Right after the opening sequence, we have Ian and Caprice run down the card! Komander will defend his newly won ROH World TV Title in the main event, two big tag matches, and Athena has promised to EXPEL someone from MIT tonight! But for now, we head to the ring!
MATCH 1 – Blake Christian vs. AR Fox
Both of these men had strong showings in the Survival of the Fittest match this past Friday night, which saw Komander leave the Hammerstein Ballroom as the new ROH World TV Champion. This is the third one-on-one meeting between these two that I can find. To date, they are 1-1, with Fox winning in New South in 2020, and Christian in GCW in 2022. Solid match between two excellent competitors but it’s difficult to get too into this because you have no idea how much either of these men will stay around ROH. They both can and should be in and around the TV Title picture but if they only show up once every couple months, what’s it all in service of? Christian’s “Vanilla Baby” heel turn seems to be going well, all things considered, as he amps up the obnoxiousness. After some shenanigans with a chair distracting Rick Knox, Christian finishes Fox off with a BRUTAL double stomp to the head and neck.
Blake Christian def. AR Fox with a double stomp in 9:12.
MATCH 2 – Serpentico vs. Lee Johnson
Lee Johnson and EJ Nduka are fresh off a heel turn themselves. They attacked Gates of Agony following a loss on the Final Battle Zero Hour this past Friday. Meanwhile, Serpentico got a win over Sidney Akeem last week, and is looking to continue his momentum. In a bit of an “Oopsie” moment, Ian mentions that we will see Blake Christian take on AR Fox later tonight–a match that obviously just happened. I hate to see a really simple error like that, because it hurts the entire perception of the production. Pretty simple story, as Johnson is clearly more athletic and is developing a harder edge, but Serpentico won’t die. Well, until Nduka takes advantage of a distraction and lays him out with a chokeslam. Johnson finishes with a wrist clutch fisherman ushigoroshi.
Lee Johnson def. Serpentico with a wrist clutch fisherman ushigoroshi in 5:35.
Back from an AEW mobile game ad, an STP video package. Shane Taylor says they’ve heard it all, and they know where they’re place is. It’s just not where you want them to be. They’ve heard it all, and now they’re coming for everything. Rumble. Bad man. Rumble.
MATCH 3 – Premier Athletes (Tony Nese & Ariya Daivari) vs. Tommy Billington & Katsuyori Shibata
Mark Sterling instantly wins heel points for calling New York “bootleg New Jersey.” He invites Hammerstein to take part in their pregame cheer. “Well, fifteenth time’s the charm,” observes Ian. And Mark looking shocked every time really is a fun addition to the visual of the bit. Honestly, if he’s going to be hanging around, using Shibata as a mentor figure for Billington works well, and there’s versions of it in ROH history, as the visiting KENTA took Davey Richards under his wing as his American protege back in 2005-6. The more I watch him, Billington strikes and moves with a force unbecoming his smaller stature. It makes him more fun to watch, as you can definitely see his uncle in him. Billington gets a visual tap out with a crossface, but Rick Knox is distracted. Nese hits a GORGEOUS 450, but Tommy escapes and tags in Shibata who cleans house. Billington hits the Diving Headbutt, and Shibata finishes with the PK.
Tommy Billington & Katsuyori Shibata def. The Premier Athletes (Shibata pins Daivari) following Diving Headbutt & PK in 6:45.
MATCH 4 – Toni Storm vs. Rebecca Scott
Scott has had some big matches in the last year, against Missa Kate, Heather Reckless, Kylie Rae, Sonny Kiss, Hyan, and a few others. She gets to show a few things here, but ultimately, this is here to be a squash for Toni Storm in her ROH debut. And sure enough, the hip attack and Storm Zero finish in pretty short order.
Toni Storm def. Rebecca Scott with Storm Zero in 3:00.
MATCH 5 (HISTORICAL) – Colt Cabana vs. Nigel McGuinness – Soccer Riot Match
This is from Night of the Grudges II, from August of 2005, in Morristown, New Jersey. This is the culmination of their feud, as the winner gets to choose an ROH World Title match or an ROH Pure Title match next week at Dragon Gate Invasion. Cabana and McGuinness teamed for a while, and while this feud started with mutual respect, a few low blows and a few iron shots (each of debatable intention) have gradually turned this into something more violent. Cabana introduces this as a Soccer Riot match, as he and the fans have fun declaring everything “Legal!” in the early going. Eventually, after a walk-n-brawl, Cabana is able to score with a lariat after iron shots, table bumps, and a whole lot more to score the win.
Colt Cabana def. Nigel McGuinness with a lariat in 17:32.
As a bit of history, the following week, Cabana would fail to capture the ROH World Title from James Gibson–his fourth of what would eventually be 14 unsuccessful ROH World Title shots. But a seeming throwaway bad joke on a “Good Times Great Memories” talk segment with Homicide would set off a seven month blood feud with Homicide that would force Cabana to get more serious than ever before. Meanwhile, Nigel would go on to defeat Samoa Joe at Dragon Gate Invasion, going on to a legendary Pure Championship run that would propel him into the upper echelon of ROH. Funny how things work out.
MATCH 6 – QT Marshall & Aaron Solo vs. Rocky Romero & ???
As QT tries to tell Romero that “you have no friends,” none other than ROH legend and former ROH World Champion HOMICIDE answers the call! On December 23, 2006, Homicide won the ROH World Title in the Manhattan Center–that is to say, in this very building–and to say the crowd is thrilled to see him is an understatement. As a pre-match stall, QT gets on the microphone to scold the crowd that we are celebrating and chanting words like “Homicide” and “187.” It has the desired effect on the crowd, that is to say, getting them to chant it more. Homicide and Marshall start, and it’s more or less technical wrestling until about a minute and a half in when Homicide bites his ear. For those unaware, Rocky teamed with Ricky Reyes as the Havana Pitbulls, who were part of The Rottweilers with Homicide in the early days of ROH, and were former ROH World Tag Team Champions. Pretty paint-by-numbers tag match otherwise, with the crowd popping for Homicide’s usual spots–the Three Amigos, teasing the Gringo Killer (formerly known as the Cop Killer before ROH was on TV), etc.
Rocky Romero & Homicide def. QT Marshall & Aaron Solo (Homicide pins Solo) following a lariat in 7:29.
A video package from Final Battle as DANHAUSEN made his ROH return to fight off MxM Collection! Then we get exclusive post-match comments from MxM Collection which sees Mason utterly unhinged, and Mansoor referring to Atlantis Jr.’s famous mother Atlantis Morrisette. Tremendous. Mason declares war on all masked wrestlers. “They’re beautiful, but they’re not so smart,” muses Ian.
MATCH 7 – MxM Collection (Mansoor & Mason Madden) vs. Miracle Generation (Dustin Waller & Kylon King)
Miracle Generation are a tag act that some others are more familiar with than I am, but that are a big deal in the northeast, working Wrestling Open especially. They tease touching tips for the Code of Honor, but instead slap the fingers away, angering MxM. Ian being perpetually enamored with MxM Collection is one of my favorite ongoing bits. Miracle Generation gets to show off some fun combination offense, briefly getting Mansoor in some trouble, but a hot tag to Mason gets everything rolling their way. Mansoor tags back in and Mason suggests they “fashionably kill him.” They do so with the Centerfold (assisted butterfly suplex).
MxM Collection def. Miracle Generation (Mansoor pins Waller) with the Centerfold in 4:37.
After the match, we replay the Chris Jericho promo from Dynamite. He fights Anthony Bowens tomorrow night on Rampage.
Then we get a video package of the double main event from Final Battle, as Jericho defeats Matt Cardona with help from Big Bill, and Athena retains the Women’s World Title over Billie Starkz. We show the moment from the Final Battle scrum where Athena announces tonight’s impending expulsion.
With that, we head back to Hammerstein as Lexy Nair announces Billie Starkz “the loser of Final Battle” and gives a big ring announcement to Athena. Athena tells Billie that they’ve had nothing but problems from her, she ignores Athena’s guidance, and still sucks. Meanwhile, she extols the virtues of Lexy Nair, the Minion Bestie, the first graduate of MIT, and time and time again she has surprised Athena. But she’s already made her decision. She turns to Billie and says, it’s just you and me. Because Lexy is expelled from MIT. Lexy looks heartbroken, and Athena chastizes her for the mediocre entrance at Final Battle, lack of Penguin costume to Athena’s Two-Face, and her fumbling the microphone that almost cost her the title. Athena chases her out of the ring. Athena says Lexy’s expulsion is a stepping stone for Billie, and it’s crucial for her development, because Athena cares about her and her future. She declares to Billie that it’s her and Minion FOREVER, while she embraces a clearly confused and conflicted Billie.
A video package from Final Battle as Komander wins he ROH World TV Title in an amazing Survival of the Fittest match. We get exclusive footage from backstage right after the match at Final Battle, as Komander is overcome with emotion and breaks down backstage as soon as he got through the curtain.
MATCH 8 – Komander(c) vs. Johnny TV – ROH World TV Title Match
Johnny is out first, flanked by MxM Collection, but when Komander hits the ring, they’re nowhere to be found. We resolve this pretty quickly though as they pop up on the balcony with a sign reading “If Johnny Loses We’ll Be Really Sad.” Complete with frowny face. 10/10, no notes. Komander baits Johnny into posing, and takes control with a kick and a side headlock. Johnny’s agility and lucha libre experience makes him such a fun opponent for ROH’s renewed focus on lucha. This is actually only Johnny’s second shot at the TV Title. I could have sworn it was more. Komander is able to score with a dragon rana for a great nearfall. Johnny its a couple of Midnight Drive flipping neckbreakers for a good nearfall of his own. MxM dips down out of camera view, and then reappears at ringside to break up the ropewalk shooting star. Komander is able to refocus mid-rope-walk and turn it into a moonsault onto MxM. He then recovers and hits the ropewalk shooting star for the win.
Komander def. Johnny TV with the ropewalk shooting star press in 9:29.
Komander celebrates with the title as Ian wishes us HAPPY WRESTLING, EVERYBODY!
THE NUMBERS
Total Episode Time: 1:49:00
Total Match Time: 1:03:37 (58.3%)
Average Match Time: 7:57
Average Match Time (not inc’l Historical): 6:35
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