It’s Thursday and you know what that means! Yup, almost Friday! But before we get to that, we’ve got Ring of Honor on Honorclub episode 81 waiting for us!
ROH World Television Title Proving Ground Match: Atlantis Jr. [c] defeated Peter Avalon
For those not in the know, a Proving Ground match gives the challenger a 10-minute time limit to beat the Champion. If Avalon could last the 10 minutes or score a pin on Atlantis Jr, he’d earn a future shot at the ROH World Television Title.
Both men were evenly matched, so it wasn’t a shock when the match started off with some pretty standard lockups and holds. Avalon got the first big move, sending Atlantis to the mat with an arm drag and then bragging about it for a long time. It’s possible his strategy was to talk trash long enough for the clock to run out, but Atlantis wasn’t having it and silenced him with a falcon arrow.
After a few minutes, Avalon faked a knee injury, presumably to drain more time from the clock. Atlantis, ever the sportsman, let him recover, which he did with gusto delivering a running knee to the champion. Atlantis recovered and landed a high crossbody followed by a Chris Adams Superkick.
Avalon tried a quick rollup, but Atlantis was able to kick out. Same result with a big moonsault from the top rope. A suicide dive from Avalon got Atlantis’ attention though, and the luchadore decided enough was enough. Atlantis hit a huge frog splash from the top rope to get the pin and leave Avalon, unproven.
Next up, Billie Starkz called an emergency MEM with the ROH Women’s Champion Athena. Starkz wanted to know what was going on to which Athena began gushing about how great Lexy Nair is. Athena suggested Lexy get a jacket that says “MINION NUMBER ONE” on it and Starkz lost her cool. Starkz complained that Lexy was getting credit for her work. Athena suggested that Starkz not let her jealousy overshadow her happiness. Also, not to snitch on Lexy. Athena left an upset Starkz to think about things.
Queen Aminata defeated Harley Cameron
The Outcast’s Harley Cameron has most recently been spending her time in ROH following Rachael Ellering around to make fun of her fashion sense. Aminata has been keeping Red Velvet’s back safe in their never ending feud with ROH Women’s Champion Athena and her newly demoted Minion-In-Training, Billie Starkz.
Aminata was aggressive off the top, working Cameron’s arm and neck. Cameron was able to reverse one of the holds though and Aminata ended up in a headlock. Cameron dragged Aminata to the outside and bounced her head off the ring apron (the hardest part of the ring!). Aminata returned the favour and tossed Cameron back into the Ring.
The two traded forearms with the hard-hitting Aminata coming out on top. She followed it up with a swinging neckbreaker, sending Cameron crawling to the corner. Aminata delivered a vicious running kick to Cameron, but it only resulted in a two-count. Cameron fought back with a headscissors and a backstabber. Then, out of nowhere, Aminata hit a lights out spinning back elbow knocking Cameron cold and got the pin.
Top Flight (Darious and Duante Martin) and Action Andretti defeated Vin Parker, Dante Leone and CD Bennett
Footage of Top Flight and Action Andretti at AEW All Out was shown as the match kicked off. Andretti started things off against Parker, tossing him around until Darious could tag in. That brought Bennett in off the bench, but he didn’t manage to fare any better. Dante tagged in and so did Leone, completing the trifecta for both teams.
Duante and Darious double teamed Leone for a while, until Parker tried to help. He was quickly dispatched of but the distraction opened the door for Leone to get in a bit of offence. Dante found himself double teamed by Parker and Bennett, but somehow hit a headscissor takedown on both of them at the same time! That brought in the Martins who cleaned house. Andretti planted Bennett with a sinning side slam and Duante was able to get the pin.
Harley Cameron was interviewed backstage about her loss, but who should interrupt Rachael Ellering. Ellering mocked Cameron’s loss in a condescending manner usually used by Cameron. Cameron left in a huff.
The Outrunners (Truth Magnum & Turbo Floyd) (w/Erica Leigh) defeated Fly Def (Warren J & Zack Zilla)
The previous trios match was so much fun, ROH served up another helping! The Outrunners made a big splash on Dynamite this week in the Tag Team Casino Gauntlet Match to earn a shot at the Young Bucks AEW Tag Team Titles. They didn’t end up the winners there, so they had a lot of frustration to work out on J and Zilla.
The OUtrunners had the crowd on their side from the start. Floyd started things off and immediately pulled J into a technical mat-based battle. Magnum tagged in and the Outrunners began double teaming Zilla. J tried to come back with some chops, but that just made Magnum angry. He showed the youngster what a real chop feels like and dragged him to the corner for a big right hand from Floyd.
In the end The Outrunners were able to over power J and Floyd got the pin. The standard posing began but was interrupted by Jacked Jameson and the Iron Savages! The trio attacked the Outrunners, knocking them from pillar to post, until the Infantry arrived to even the odds! The Savages were run back to Titty City as The Infantry and Outrunners shook hands and posed in the ring.
Robyn Renegade defeated Angelica Risk
It’s been a while since we’ve seen Renegade or Risk making themselves known in ROH. To be honest, I feel like they are a missed tag team opportunity. Renegade and Risk. Risky Renegades. R&R Connection. These things practically write themselves. For this episode though, they were opponents, and got down to it right away.
Renegade began by mocking Risk’s height. To be fair, Renegade seemed to be a bout a foot taller, but Risk was having none of it and the two traded blows for what seemed like a really long time. Risk came out on top though until she tried to Irish Whip Renegade who simply reversed it and kicked her in the face.
Renegade hit a massive suplex but Risk refused to quit. Renegade tossed her onto the mat, in complete control. She took a little too much time though and Risk surprised her with a dodge. Renegade decided enough was enough and hit a pump handle slam to put Risk down for good.
Next, Jacoby Watts cut a promo via “purchased” airtime. He called out EJ Nduka issued a challenge to him for next week on behalf of himself and Nick Comoroto.
The Righteous (Dutch & Vincent) defeat James Blackheart & JC Valentine
Last week, The Righteous (along with Lance Archer) annihilated three somewhat remembered wrestlers. This week they looked to do the same to Valentine and Blackheart.
Vincent kicked things off by giving Blackheart a “hug of honor.” Then he kicked him in the stomach. Vincent caught him with a big knee next, driving Blackheart back into the corner. Valentine tagged in, so Dutch decided to get in on the action as well. Valentine lasted about 3 seconds before Dutch KO’ed him with a lariat and a brain buster. Blackheart tagged back in and tried to fight Dutch but the bigger guy no sold everything.
Vincent was tagged in and grabbed Blackheart in a carry. Dutch slammed them both, and the duo hit Orange Sunshine to pick up the win.
Sammy Guevara defeated Ariya Daivari (w/Mark Sterling)
One-half of the ROH Tag Champions (with Dustin Rhodes), Guevara has been pulling double duty the last little while, having matches on Dynamite as recently as yesterday when he took on Ricochet in a losing effort. Diavari and his cronies in the Premier Athletes have been getting mixed results in both tag and singles matches in ROH.
Mark Sterling ran the Texas crowd down on the way to the ring, mocking native Texan Guevara. The two men were on the same page in terms of size and speed, but Guevara’s timing seemed to be a little better that Daivari’s. The showboating was on display as usual though, with Guevara asking the crowd to quiet down so he they could hear him chopping Daivari on the outside.
Back in the ring, Daivari took control, throwing Guevara into the turnbuckle again and again. Daivari hit a Dory Funk-style drop toehold on Guevara then distracted the ref so that Sterling could choke a prone Guevara. A sleeper was applied and Guevara nearly passed out but fought back at two and sent Daivari into the ropes.
After a double clothesline a chop exchange began ending with Guevara getting some steam and knocking Daivari into the corner. One stalling suplex later Guevara got a two count on Daivari who’s head was now a disturbing shade of purple.
Guevara hit a high knee and climbed the ringpost only to be knocked off by the Premier Athletes! Daivari tried to capitalize, but Guevara kicked out. Guevara took out the Athletes with a backflip on the outside, and nailed Sterling for good measure. One GTH later and Guevara pinned Daivari for the win.
Next, Lexy Nair reluctantly interviewed Red Velvet in the back. The two disagreed about what a Champion should be like. Velvet called Nair “bitter.” Velvet stated that now that she’s Champion, the “mean girl” era is over. Suddenly, Diamante appeared. She called Velvet “Captain Save-a-ho” which was really weird. The two had a really awkward conversation and that was it.
See! this is one of AEW's problems...or maybe I should I say some. I thought Sammy & Ariya was the main event (the match that goes on last). It was promoted as such. Unfortunately we have more random, job guy matches. I understand ROH has pretty much become the former AEW Dark...a cavalcade of random matches with preliminary guys. With this said AEW's Dynamite, Rampage, Collision is formatted the same way. That being frenetic and seemingly out of order. They''ll open with the main event and then the rest of the show (lets be honest) that no one cares about. With that said I refuse to watch any more of this and I give everything after this a DUD. AEW/Tony Khan structure/format your show better or at the very least properly.
Thumbs In The Middle Pointing Down until this point, but no, an easy Thumbs Down
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