Three new matches are official for the next AEW Dynamite.
Shane Taylor made it a point on Saturday to not only go after the Death Riders, but also towards Jon Moxley, calling him out after quickly defeating Alan Angels on Collision. Later in the show, Taylor officially called out Moxley for next week for the Continental title, showing on camera that he had jumped and attacked Wheeler Yuta backstage.
Moxley appeared later in the show and accepted Taylor’s challenge. He said the might have done the same thing, but wouldn’t have made the move unless he was absolutely sure. At Dynamite, he promised to give Taylor exactly what he asked for.
Meanwhile, a member of the Death Riders will take on a member of the Conglomeration when Mark Briscoe takes on PAC. The Dogs will also face The Young Bucks after they issued a challenge on Saturday, upset after Nick & Matt Jackson confronted them on Dynamite.
Orange Cassidy also accepted a challenge from Rocky Romero to face Andrade for this Wednesday.
AEW Dynamite Summer Blockbuster (June 10)
PAC vs. Mark Briscoe
AEW Continental title: Jon Moxley defends against Shane Taylor
The Young Bucks vs. The Dogs
Swerve Strickland vs. Brody King in a men’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament semifinal
Sareee vs. Skye Blue in a women’s Owen Hart Foundation tournament quarterfinal
Ring of Honor TV Champion Atlantis Jr. will defend his title in a six-way Survival of the Fittest match on Friday’s Death Before Dishonor card.
The other five combatants are Lio Rush, Shane Taylor, Johnny TV, Brian Cage and Lee Johnson. As a preview, Atlantis Jr. will team with Rush against Johnny TV and Taylor on Thursday’s ROH TV.
It will be the second defense of the title the CMLL star won in June.
Here’s the current lineup for Friday’s streaming special from Arlington, Texas:
ROH World Championship: Mark Briscoe defends against Roderick Strong
ROH Women’s World Champion Athena defends against Queen Aminata
ROH TV Champion Atlantis Jr. defends against Lio Rush, Shane Taylor, Johnny TV, Brian Cage and Lee Johnson in a Survival of the Fittest match
ROH Women’s World TV Champion Billie Starkz defends against Red Velvet
ROH Pure Championship: Wheeler Yuta defends against Lee Moriarty
During Collision, it was announced that Ospreay will take on Shane Taylor on next week’s show. Ospreay defeated Shane Taylor Promotions member Lee Moriarty on Saturday. Taylor entered the ring after their match and laid out Ospreay with a punch.
Ospreay will take on Roderick Strong for the International title at AEW Double or Nothing later this month in Las Vegas after winning a Casino Gauntlet match. After Taylor attacked Ospreay, Strong and The Kingdom, who were at ringside, entered the ring and mocked Ospreay. Strong and Ospreay will meet in a face-to-face meeting on Wednesday’s Dynamite.
Rush will be in action on next Saturday’s Rampage, which will again follow Collision. A video aired on Saturday showcasing his recent return.
Next Saturday’s block will return to its normal timeslot on TNT. Here is the lineup so far for next week’s Collision & Rampage:
AEW has made a new match announcement for tonight’s Dynamite episode.
Orange Cassidy vs. Shane Taylor is now official for Dynamite tonight. To set up the match, AEW tweeted out a video where Cassidy interrupted an interview with Shane Taylor Promotions. Cassidy challenged Taylor to face him on Dynamite.
Shane Taylor Promotions (Taylor, Lee Moriarty & Anthony Ogogo) defeated Chris Jericho, Hook & Katsuyori Shibata in a trios match on Dynamite last week. Shibata was pinned after Taylor delivered a knockout punch while Shibata had Moriarty locked in a sleeper.
“I saw what you did to Shibata. I’ve been losing a lot of friends lately, and I don’t appreciate you knocking out the only ones I have left,” Cassidy told Taylor. “So why don’t you try to knock me out later tonight?”
Taylor responded by accepting the challenge.
Earlier this month, Best Friends imploded with Trent Beretta attacking Cassidy. Chuck Taylor has yet to pick a side in the Best Friends civil war.
Tonight is Dynamite’s go-home show for Sunday’s AEW Dynasty pay-per-view. Here’s what’s been announced for the episode:
Will Ospreay vs. Claudio Castagnoli
Mixed tag match: Adam Copeland & Willow Nightingale vs. Brody King & Julia Hart
The Elite (The Young Bucks & Kazuchika Okada) vs. Penta El Zero Miedo, PAC & Daniel Garcia
Deonna Purrazzo vs. Mariah May
Orange Cassidy vs. Shane Taylor
Samoa Joe to speak
Swerve Strickland to speak
We’ll hear from Mercedes Mone
Jon Moxley will appear following his IWGP World Heavyweight Championship win
Two title matches and a title eliminator will make up tonight’s live AEW Battle of the Belts X following Collision from Highland Heights, Kentucky.
FTW Champion Hook will put his title on the line against Shane Taylor, extending a feud that started earlier this month in a traditional tag team match and then a trios match on Wednesday.
Hook has held the ceremonial title for 230 days with tonight being just the third defense of his second reign.
Ring of Honor Women’s Champion Athena will make her return to AEW TV for the first time since July 2023 as she defends against Red Velvet in their first-time ever meeting. A win will give her a 21st successful title defense while Velvet has never held an AEW or ROH title.
AEW International Champion Roderick Strong faces Rocky Romero in a title eliminator bout, meaning if Romero can win, he earns a future title shot.
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Battle of the Belts began the way Collision ended, with Bryan Danielson laid out on the ramp, courtesy of a Konosuke Takeshita brainbuster. Tony Schiavone & Matt Menard were on the call.
Hook & Katsuyori Shibata were backstage with Lexy Nair. Shibata offered his help through Google Translate, but Hook declined and said he would do it himself.
FTW Title Match – Hook defeated Shane Taylor to retain
A good David vs. Goliath match, with the crowd behind Hook the whole way.
Hook fired off with body shots, but couldn’t get Taylor up for a suplex to start off. Schiavone noted that since the match was for the FTW Title, FTW Rules were in place. Hook hit a running knee off the apron and pummeled Taylor with punches on the floor. Back in the ring, Taylor caught Hook with a jab and body punches. Taylor laid in chops to Hook while talking trash, but Hook came back with body shots.
Taylor shrugged off another suplex attempt and hammered Hook with a liver shot. Taylor talked more trash as he dumped Hook on the ropes with a gourdbuster. After a commercial break, Taylor landed a leg drop on the apron before throwing more punches in the corner. Hook egged on Taylor to bring more shots, which Taylor obliged.
Taylor threatened to send Hook back to his father in a bodybag, but Hook evaded a corner splash and fired up with strikes. Hook finally got Taylor up and over with a German suplex before following with an Exploder for a nearfall. Taylor caught Hook with a uranage before landing a big splash for a nearfall. Hook ducked a pair of shots before locking on Redrum. Taylor rammed Hook into the corner and dropped to his back, but Hook kept the hold on and got the win.
Rocky Romero was backstage with Lexy Nair. He didn’t know what was going on with the Best Friends but he couldn’t focus on that tonight. He was going to get one step closer to gold with a win over Roderick Strong tonight. Kyle O’Reilly came in and wished Romero luck tonight.
AEW International Title Eliminator Match – Roderick Strong (w/ The Kingdom & Wardlow) defeated Rocky Romero
Solid match, although it seemed like these two veterans were on different pages at certain times. The post-match is the important part, as Strong and the Kingdom turned on their former friend Kyle O’Reilly to set up that International Title feud down the line.
Strong worked a cravate to start, with Romero fighting out by going after the arm. Strong booted Romero and went to send him to the floor, but Romero held onto the ropes and baited Strong to the floor. Romero hit a kick off of the apron as we went to a commercial.
Romero fired up with strikes after the commercial break, hitting Strong with a rewind kick. Taven went to cut off Romero, leading to Romero hitting him and Strong with dives. Romero hit a running Sliced Bread for a nearfall. Strong took some strikes in the corner before firing out of the corner with chops and a Sick Kick for a nearfall. Strong set up for a gutbuster, but Romero reversed into a DDT before hitting a satellite DDT for a nearfall.
Strong set Romero on the top rope, but Romero caught Strong with a top rope Sliced Bread for a nearfall. Romero went to the top rope, but Strong drilled him with a jumping knee out of the air to score the win. After the match, Kyle O’Reilly congratulated Strong before helping Romero up to his feet. Wardlow drilled Romero with a lariat before the Kingdom laid the boots to him. O’Reilly pulled them away from Romero, only for Strong to drill O’Reilly with a knee. He shouted at O’Reilly that he made the wrong choice of not joining up with the Kingdom.
We got a recap of Yuka Sakazaki’s return to AEW last week and Serena Deeb’s interest in her post-match. Deeb was backstage with Lexy Nair, where she complimented Sakazaki and noted how she wanted to get in the ring with her. Deeb noted that she’s undefeated and steadily climbing the rankings since she came back from injury, and officially invited Sakazaki into Deeb’s Dojo.
ROH Women’s World Title Match – Athena (w/Billie Starkz) defeated Red Velvet to retain
This was a fine main event. Velvet continued to look good as an enhancement talent while Athena gets a spotlight win on TV. Aminata has gotten some spotlight on both Ring of Honor and AEW TV lately, plus she got screwed by Starkz for the TV Title at Supercard of Honor, so her stepping up to Athena makes sense for a logical next challenger.
Lexy Nair, who is associated with Athena on Ring of Honor TV, was the ring announcer for this match. Schiavone noted that this was under ROH rules, with the Code of Honor to start and a 20 count on the outside. Athena cartwheeled out of a headscissors, but Velvet booted her while she was celebrating.
Velvet hit a leg lariat as Tony Schiavone announced Roderick Strong vs. Kyle O’Reilly for the International Championship at Dynasty. Athena and Velvet fought on the apron, where Athena dumped Velvet onto the turnbuckle before dropping her on the apron as we went to a commercial.
After the commercial, Velvet hammered Athena with knees to the back before hitting a Destino for a nearfall. Athena dumped Velvet into the corner as it was announced that next week will be another three-hour block of AEW, as Rampage will follow Collision next Saturday. These guys are really making me earn my keep around here, I tell you what. Athena hit a pair of front slams, but Velvet caught her with a roll-up on the third for a nearfall.
Athena countered a wheelbarrow with a slam for a nearfall. Velvet cut off an ascending Athena with a head kick before bringing her down with a wheelbarrow suplex. Velvet hit a hurricane kick and a satellite DDT for a nearfall. Velvet went to the top rope, but Athena rolled to the floor. Velvet dived onto Athena, who caught her with one arm and slammed her with a Falcon Arrow. Velvet fired up but Athena booted her down.
Athena grabbed Velvet by the hair and sent her into the LED boards on the apron. Velvet caught Athena with a roll-up, but Athena kicked out and laid out Velvet with a forearm. Athena went to the top rope and hit the O-Face to score the win.
After the match, Athena and Starkz beat down Velvet and went to hit her with the belt, but Queen Aminata came to make the save. She headbutted Starkz and hit an Air Raid Crash on Athena to run them off.
The fallout from last Friday’s Supercard of Honor will be felt on tonight’s Ring of Honor on HonorClub.
After surviving a tough challenge against Lee Johnson Friday, ROH TV Champion Kyle Fletcher will take on former TV Champion Rhett Titus in a Proving Ground match. With a win or draw, Titus will earn a title shot.
Following their big trios win on Dynamite, Shane Taylor & Lee Moriarty will be in action against Julian Ward & Kaz Jordan.
ROH legend Christopher Daniels will take on Cole Karter while Action Andretti will take on Isiah Kassidy in a battle of tag team specialists.
Following her loss to Mariah May Wednesday, Anna Jay will look to rebound with a match against LMK.
Ahead of his AEW match with Angelo Parker on Rampage, Zak Knight will look go 4-0 in ROH action.
Tonight’s action was taped both in Worcester, MA, and Charleston, West Virginia.
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Things jumped to an immediate start on ROH TV this week. The show opened with footage of a bandaged and iced up Eddie Kingston and new ROH Champion Mark Briscoe sharing a beer after Supercard of Honor. They cheers’ed had a laugh. It’s unknown what this meant for Kingston’s sobriety threats, but time will tell. They will team with Adam Copeland to take on the House of Black at AEW Dynasty in just over a week’s time.
Action Andretti defeated Isiah Kassidy
Kassidy, one half of Private Party took on Adretti who in recent weeks has been the third member of Top Flight. Kassidy showed his true colors right off the Code of Honor, sucker-kicking Andretti.
Kassidy was in control through most of the match, sending Andretti to the outside and working him against the barricade, as well as landing several high-impact and high-flying moves, including a Side Effect. Andretti didn’t show much offense until about halfway thought when he reversed an irish whip into a hard lariat. Kassidy slunk to the outside, where Andretti landed a suicide dive before tossing him back in.
Kassidy and Andretti traded moves in the ring, including a killer swanton by Kassidy. Andretti hit a poison-rana as the two traded near falls. Andretti countered a moonsault in mid-air, slamming Kassidy to the mat. After a split-legged moonsault of his own, Andretti covered Kassidy for the win.
-The Kingdom had some post-Supercard words for the infantry. Now that they have the “Big Man” (Warldow, who cost the infantry the tag titles at Supercard) there’s no chance they lose the titles. Immediately, the Infantry responded, saying that no matter how much help their opponents have, they will overcome. You can’t kill the Infantry.
Shane Taylor & Lee Moriarty defeated Julian Ward & Kaz Jordan
Next to the larger Taylor, both Ward and Jordan looked absolutely tiny. Fortunately for Ward, Moriarty started things off with him, which was a much more even physical match.
Moriarty set the pace in this one, fast and hard hitting. Taylor tagged in with Jordan and it was like Nash/Mysterio in WCW. Some absolutely devastating shots from Taylor practically broke Jordan in half. Taylor literally threw him across the ring, and tagged in Moriarty for a very unnecessary double team attack.
Taylor and Moriarty toyed with their opponents, until a Marcus Garvey Driver from Taylor on Jordan ended the assault.
-After a recap of Billie Starkz bait & switch at Supercard to win the ROH Women’s TV Title, footage was shown of Starkz showing off her new belt to her Mom. Mama Starkz was very disappointed in her daughter winning in a sleazy way. Athena then showed up and was very proud of her for the sleaze, declaring herself Starkz’ “new Mom” and the two ran off.
Nyla Rose defeated Kat Von Heez
Rose was still looking to climb the ladder back up into the ROH Women’s Championship picture, but Von Heez wasn’t really much of a rung to overcome. While having a similar size and power to Rose, Heez was on her Heelz from the start and Rose just dominated.
Rose taunted her opponent and the crowd by interrupting her own pin on Heez at one. Rose aggressively beat up Heez until finally getting bored and putting Heez away with a big splash from the top rope.
Christopher Daniels defeated Cole Karter
Karter came to the ring alone, something new for him as both his partner and his… mom?, Maria were nowhere to be seen. Taking on a veteran like Daniels in a singles match was a big opportunity for Karter and he was focused and ready to go.
Karter was a bit arrogant in the match, often pausing to mug for the crowd after dropkicks and during holds. He also sucker-slapped Daniels who was trying to shake his hand. Daniels turned it up a notch at that point, using his experience to keep the younger Karter on his toes with lariats and an STO.
In the end though, arrogance was no match for experience and Daniels landed an Angel’s Wing to put Karter on his back for the 1-2-3.
-Some highlights from Dalton Castle and Johnny TV’s Fight Without Honor were shown. This led to footage of Castle after the match with Lexi Nair. Castle said that he breathes TV and has surrounded himself with the most talent TV people in the world, including Paul Walter Houser. House said he was a lifelong fan of Castle, and he’s got his back going forward. Castle claimed there was nothing that could stop him, Hauser or his boys! They are the TV that ROH has been craving!
The Righteous (Vincent and Dutch) defeated Bryce Donovan and Chico Adams
Squash matches were aplenty this week and this one was no exception as Dutch laid out both Adams and Donovan with a double lariat before the bell.
Vincent’s psychological warfare was no match for Adams, even though he was trained by Afa, the Wild Samoan. Dutch tagged in and mercilessly pounded on Adams, taunting Donovan in the process. Donovan’s main contribution to the match was to break up a pin attempt by Vincent on Adams, but he did layin a few hard shots on Dutch that seemed to surprise the big man.
An Orange Sunshine on Adams by Vincent was enough to give The Righteous the win.
Anna Jay defeated LMK
Jay was fresh off a loss at Supercard, and looking to bounce back against LMK, who, frankly, looked a little intimidated.
Much smaller than Jay, LMK tried to get the jump on her opponent off the top, but Jay rolled through and the match began in earnest.
Jay found her footing and began raining down strikes and slams on LMK. In the corner, chops were the meal of the day, and Jay served them up hard. Unlike a lot of the matches tonight though, LMK managed to hold her own and it was a pretty even affair.
Eventually Jay hit a Blockbuster into a Gory Bomb and got the pin on LMK.
Zak Knight defeated Alvin Alvarez
Brother of AEW’s Saraya, Knight was looking to extend his Undefeated In ROH streak against the much larger Alvarez.
Knight sped in off the top, moving so fast he was able to spear Alvarez and send him to the corner. Knight didn’t seem to stop moving in the ring, his speed giving him a clear edge over Alvarez. Once Alvarez was able to slow things down, he showed some powerful offense, until Knight reversed a suplex on him and regained control.
The crowd got behind Alvarez to the disbelief of Knight. Alvarez rode that momentum to get some shots in on Knight, but a devastating lariat from Knight laid out the big man for a pin. Knight’s undefeated streak continues.
ROH TV Champion Kyle Fletcher defeated Rhett Titus in a Proving Ground match.
-Earlier in the evening Lexy Nair talked to Lee Johnson about his match with Fletcher at Supercard of Honor. Johnson was uncharacteristically calm, but claimed that even though he didn’t win, just earning the opportunity at the TV title was a win. A quick cut to Fletcher, and the Champion responded. Fletcher said the he proved to Johnson why he is the Protostar and he hopes he never forgets it.
This was a Proving Ground match. If Titus could last 10 minutes or get a pin or submission on Fletcher, he’d earn an ROH TV Title match at a later date.
Eager to get things going, Fletcher waived off a Code of Honor and the match began. Titus knew he was the underdog here and threw a variety of strikes and holds at Fletcher. None of them were effective though. Fletcher actually laid back a bit in this match, letting Titus do the work at take the fight to him. When the fight arrived though, Fletcher was clearly in control.
Titus wrestled a more technical style, which made his attempt at a falcon arrow surprising to everyone, including Fletcher. At this point Fletcher began to see Titus as a bit of a threat and turned up the heat on him. Titus managed catch Fletcher in a half-crab though, which was about as close as he got to winning the match.
In the end, two dragon suplexes, a ripcord knee and a piledriver ended Titus’ hopes for a title shot, and gave Fletcher the win.
An FTW title match has been added to Battle of the Belts X, part of Saturday’s three-hour block of AEW programming on TNT.
As announced in a social media post by AEW’s Tony Khan, Hook will defend the FTW title against Shane Taylor at Battle of the Belts X on Saturday, April 13.
Hook & Chris Jericho are embroiled in a feud with Taylor’s Shane Taylor Promotions, including a trios match on this week’s Dynamite where Taylor, Anthony Ogogo & Lee Moriarty defeated Hook, Jericho & Katsuyori Shibata.
An International title eliminator match has already been announced for Battle of the Belts, with International Champion Roderick Strong taking on Rocky Romero.
The updated cards for AEW’s Saturday block:
AEW Collision, Saturday, April 13, 8 p.m. Eastern time —
AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm vs. AZM in a title eliminator match
Jon Moxley’s first AEW opponent of 2024 has been revealed.
AEW announced Friday both on Rampage and on social media that Moxley will go one-on-one with Shane Taylor on the Saturday, January 20 Collision episode.
Moxley’s return on Collision had been announced previously, but it had not been made clear whether Moxley would be wrestling on the show.
Another new addition to Saturday’s lineup was also announced during Rampage, as Thunder Rosa will be in singles action on the show against an unnamed opponent. It will be the first singles match for Rosa since August 2022 when she defeated Jamie Hayter on a Battle of the Belts in a Women’s World title match.
Bryan Danielson & Claudio Castagnoli vs. Eddie Kingston & Ortiz, Buddy Matthews vs. Daniel Garcia, plus an Adam Copeland open challenge are also set for Collision.
The updated card for the Saturday, January 20 AEW Collision:
Jon Moxley vs. Shane Taylor
Blackpool Combat Club’s Bryan Danielson & Claudio Castagnoli vs. Continental Crown Champion Eddie Kingston & Ortiz
Shane Taylor and Keith Lee will meet at Final Battle.
Lexi Nair asked Lee on Saturday’s Collision who he was referring to last week when mentioning wanting to face “him”. As Lee was about to speak, Shane Taylor walked up and said their tag match last year didn’t solve anything. He challenged Lee to a match for Final Battle, with Lee accepting. Final Battle is set to take place on December 15 in Garland, Texas.
At last year’s Final Battle, the former tag team partners in ROH squared off in a tag match. Lee and Swerve Strickland, who were teaming at the time, were successful in defeating Taylor and JD Griffey. In the last year, Lee and Strickland split as a team after Strickland turned on Lee, though they never had a match against one another. Taylor has continued to wrestle in ROH, recently accepting Lee Moriarty as the newest member of Shane Taylor Promotions.
Here is the updated card for ROH Final Battle, which will air exclusively on ROH HonorClub:
ROH Women’s Champion Athena defends against Billie Starkz
Survival of the Fittest finals for the ROH Television Championship: Dalton Castle vs. Komander vs. 4 others
Ring of Honor presents its weekly show on HonorClub tonight.
Jimmy Jacobs will make his return to the promotion for the first time since 2015 on the show. He’ll face Shane Taylor, who has added Lee Moriarty to Shane Taylor Promotions of late and has played a bigger role in the promotion since his match against Miro at AEW All Out.
Scorpio Sky will return to Ring of Honor for the first time since 2018 tonight as well. He’ll face Tony Nese in singles action.
Also on the card tonight is a match between heavyweight tag teams The Gates of Agony and The Iron Savages. Bishop Kaun and Toa Liona will be looking to rebound after their team with Brian Cage dropped the ROH Six Man Tag titles to The Hung Bucks at Rampage Grand Slam.
Leyla Hirsch vs. Laynie Luck, Brian Cage vs. Metalik, Mercedes Martinez vs. Allysin Kay, and Billie Starkz vs. Lady Frost are also advertised for tonight’s show.
This week’s show was taped at the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan before and after AEW Collision on Saturday.
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Josh Woods (w/ Mark Sterling) defeated Brayden Erving
Woods got a lightning-quick victory in this opener with the Tilt-A-Woods.
Lexy Nair was backstage with Prince Nana and the Mogul Embassy. Nana hyped the Gates of Agony and Brian Cage for their respective matches tonight. Nana said that the Mogul Embassy would get back on track tonight.
Scorpio Sky defeated Tony Nese (w/ Mark Sterling)
I’ll give you three guesses as to what Tony Nese had to say before the match. Nese got a jump start on Sky as he was making his entrance, but Sky sent Nese to the floor after a back body drop. Sky chased Nese around ringside before getting the upper hand back in the ring, but Sky quickly came back with chops.
Nese feigned a walkout, but after a Sterling distraction, Nese sent Sky into the ring steps. Sterling put the boots to Sky as Nese took the referee. Nese cut off a Sky comeback before wringing Sky’s neck on the ropes for a nearfall. After a few minutes of control from Nese, Sky dropped Nese with a back suplex. Sky fired up with a lariat before hitting a Sky High for a nearfall.
Nese cut off Sky on the top rope with a rolling uppercut, then countered a sunset flip with a back heel kick for a nearfall. Nese countered a German suplex with a double stomp, but Sky came back with a TKO to score the win.
Gravity defeated Lee Johnson
They traded holds for a while to a stalemate before Gravity scored with a lucha armdrag and a wheelbarrow rollup for a nearfall. Johnson came back with a big dropkick to cut Gravity off. Johnson sent Gravity into the buckles hard with an Irish Whip before celebrating with pushups.
Gravity sent Johnson to the floor before hitting a double jump dive to the floor. After a nearfall, both men traded waistlocks before Gravity hit a powerslam and a standing moonsault for a nearfall. Johnson hit a Blue Thunder Bomb for a close nearfall. Johnson hit a pair of superkicks before Gravity snatched an inside cradle for a nearfall. Gravity hit a suplex before landing a top rope splash for the win.
Lexy Nair was backstage with The Outrunners. They called themselves the best tag team in the galaxy before hyping their match against Andretti & Martin later tonight. They say if you haven’t seen the Outrunners, you haven’t seen anything yet.
Billie Starkz (w/ Athena) defeated Lady Frost
Frost hit a kitchen sink knee out of the Code of Honor. Starkz came back and sent Frost to the floor. Athena blew a whistle in Frost’s face before Starkz hit a dive onto Frost. Athena and Starkz had a disagreement on where to throw Frost – the ring or the steps – which allowed Frost to evade Starkz and take control.
Starkz came back with a rebound kick, but Frost vaulted off of her back and hit a dropkick to the back for a nearfall. They traded forearms before Starkz hit a spinning back kick and a Death Valley Driver for a nearfall. Frost came back by cartwheeling Starkz into a Beach Break. Frost hit a tornado moonsault, but Athena pulled Starkz out of the cover behind the referee’s back. Starkz then hit an armtrap Styles Clash for the win.
After the match, Athena attacked Frost and flung her into the barricade as Starkz tried to stop her. Athena went to throw Frost into the title belt, but Starkz pulled the belt away. Athena got in her face, yelling at her for not listening.
Lexy Nair was backstage with Allysin Kay. Kay hated the fact that she was on a losing streak but was ready for Mercedes Martinez tonight.
Action Andretti & Darius Martin defeated The Outrunners (Truth Magnum & Turbo Floyd)
After the opening salvo, Andretti caught both Outrunners with a headscissors/hurricanrana combo. Martin and Andretti went for dual dives, but the Outrunners cut them off and sent Martin into the stairs. They focused their attack on Andretti, isolating him for a few minutes.
They went for Total Recall, but Andretti fought his way free and made a tag out to Martin. Martin ran wild, hitting a high crossbody on Magnum for a nearfall. Andretti hit a split-legged moonsault to the floor on Floyd. Martin and Andretti double-teamed Magnum before hitting their double-team slam for the win.
Lexy Nair was backstage with Griff Garrison, who was quickly joined by Maria Kanellis-Bennett & Cole Karter. Garrison wanted to make the team work, saying that his last team worked until they didn’t. His old partner – Brian Pillman Jr. – wasn’t around anymore, and he didn’t want that fate for either himself or Karter. Garrison wanted to do things the right way, to which Bennett & Karter agreed.
Leyla Hirsch defeated Laynie Luck
Before the Code of Honor, Maria Kanellis-Bennett made her way to the stage as per usual with Hirsch matches. Luck got some offense in, but Hirsch popped up from a German suplex and quickly took Luck down. Hirsch locked on an armbar and quickly got the submission win.
Lexy Nair was backstage with Mercedes Martinez & Diamante. She said that she’d beaten Allysin Kay over and over in the past and would continue the trend tonight.
Shane Taylor defeated Jimmy Jacobs
This was Jacobs’ first ROH match since 2015, and it also was in his hometown of Grand Rapids. Taylor didn’t care and shoved Jacobs into the corner. Jacobs blinded Taylor with his coat before getting some shots in. Taylor quickly overpowered Jacobs, but Jacobs sidestepped Taylor to the floor. Jacobs hit a suicide dive before locking on a guillotine choke, but Taylor rammed Jacobs into the post and flung him overhead with a suplex.
Back in the ring, Taylor sent Jacobs flying across the ring with a beel. Jacobs fought back, but Taylor shut him down with a headbutt. A uranage and a splash from Taylor followed for a nearfall. Taylor kept knocking Jacobs down with elbows, but Jacobs fought back and knocked Taylor down with a lariat. Jacobs hit his tornado suplex for a nearfall.
Taylor hit his misdirection lariat for a nearfall. Taylor went for a penalty kick, but Jacobs hit a round-the-world hurricanrana. Jacobs went to hit Sliced Bread, but Taylor caught him on his shoulder and hit Welcome To The Land to win.
Lexy Nair was backstage with Maria Kanellis-Bennett. Nair asked about Bennett’s tag team, but Leyla Hirsch interrupted. Hirsch said that things get messy when other people get into her business. While Bennett thought Hirsch wasn’t ready for a title shot, the ROH Board of Directors believed otherwise. Next week, Hirsch will challenge Athena for the ROH Women’s World Title.
Dalton Castle & The Boys (Brandon & Brent) defeated Ren Jones, Trenton Tormenta & Xavier Walker
Brent got triple-teamed by the local talent momentarily before Castle got a tag. Castle ran wild before the Boys got a double team on Tormenta. Castle hit the Bangarang on Jones for the win.
Cole Karter & Griff Garrison (w/ Maria Kanellis-Bennett) defeated The Infantry (Carlie Bravo & Shawn Dean) (w/ Trish Adora)
Garrison started the match against Bravo. Garrison caught Bravo with a big boot before tagging Karter, who Bravo dropped with a back elbow. The Infantry quickly took control of Karter, but Karter caught Bravo with a punch to the gut and a lariat. A double suplex from Karter & Garrison got a nearfall. Karter and Garrison began working as a team, using double team moves to keep control of Bravo.
Bennett wanted Garrison to take a cheap shot, but Garrison wanted to wrestle the match clean. Bravo fought his way to the corner and made a tag to Dean, who ran wild on both his opponents. Dean hit a high crossbody for a nearfall that Garrison broke up. The Infantry sent Garrison to the floor before hitting a double-team Russian Leg Sweep. Bennett had the referee distracted, and after Adora chased her off, Karter got a rope-assisted rollup to score the upset win. Garrison wasn’t happy but left with them anyway.
Lexy Nair was backstage with Ethan Page. Page talked about his win streak in ROH before Rohit Raju interrupted, noting how he hadn’t been in ROH for a while. Page told Raju to enjoy the screen time because their match won’t be going too long.
Mercedes Martinez (w/ Diamante) defeated Allysin Kay
Diamante tried to distract Kay on the floor, but Kay caught Martinez and dumped her on the apron. Kay hit a back suplex on Martinez in the ring for a nearfall. Kay had Martinez loaded up for a kick in the corner, but Diamante pulled Martinez out of the ring. Kay followed, where Diamante held Kay in place for a boot from Martinez.
Martinez hit a pair of boots in the corner, but Kay came back with a German suplex. Kay fired up and booted Diamante off of the apron. Martinez ducked a corner charge before hitting a Cheeky Nandos kick to Kay in the corner. Diamante hit Kay with a wheelbarrow cutter on the floor, allowing Martinez to score the win with a fisherman’s buster.
Lexy Nair was with Billie Starkz. Starkz was happy with the win, unaware that Athena helped her out of a cover. Athena entered the frame, upset with Starkz and her lack of killer instinct. Athena wanted Starkz to take note next week as she handled her business against Leyla Hirsch.
Iron Savages (Boulder & Bronson) (w/ Jacked Jameson) defeated Gates Of Agony (Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona) (w/ Prince Nana)
Kaun started off hot, hitting Bronson with a dropkick and a belly-to-belly suplex. Bronson came back with a suplex of his own before both of their partners entered for a standoff. Liona and Boulder tagged in. They slammed shoulders and traded lariats before Boulder sent Liona to the floor. Boulder teased a dive, but the Gates cut him off. Bronson followed, but the Gates caught him and slammed him on the ramp.
They isolated Bronson for a few minutes before Bronson got the tag to Boulder. Kaun got a blind tag into Liona, who ran right into a World’s Strongest Slam from Boulder. Bronson hit a splash off the top for a nearfall. Boulder went for a Vader Bomb, but Kaun pushed him to the floor. Bronson wanted a sip of Savage Sauce, but Nana took it from Jameson. Liona hit a Pounce on Jameson on the floor. The Gates hit Bronson with Open The Gates to score the win.
Ethan Page defeated Rohit Raju
Raju booted Page on the Code of Honor, but Page quickly dropped him with a shoulder block. Page hit a pumphandle slam and tried to follow with the Ego’s Edge, but Raju slipped out and hit a neckbreaker. Raju fired up on Page in the corner, but Page hit a big boot on Raju. Page hit his outside-in cutter, now called the Headshot, for the win.
Brian Cage defeated Metalik
Cage caught Metalik on a crossbody attempt, but Metalik hit a headscissors that sent Cage to the floor. Metalik followed Cage to the floor, but Cage powerbombed him into the ring post. Back in the ring, Cage hit the Garvin Stomps on Metalik and clubbered him in the corner. Cage hit a release German suplex for a nearfall.
Metalik fired up with strikes before dropping Cage onto the ropes, but Cage cut him off with a clothesline. Cage hit a 619 but spent too much time celebrating. Metalik booted Cage on a corner charge and ripped off a hurricanrana. Metalik fired up on Cage, hitting a reverse Slingblade and the ropewalk dropkick to send Cage to the floor.
Metalik hit a double jump crossbody to Cage on the floor before hitting a springboard splash in the ring for a nearfall. Metalik hit a superkick, then stood on Cage’s back before dropping into a Code Red for a nearfall. Cage got his knees up on a ropewalk senton, then hit a sitout powerbomb for a nearfall. Cage went for another powerbomb, but Metalik fought out of it. Metalik went for a hurricanrana, but Cage dropped him with the Drillclaw to score the win.
Ring of Honor has announced several matches set to air on HonorClub this week.
Thursday’s episode was taped at the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan before and after AEW Collision on Saturday.
Jimmy Jacobs will return to the promotion for the first time since 2015 when he faces Shane Taylor on Thursday’s show. Jacobs was hired to work on the AEW creative team in June.
Ian Riccaboni commented on Jacobs’ return to the promotion, although he is not confident Jacobs stands much of a chance against Taylor.
“I’ve been with @ringofhonor for nearly 10 years now. I have never called a Jimmy Jacobs match. We were like two ships in the night. Excited to see what Jimmy can do against… *Checks notes*… oh no. Jimmy Watch @shane216taylor’s right. And his left. And his lariat. And..” Riccaboni wrote.
The Iron Savages vs. Gates of Agony is also booked for the show. Billie Starkz vs. Lady Frost and Scorpio Sky vs. Tony Nese are advertised as well.
ROH on HonorClub September 28, 2023, lineup:
The Iron Savages (Boulder & Bronson) vs. The Gates of Agony (Toa Liona & Bishop Kaun)
Here are spoilers from Saturday night’s ROH tapings held in Cleveland, Ohio before and after AEW Collision.
It was a big night for Shane Taylor on Saturday. One week after wrestling Samoa Joe at All Out, Taylor was in his hometown of Cleveland for this show. Not only did he pick up a win over Lee Johnson, he also debuted a new member of Shane Taylor promotions and told the AEW president he wanted more respect. He later posted to social media about what the night meant to him.
Last night is a night NOBODY can ever take away from me.
My family got to watch me perform for @aew & @ringofhonor in our city's PREMIERE venue, and make history of my own!!
I'm going to bring a championship to my city like @KingJames !!!
The ROH World Champion Claudio Castagnoli was in action this week as well. He defeated Rocky Romero in singles competition.
QT Marshall, Mercedes Martinez, Willow Nightingale, Ethan Page, and AR Fox all wrestled as well.
Spoilers courtesy of PWInsider and Cagematch.
ROH September 9 spoilers (Before Collision):
AAA Latin American Champion QT Marshall defeated Metalik
Willie Mack & The Infantry (Carlie Bravo & Shawn Dean) defeated Kevin Ku & The Outrunners (Turbo Floyd & Truth Magnum)
ROH September 9 spoilers (After Collision):
ROH World Champion Claudio Castagnoli defeated Rocky Romero
Mercedes Martinez defeated Zoey Lynn
The Gates of Agony (Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona) w/Prince Nana defeated Cole Radrick & Matt Brannigan
Darius Martin defeated Christopher Daniels
Shane Taylor defeated Lee Johnson
Tony Khan came out after the match but Taylor, who is from Cleveland, took the mic from him. Taylor told Khan it’s time he put some respect on his name. He also announced Lee Moriarty as the newest member of Shane Taylor Promotions.
Willow Nightingale defeated Lady Frost
Josh Woods w/Mark Sterling defeated Dominic Garrini
Ethan Page defeated Griff Garrison
Maria Kanellis-Bennett was scouting this match.
The Workhorsemen (JD Drake & Anthony Henry) defeated The Boys (Brandon & Brent)
AR Fox defeated Tony Nese w/Mark Sterling
After the match, Darby Allin came out and cut a promo, asking fans to cheer for Fox. Allin told the story of Fox giving him a place to stay when he was homeless and thanked the fans for staying late. He then went around ringside taking photos with fans as the show came to a close.
There is a new number one contender to Samoa Joe’s Ring of Honor World Television Championship.
Shane Taylor defeated Gravity in the finals of the TV title eliminator tournament on Thursday’s Ring of Honor TV episode to earn the next shot at Samoa Joe’s TV title.
Taylor defeated Serpentico, Christopher Daniels, and Gravity en route to winning the TV title eliminator tournament, and now awaits a match against Joe. No date has been set for Joe’s next TV title defense.
Among his career accolades, Taylor is a former ROH TV Champion, holding the title for seven months in 2019. Taylor is also a former ROH Six-Man Tag Team title holder.
Samoa Joe’s current TV title reign stretches back to April 2022 when he defeated Minoru Suzuki to win the belt, and is the second-longest reign in the history of the title.
Joe will be in tag team action with Stokely Hathaway against The Boys on next week’s Ring of Honor TV, and has challenged CM Punk to match at the Sunday, August 27 AEW All In pay-per-view at Wembley Stadium in London.
Our full report from this week’s Ring of Honor TV episode is available here.
Thursday’s Ring of Honor on HonorClub will be headlined by the finals of the TV title eliminator tournament with the victor moving on to challenge current champion Samoa Joe in the future.
The finals of the four-man tournament will see Shane Taylor take on Gravity. Taylor was unsuccessful in advancing to the last such tournament he was in while Gravity was unsuccessful in defeating Joe in their first meeting recently on Dynamite.
ROH Women’s Champion Athena will be in non-title singles action.
Former ROH World Champion Dalton Castle will face Slim J while Cole Karter battles ROH regular Rhett Titus.
Wrestling trainer and AEW producer Pat Buck will return to the ring as he goes one-on-one with Tony Nese.
Robyn Renegade will look to continue her winning ways against popular indie wrestler and Khan company regular Billie Starkz.
Both Leyla Hirsch and Lee Moriarty will be in action against opponents to be named.
**********
Taped in Greenville, South Carolina.
Ian Riccaboni and Caprice Coleman were on commentary.
Dalton Castle (w/ The Baby Chicks) defeated Slim J (4:44)
Castle’s entrance is just aces. Apparently the baby chicks are bulked up versions of the Boys that need to be fed. Castle is in the TV title hunt, but wasn’t in the TV eliminator tournament that will be decided in tonight’s main event.
The match was mostly basic until Slim J hit a springboard dropkick from the middle rope. Slim J almost launched himself into the Bangarang, but got to the ropes to escape. Castle caught Slim J with a running knee on the apron that sent him to the floor. Back in the ring, Castle got a couple of high double leg takedowns and the Bangarang to get the pinfall.
– In the back, Tony Nese and “Smart” Mark Sterling declined the opportunity to wrestle Pat Buck later, but will instead hold an “Obesity Intervention.”
The Iron Savages ( w/ Jacked Jameson) defeated Lucky Ali & Brady Pierce (3:17)
The Iron Savages are formerly known as Bear Bronson and Bear Boulder, aka Bear Country, one of my favorite teams from the Jacksonville Dark days.
Bronson escaped a hangman’s neckbreaker and hit a spinning powerslam on Ali. He then got the “savage sauce” from Jameson (something in one of these shake mixer bottles…if it wasn’t obvious by the name, “Jacked Jameson” has a weight lifter/exercise nut gimmick) and went crazy. The Savages dominated the match with sheer power. Boulder dropped Bronson from his shoulders onto Ali to get the pinfall. Fun squash.
The Infantry (Shawn Dean & Carlie Bravo) (w/ Trust Adora) defeated Zicky Dice & Movie Myk (3:25)
Shawn Dean caught Myk with some sweet-looking deep arm drags early on. Dean caught Mye with a spinning DDT, and then a big boot into a Russian legsweek finished off Myk.
– Lexi Nair interviewed Leyla Hirsch, who wants a shot at the Ring of Honor Championship. Maria Kanellis interrupted; Kanellis said Hirsch could use more confidence and will be watching her match tonight.
Lee Moriarty defeated Andrew Everett (5:00)
Everett has competed in ROH before, but this is his Honor Club debut. Everett looked pretty good in the opening minutes. Moriarty caught Everett with an arm ringer and stomped him down to take control. Moriarty tied Everett up in the ropes and worked over his injured leg. Moriarty worked over Everett’s arm and got a near fall with a front chancery suplex into a bridge. Everett came back and hit a falcon arrow for a near fall. Everett went for a shooting star press off the top, but Moriarty got out of the way. He hit a clothesline, then gave Everett an airplane spin into the Border City Stretch. Moriarty got the submission.
Tony Nese (w/ Smart Mark Sterling) defeated Pat Buck
There are rough 1,600 guys on the rosters between ROH and AEW, so I’m not sure why Pat Buck is getting a match. Rese canceled the rest of Ring of Honor in favor of group fitness training. Nese led the crowd through exercises, until Pat Buck came out for their match.
Rese insulted the Waffle House in his pre-match ranting, so that inspired various waffle-related chants from the crowd. This match did nothing for me. Nese hit a springboard moonsault for a near fall. Buck came back and hit a sky high for a near fall. Buck set up a powerbomb, but Nese transitioned into a cradle for a near fall. Nese hit a running knee in the corner and got the pinfall. This felt like forever.
– The Workhorsemen are confronted by Prince Nana and the Gates of Agony. If the Workhorsemen win, they get a six man title shot with a partner of their choosing.
ROH Women’s World Champion Athena defeated Rachel Ellering in a Proving Ground Match (7:05)
Had Ellering won, she would have received an ROH Women’s title match.
Ellering got a slam and a senton for a near fall. Athena missed a standing moonsault, but cut off Ellering with a running forearm. Athena sent Ellering to the floor and followed her out with a dropkick through the ropes. On the floor, Athena tossed Ellering into the commentary table and the guardrails. Back in the ring, Athena locked in a cravat to wear Ellering down.
Ellering broke free of the cravat and mounted a comeback. She hit a boot, a spinning elbow and a slingblade. Ellering hit a black hole slam for a near fall. Ellering went up to the middle rope, but Athena yanked her down. Athena hit the O-face and got the pinfall.
The Gates of Agony (w/ Prince Nana) defeated Anthony Henry & JD Drake (10:52)
Henry came off the top with a dropkick on Loa, who no sold it and floored Henry with a clothesline. Eventually, both Henry and Drake were laid out on the floor. Henry avoided a countout loss, but got worked over by the Gates of Agony in their corner. Khan hit a uranage into a backbreaker for a near fall. Tonga Loa got a near fall after a running senton. Drake finally got a hot tag and rallied for his team.
Drake hit Kaun with a black hole slam for a near fall. Drake took out both the Gates of Agony with a plancha. Henry came off the top with a splash on Kaun for a near fall. Drake held Kaun open for for a doublestomp from Henry. Henry went for a pin, but Kaun very awkwardly crawled acorss the ring with Henry on top of him to get his foot on the rope. Drake missed a moonsault off the middle ropes, and Loa and Kaun planted him face first to the mat and got the pinfall. Whoever thought this needed 11 minutes is insane.
Leyla Hirsch defeated Angelica Risk (2:26)
Kanellis watched this match from the entrance stage. Hirsch dominated this match and made Risk tap out to the armbar.
– Athena confirmed with Lexi Nair that she is the face of ROH, and Athena took Lexi with her to look for more women to beat up.
Cole Karter defeated Rhett Titus (3:59)
Titus missed a dropkick, and Karter hit one of his own. Maria Kanellis came out to entrance ramp to scout Karter as well. Karter tried a chinlock, but Titus escaped and hit a double underhook suplex. Titus worked over Karter’s back and hit a lariat. Karter has looked decidedly unimpressive since Kanellis came out. Titus hit a dropkick for a near fall. Karter came back with a flying knee, then finished off Titus with an overhead backbreaker into a DDT.
Starkz is a teenage prodigy. Starkz went up to the top, but Charlette pushed her off the top rope while Robyn distracted the referee. Robyn hit a shotgun dropkick and a running boot in the corner. Renegade choked Starkz in the ropes and sent her headfirst down to the mat . Starkz came back with an enziguri and a hook kick. Starkz hit a Gory bomb for a near fall. Renegade drove Starkz into the mat headfirst for a near fall. Starkz dumped Robyn to the floor and hit both Renegade twins with a plancha. Back in the ring, Starkz hit a swanton bomb for the pinfall.
After the match, Charlette ran in and double-teamed Starkz with her sister. Athena came out and took out Robyn with a boot, then laid out Charlette with a forearm. Athena then set up Starkz to drive her headfirst into the World Women’s title belt, but thought better of it and left Starkz alone.
– Lexi Nair mediated a disagreement with Josh Woods and Mark Sterling. Woods thought he’d be more successful in singles action, and Sterling agreed to get him a match with Silas Young.
Shane Taylor defeated Gravity in the finals of the ROH TV Title Eliminator Tournament (5:28)
Gravity tried to fly around Taylor, but it didn’t work. Taylor caught him with a slam and a lariat for a near fall. Taylor worked over Gravity with a chinlock. Gravity escaped, but Taylor came back with a slam. Another slam, and Taylor mocked Gravity, then missed a legdrop. Gravity hit a rana out of the corner but Taylor cut him off with a knee.
Taylor went for a suplex, but Gravity countered with a small package for a near fall. Gravity charged in the corner and Taylor caught him with an uranage. Taylor set up a splash from the middle rope, but Gravity bounced up and cut him off. Gravity picked up Taylor and gave him a Samoan drop from the middle rope! Gravity came off the top with a splash, but Taylor got his legs up. Taylor then hit a package piledriver and got the pinfall.
Taylor shouted “Bring me Joe!” as the show went off the air.
Final Thoughts:
It was nice to see acts like Dalton Castle, The Iron Savages and Leyla Hirsch get some TV time, but no one needs a Pat Buck/Tony Nese match. Some of this felt like stuffing the show to get to two hours and really one hour would be just fine.
The finals of the Ring of Honor TV title eliminator tournament will take place on Thursday’s ROH on HonorClub as Shane Taylor will battle Gravity for a future shot at current champion Samoa Joe.
Gravity defeated Tony Nese on last week’s episode to earn his place in the finals while Taylor beat Christopher Daniels in the other semifinal.
Joe, meanwhile, successfully defended his TV title against Dalton Castle at Death Before Dishonor last month. Joe also defeated Gravity on the July 29th AEW Dynamite.
As part of the four matches announced for Thursday, Dalton Castle will square off against Slim J. Despite coming up short against Joe, Castle bounced back with a win against Zack Clayton on last week’s ROH TV.
After successfully defending her ROH Women’s Championship against Diamante last week, Athena will be in action against an opponent to be named.
Robyn Renegade will look to follow up her win last week against Christina Marie as she is set to step in the ring against Billie Starkz.
Here’s the current card for Thursday’s ROH TV on HonorClub with more expected to come this week:
Gravity vs. Shane Taylor in the finals of the ROH TV Title Eliminator Tournament
