Fuego defeated Barbaro Cavernario, Euforia & Zandokan Jr.
The main event of this special episode was a Crisis of Infinite Luchadores match featuring the very popular Atlantis Jr, the very orange Fuego and the very pantsless Esfinge taking on the very brutal Cavernario, the very flamey Euforia and the very debuting Zandoken Jr.
A six-man brawl kicked things off with huricanranas and headscissors being delivered all across the board. Cavernario and Fuego ended up in the ring when the dust settled, but quickly Esfinge and Zandokan joined them and a 4-way battle commenced.
Fuego and Cavernario ended up one-on-one in the ring and Fuego’s speed out paced Cavernario’s brawn. Euforia fared better though, powerbombing Fuego, bringing in Esfinge.
The theme here seemed to be older luchadores vs younger ones as wrestlers swapped in and out. It’s really fun watching these matches because we know of the high-flying luchadores, but we rarely get to see the more hard-hitting and brutal ones. Zandokan would fit this bill.
Zandokan knocked Atlantis silly, and untied his mask. Zandokan, Euforia and Cavernario triple power bombed him and tried to take the mask, but Fuego and Esfinge came to the rescue and took out the other two, leaving Atlantis and Zandokan to battle it out.
Euforia slid in and Atlantis knocked him out with a dropkick followed by a big frog splash from the top rope to get the pin and the victory.
Match Result: Atlantis Jr., Esfinge & Fuego defeat Barbaro Cavernario, Euforia & Zandokan Jr.
