March 16, 2023
Orlando, FL – Universal Studios
Commentary – Ian Riccaboni and Caprice Coleman
Results via Suit Williams of F4WOnline.com
Quick Match Results
- ROH World Championship Proving Ground match – Claudio Castagnoli defeated Willie Mack via European Uppercut (pinfall)
- Dante Martin defeated Mike Bennett via Full Nelson Slam (pinfall)
- Metalik & Blake Christian defeated The Trustbusters (Ari Daivari & Slim J) via Metalik Driver (pinfall)
- Eddie Kingston defeated Jeeves Kay via Stretch Plum (submission)
- ROH Women’s World Championship Proving Ground match – Athena defeated Hyan via Crossface (submission)
- Silas Young defeated Marcus Kross via Pee Gee Waja Plunge (pinfall)
- ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Championship – The Embassy (c) defeated Dalton Castle & The Boys via Double Team Overhead Slam (pinfall)
- Trish Adora defeated Madison Rayne via Lariat Tubman (pinfall)
- Christopher Daniels & Matt Sydal defeated The Outrunners via Lightning Spiral (pinfall)
- ROH Pure Championship – Wheeler Yuta (c) defeated Clark Connors via Seatbelt (pinfall)
ROH World Championship Proving Ground Match
Willie Mack vs. Claudio Castagnoli
A solid showing from Mack against the World Champion. Mack is always a crowd favorite, and he had the crowd behind him here.
This match has a 10-minute time limit. If Mack lasts the time limit or beats Castagnoli within the 10 minutes, he will get a title shot in the future.
After an early feeling-out process, Mack sent Castagnoli to the floor with an armdrag. Back in the ring, Mack hit a headscissors for a nearfall. Mack loaded up Castagnoli for a suplex, but Castagnoli powered him up for a suplex of his own. Castagnoli sent Mack off the ropes, but Mack came back with a running kick for a 2 count.
Castagnoli cut off a uranage attempt, sending Mack into the corner and drilling him with forearms. A lariat gave Castagnoli a nearfall, and a butterfly suplex scored another nearfall on Mack. Mack caught Castagnoli with a pop-up samoan drop. After a double down that almost resulted in a double knockout, Mack nipped up and hit a standing moonsault for a nearfall.
A forearm exchange ended in a spinebuster from Mack for a nearfall. Mack went to the top for a frog splash, but Castagnoli moved and knocked Mack out with a running uppercut to score the win.
Winner: Claudio Castagnoli via Pinfall.
Mike Bennett vs. Dante Martin
This was a quite good singles match from these tag team specialists. Bennett has consistently improved since his WWE run, becoming a sneaky highlight on most shows he’s on. Him and Dante Martin worked well together here heating up this tag team feud.
Bennett refused the Code of Honor to start. I believe he’s the first person to do that since the reboot, so put that on your Trivial Pursuit cards.
These two quickly got into a chop exchange that Martin won before drilling Bennett with a dropkick and a plancha to the floor. Maria got in Martin’s way, which allowed Bennett to hit a rebound forearm. Bennett dropped Martin with a piledriver on the ramp before booking it to the ring for the countout. Martin made it back in at 17, with Bennett going for a quick cover that only got a one count.
Bennett dropped Martin with a hammerlock DDT. After jawing at Darius Martin on the floor, Dante did his evasion springboard before hitting a big enzuigiri. Martin got Bennett into package piledriver position before pulling him up into a powerbomb for a nearfall. The men traded strikes before Bennett cut Martin in half with a spear. Martin kicked out of the cover, but Bennett immediately transitioned into the London Dungeon submission.
Martin got to the ropes to break the hold. Bennett went to the top rope, but Martin cut him off with punches and a gamengiri. Martin went to follow him, but Bennett got him on his shoulders. Martin got up just enough to hit a hurricanrana before hitting a frog splash for a nearfall. Bennett tried to catch Martin with a kimura, but Martin turned it into a pinning predicament that forced Bennett to kick out. Martin hit a full-nelson slam to score the win.
Winner: Dante Martin via Pinfall.
After the match, Matt Taven attacked Martin, but Darius Martin cut him off quickly and sent them packing.
The Trustbusters (Ari Daivari & Slim J) vs. Metalik & Blake Christian
Riccaboni informed us that Slim J wears and tears $350 designer t-shirts to the ring. Wear it if you got it, I suppose. Metalik got the first advantage with a backbreaker and a Slingblade-style bulldog. Metalik hit the ropewalk dropkick for a nearfall. Daivari got the advantage with a back elbow after Metalik involved himself with Slim J. The crowd greeted Slim J with Slim J Sucks chants. A double suplex on Metalik got a nearfall for the Trustbusters.
Metalik escaped a back suplex to get a tag out to Christian. Christian ran wild on both men before Slim J cut him off and hit a bodyslam on the floor. Back in the ring, Slim J hit a springboard reverse DDT for a nearfall on Christian.
Christian hit a handspring kick to Daivari before getting the hot tag into Metalik. Slim J cut Metalik off with a rana and a big move in the corner for a nearfall. Slim J missed a moonsault, allowing Metalik to hit a moonsault of his own. As Christian took out Daivari on the floor with a Fosbury Flop, Metalik hit the Metalik Driver for the win.
Winner: Metalik & Blake Christian via Pinfall.
Video: Mark Briscoe, Samoa Joe
.@SussexCoChicken has his sights set on the #ROH world TV title as he faces @SamoaJoe at Supercard of Honor on Friday, March 31st. But next week on Honor Club TV, #MarkBriscoe takes on @TonyNese in singles action.
— ROH – Ring of Honor Wrestling (@ringofhonor) March 16, 2023
Watch #ROH Honor Club TV, streaming at https://t.co/DK9iup9efz! pic.twitter.com/E6AadQ2fGO
We got a video package hyping up Samoa Joe vs. Mark Briscoe for the ROH World TV Title, a match made official for Supercard of Honor. Ian Riccaboni stated that Samoa Joe has never lost to Mark Briscoe.
Video: Mark Briscoe
Mark Briscoe challenged Tony Nese for next week to clear up his issues with Smart Mark Sterling and his Varsity Athletes before Supercard of Honor.
Video: Mark Briscoe
We get a recap of Mark Briscoe’s appearance on Rampage announcing the Reach For The Sky Ladder Match for the ROH World Tag Team Titles at Supercard of Honor.
Jeeves Kay vs. Eddie Kingston
Claudio Castagnoli took a seat in the crowd early into this match. Kingston quickly took the match to the outside in Castagnoli’s direction, throwing Kay into the barricade in front of Castagnoli. Castagnoli stood up with coffee all over his shirt, clearly upset before leaving ringside.
Kay hit a suicide dive on Kingston while he was distracted. Kay followed it up with a frog splash for a nearfall. Kingston took control right back, ending things in short order with the Stretch Plum.
Winner: Eddie Kingston via Submission.
Backstage: Trustbusters, Mark Sterling
.@AriyaDaivari says no more talking as he, @tadpoleslimj, & @isThatVsK have issued a six-man tag team challenge to @Mascaradorada24 & @_BlakeChristian – who will be in their corner?
— ROH – Ring of Honor Wrestling (@ringofhonor) March 16, 2023
Watch #ROH Honor Club TV, streaming at https://t.co/DK9iup9efz! pic.twitter.com/dF4tnpIiiv
Lexy Nair interviewed the Trustbusters. Smart Mark Sterling tried to talk away the losses, but Daivari angrily challenged Metalik and Blake Christian to a trios match if they could find a partner.
ROH Women’s World Championship Proving Ground Match
Hyan vs. Athena
Proving Ground rules – If the challenger lasts 10 minutes or wins, they get a future title match.
Athena drilled Hyan with a forearm to start before clubbering on her in the corner. Hyan went for a set of flash pins before landing kicks that only scored a one count. Athena caught Hyan off the ropes with a spinning chokeslam before menacing the referee.
Hyan fired up, landing a front slam and a legdrop on Athena that scored another one count. Athena cut Hyan off the top rope with a forearm. Athena dropped Hyan off the apron with a powerbomb to the floor. She sent Hyan into the stairs before throwing her into the ring for a nearfall. Athena immediately locked on a crossface for the quick tap out.
Winner: Athena via Submission.
After the match, Athena threw Hyan face-first into the Women’s Title before celebrating with the belt.
Backstage: Metalik, Blake Christian, AR Fox
.@Mascaradorada24 & @_BlakeChristian have found their third man – and it’s @ARealFoxx!
— ROH – Ring of Honor Wrestling (@ringofhonor) March 16, 2023
Watch #ROH Honor Club TV, streaming at https://t.co/DK9iup9M57! pic.twitter.com/k3FgLQ9CHC
Lexy Nair was backstage with Metalik and Blake Christian. Christian introduced their partner for next week – AR Fox – before letting everyone know that they would keep an eye on the ROH Six-Man Title match tonight.
Silas Young vs. Marcus Kross
Kross countered a Young suplex with an inside cradle for a nearfall. That led to a pinning predicament, which ended with Young taking Kross down with a lariat. Young dropped Kross with a heavy Irish Whip into the corner. Kross countered another whip before hitting a springboard crossbody. Young cut off Kross and hit the Pee Gee Waja Plunge for the win.
Winner: Silas Young via Pinfall.
After the match, Young took the mic and hyped himself up. After calling himself the best ROH TV Champion in history, Shane Taylor stepped up. He took issue with Young’s claim and made a challenge for next week.
Backstage: Athena
#ROH Women’s world champion @AthenaPalmer_FG is officially calling out @YukaSakazaki for a fight on Friday, March 31st, at Supercard of Honor!
— ROH – Ring of Honor Wrestling (@ringofhonor) March 17, 2023
Watch #ROH Honor Club TV, streaming at https://t.co/DK9iup9efz! pic.twitter.com/mGkDrs0Dhv
Lexy Nair interviewed Athena. Athena took the mic and asked Lexy the whereabouts of Yuka Sakazaki. Athena said that since Sakazaki was wrestling in Japan despite being injured, that meant that Sakazaki was afraid of her. Athena challenged Sakazaki to a title match at Supercard of Honor.
ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Championship
Dalton Castle & The Boys (Brent & Brandon Tate) vs. The Embassy (Brian Cage, Kaun, & Toa Liona) (c)
Castle started with Kaun, quickly catching him with a suplex. The Boys tagged in to hit trios offense, but Kaun quickly took control of Boy Brent. Liona tagged in and mauled Brent before Brandon got a quick tag in. All three men worked on Liona, with their work only scoring a one-count. Castle got caught in the wrong corner, but evaded to make a tag to Boy Brandon.
Cage tagged in and caught Brandon on a springboard with a slam as Liona sent Castle into the ring steps. The Embassy isolated Brandon, with Kaun dropping him with a backdrop on the top rope. Liona crushed Brandon with a senton on the apron before Cage took him up and over with a superplex. After hitting a trios pose, Liona dumped Brandon with a spinebuster for a nearfall.
Brandon avoided a Liona charge to get a tag out to Castle, who sent Cage and Kaun flying with suplexes. Castle got Kaun in position for Bangarang, but Prince Nana cut it off. Cage took out Castle with an F-5 before the Boys hit tandem offense to take Cage out. Liona and Kaun double-teamed the Boys before slamming Brandon onto Brent to score the win.
Winner: The Embassy via Pinfall to retain the ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Championship.
After the match, the Embassy put the boots to Castle and the Boys before AR Fox, Metalik, and Blake Christian made the save. Good thing they were keeping a close eye on this one.
Trish Adora vs. Madison Rayne
Adora took Rayne over with a Northern Lights Suplex out of an arm lock for a nearfall. Rayne tried a Crucifix Bomb, but Adora held her up and rolled through into a pinfall for a two count. Rayne got a boot in for a nearfall, but Adora caught Rayne off the ropes with a back elbow. Adora hit another Northern Lights with control of the arm for a nearfall.
Rayne countered the Lariat Tubman with a DDT for a nearfall. Rayne eventually hit a Cloud Cutter for a nearfall, before hitting the Crucifix Bomb for another nearfall. Somewhere in here, the ref told Rayne the time. Adora worked her way out of the Cross Rayne by yanking on the bad arm before hitting the Lariat Tubman for the win.
Winner: Trish Adora via Pinfall.
Backstage: Top Flight
NEXT WEEK on Honor Club TV sees @DariusMartin612 take on ‘The Trend’ @MattTaven of #TheKingdom.
— ROH – Ring of Honor Wrestling (@ringofhonor) March 17, 2023
Watch #ROH Honor Club TV, streaming at https://t.co/DK9iup9M57! pic.twitter.com/4ZKAa5N7CM
Lexy Nair was backstage with Top Flight. Darius Martin let Matt Taven know ahead of their singles match next week that this Kingdom was theirs for the taking.
The Outrunners (Turbo Floyd & Truth Magnum) vs. Christopher Daniels & Matt Sydal
A great use of two talented veterans, re-uniting their team steeped in ROH history.
The Outrunners double-team Daniels to start. Daniels worked his way to the corner to get the tag to Sydal, who quickly took Floyd down with a cross-legged slam. Daniels and Sydal took them both out before Sydal finished off Floyd with the Lightning Spiral.
Winner: Christopher Daniels & Matt Sydal via Pinfall.
After the match, Aussie Open made their way to the stage. Kyle Fletcher stated their desire to be World Tag Team Champions before making the challenge for a future tag team match. After they left, Daniels made sure to accept.
ROH Pure Championship
Clark Connors vs. Wheeler Yuta (c)
It’s your MAIN EVENT of the evening as the #ROH Pure championship is on the line as the champion @WheelerYuta faces the challenger @njpwglobal’s #WildRhino @ClarkConnors.
— ROH – Ring of Honor Wrestling (@ringofhonor) March 17, 2023
Watch #ROH Honor Club TV, streaming at https://t.co/DK9iup9efz! pic.twitter.com/3OCC787fAu
Another great title defense from Yuta. His heel edge stands out within the rules of Pure Title matches, and it has gotten this crowd to turn on him quickly. The match of the night. The challenge made in the post-match is incredibly exciting, making for a huge possible title defense for Supercard of Honor.
The judges for this match were Dean Malenko, BJ Whitmer, and Colt Cabana. As always, both men get three rope breaks before any holds in the ropes are legal. A closed fist punch gets a warning, a second gets a disqualification.
Connors overpowered Yuta, laying him out with shoulder blocks. Yuta baited Connors into throwing a shot before tying him up with a submission, forcing Connors to use his first rope break. Connors caught Yuta with a vertical suplex for a nearfall. Connors went for the Trophy Kill, but Yuta kicked Connors and caught him with a Cobra Twist. Connors walked to the ropes and used his second rope break.
Yuta threw his wrist tape to the side, distracting the referee so he could land an illegal closed fist punch on Connors. Yuta worked on Connors’ arm and shoulder, sending him into the turnbuckle in a hammerlock for a nearfall. Yuta tried his rebound into the ring, but Connors cut him off with the Jeep Flip. Connors ran wild, but the Trophy Kill got countered again, with Yuta hitting a drop toe hold into the corner.
Yuta hit a forearm off the top rope before following it up with a German suplex. Connors came out of the corner with the Trophy Kill, but couldn’t make a cover because he hit it with the bad shoulder. Both men rose to their knees before engaging in a strike exchange, but Yuta cut off Connors with a dropkick. Yuta locked Connors’ legs under him and taunted him, leading Connors to hit a closed fist punch to escape. Yuta followed it with a blatant closed fist punch – his second of the match, but the first seen by the referee.
Connors countered the hammer and anvil elbows with a roll-up that he turned into the ankle lock. Yuta used his first rope break, but Connors followed quickly with a set of suplexes. Connors lost him on a third suplex with the bad arm, and Yuta transitioned it into a crossface with the arm. Connors went to use his third rope break, but Yuta caught his arm and transitioned into the Seatbelt pin to score the win.
Winner: Wheeler Yuta via Pinfall to retain the ROH Pure Championship.
After the match, Yuta restated his claim that the Blackpool Combat Club was the best training academy in wrestling. After beating a New Japan Dojo student, he now wants to graduate to the teacher. Yuta made the challenge official – he wants Katsuyori Shibata. Claudio Castagnoli comes out to celebrate as the show ends.