December 12, 2024
Columbus, OH – Greater Columbus Convention Center and Kansas City, MO – T-Mobile Arena
Commentary – Ian Riccaboni and Caprice Coleman
Results via Jeff Moss of F4WOnline.com
Quick Match Results
- Wrestle Dynasty International Women’s Cup ROH Qualifier Four-way match – Athena defeated Red Velvet, “Legit” Leyla Hirsch, and Billie Starkz via Pinfall
- The Outrunners defeated Premier Athletes via Total Recall (pinfall)
- Madison Rayne defeated Allysin Kay via Crucifix Driver (pinfall)
- Toa Liona defeated Lee Johnson via Springboard Sit-Down Drop (pinfall)
- NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Championship – The Grizzled Young Veterans (c) defeated MxM Collection via Grit Your Teeth (pinfall)
- ROH Final Battle 2021 – Fight Without Honor match – Shane Taylor defeated Kenny King via Marcus Garvey Driver (pinfall)
- Sons of Texas defeated Eric Dillinger & Josh Fray via Cross Rhodes (pinfall)
- ROH Pure Championship – Lee Moriarty (c) defeated Matt Taven via Modified Tarantula (submission)
Backstage: Billie Starkz, Athena
.@BillieStarkz has her eyes set on #WrestleDynasty…But, the #ROH Women’s World Champion @AthenaPalmer_FG has called an Emergency M.E.M!
— ROH – Ring of Honor Wrestling (@ringofhonor) December 13, 2024
Watch #ROH TV on #HonorClub at https://t.co/8dcdtxr3sN pic.twitter.com/uMfV2se7ie
It started with a promo from Billie Starkz that was quickly interrupted by the ROH Women’s Champion, Athena who turned it into a MeM. She asked Starkz for an apology for her behaviour the last few weeks, oh, and also to lay down for Athena so she can win their 4-way International Women’s Cup qualifier. Starkz protested, but Athena reminded her that she owed her and danced away.
Wrestle Dynasty International Women’s Cup ROH Qualifier Four-way Match
Red Velvet vs. “Legit” Leyla Hirsch vs. Billie Starkz vs. Athena
Hirsch and Velvet, slated to meet at Final Battle for Velvet’s ROH Women’s TV Title, glared at each other.
Starkz didn’t offer up a Code of Honor to Athena off the top and Athena (after telling the other women they suck) left the ring and did jumping jacks to let the other three fight. In said fight, Starkz sent Velvet to the outside and kicked the much shorter Hirsch in the face. Velvet returned with a high crossbody onto Starkz and Hirsch. Athena then threw Velvet into the barricades.
From there, the match went back and forth until everyone put everyone else into a submission lock. They all got tired at the same time and let go though. Starkz began cleaning house, executing a triple swan dive and got back-to-back two counts. She stared at a prone Athena, but did not try and pin her. Athena then used Hirsch as a spingboard to hit a hurricanrana on Starkz.
Velvet and Hirsch tried to hit a suplex off the top rope on Athena, but Starkz ran in and TRIPLE superplexed them. Starkz had Hirsch pinned, but Athena broke up the count. The two argued and Athena commanded Starkz to lie down. Before she could though, Velvet knocked both to the outside where Hirsch double clotheslined them.
Hirsch and Velvet gave us a Final Battle preview, going one-on-one while Starkz and Athena recovered. Hirsch seemed to get the better of Velvet, but before a pin could be made, Starkz jumped in and tossed Hirsch out. Athena then shoved Starkz out of the ring and pinned a stunned Velvet to win the match and advance in the tournament.
Winner: Athena via Pinfall.
Premier Athletes (Tony Nese & Ariya Daivari) vs. The Outrunners (Turbo Floyd & Truth Magnum)
The Outrunners are everyone’s favorite throwback tag team and have quickly moved into prime positions in the AEW Tag Hierarchy. The Premier Athletes want everyone to say they “rule” instead of “suck” when cued. This match marks the return of Tony Nese who’s been off TV relentlessly celebrating the birth of his twins. The Athletes entered to Sterling’s usual rap and the Outrunners entered to a huge pop from the audience.
Nese and Magnum started things off with a quick posedown (Magnum won) and Nese cheap shotted him to get him isolated in the corner. Magnum fought out and tagged in Floyd who Atomic Dropped Nese. Diavari jumped in and got a double atomic drop for his trouble.
Later, Daivari and Nese double teamed Magnum and tossed him to the outside for Sterling and Woods to stomp on. Nese pulled them back into the ring and then missed corner shots, allowing Magnum to fight his way to a hot tag to Floyd. Floyd exploded into the ring, slamming Daivari and Nese in quick succession.
At this point, Magnum fell with Daivari on his shoulder, causing a brief pause in the action while his knee was checked. Nese hit a pumphandle driver on Floyd that got a two count. A few pie-faces later and Floyd was Turbo-Charged and fought off both Daivari and Nese and Magnum joined him to deliver a double elbow and Total Recall to get the win.
Winner: The Outrunners via Pinfall.
Video: Dustin Rhodes
EARLIER TODAY: When it comes to this fight at #ROHFinalBattle for the #ROH World Tag Team Championship. This one is personal for the champion @dustinrhodes.
— ROH – Ring of Honor Wrestling (@ringofhonor) December 13, 2024
Watch #ROH TV on #HonorClub at https://t.co/8dcdtxr3sN pic.twitter.com/0zYzAXBc7Y
Dustin Rhodes joined us from the back to speak about the Righteous. Rhodes says there’s no quit in him or his family, so they can play their little mind games, but it wont get them the ROH Tag Titles. He called out Dutch specifically and the Bull Rope that Dusty gave him. Rhodes said that even though Dutch knew his father, he never understood him. Dutch has crossed the line and at Final Battle, it will be a double Bull Rope match!
Madison Rayne vs. Allysin Kay
Rayne, best known for her run in TNA as a 3-time Knockouts Champion, had her last ROH match way, way back on ROH on HonorClub episode 25, in which she picked up a win over Dani Mo. Since then, she’s been working behind the scenes as a producer and this match would be her big return to action. Kay, the definition of “journeywoman” has wrestled for over SEVENTY different promotions in her career. Her most recent ROH match was a Proving Ground match against ROH Women’s TV Champion Red Velvet a few weeks back.
These two veterans were pretty much guaranteed to have an awesome match, and it absolutely was. Kay had the strength advantage on Rayne, but there was no ring rust there. Both women traded shots and holds, looking for the other one to make a mistake somewhere.
Rayne hit a hurricanrana from the top rope, and then a crucifix driver on Kay to get the pin and win the match. Super fun!
Winner: Madison Rayne via Pinfall.
Backstage: The Dark Order, Grizzled Young Veterans
Next, The Dark Order joined us in the back. Last week, the Grizzled Young Veterans (GYV) harassed an extra they felt shouldn’t have gotten lunch before they did. The Dark Order’s John Silver saw this and wasn’t impressed, so he stole their scarves, which he and Evil Uno and Alex Reynolds had a good laugh about. So this week, Silver and Raynolds did a hilarious(?) impression of of GYV. The Veterans saw what was going down and stormed over. Reynolds and Silver fought back, but Uno stepped in the middle and glared at his Dark Order buddies, as if disappointed in their antics.
Toa Liona vs. Lee Johnson
Last week, Liona and his Gates of Agony partner, Bishop Kaun picked up a win over Griff Garrison and Preston Vance. This week, Liona looks to go at it alone against Ring of Honor super-worker, Lee Johnson. Johnson (who has a gigantic tag partner of his own in EJ Nduka) has fared pretty well in singles matches in 2024 (11 wins, 4 losses) but has failed to put any kind of gold around his waist.
This match had a fast start with Liona’s strength and Johnson’s speed keeping them even as they ran through a bunch of quick moves and holds. Johnson made the fatal mistake of trying to chop Liona, which as you can imagine only made him madder. Johnson tried kicks and knees, but Liona took them all.
Johnson went high for a frog splash, but Liona kicked out at two. Johnson popped up looking for the Big Shot Drop, but Liona powered out of it, smashing Johnson with a top rope sit-down drop for the pin.
Winner: Toa Liona via Pinfall.
After the match, Liona tried to pick up Johnson, but the two started fighting. Liona hit a big kick on Johnson and that brought out the very large EJ Nduka. The two big men stared each other down until Lion left and Nduka helped Johnson to his feet.
NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Championship
MxM Collection (Mason Madden & Mansoor) vs. Grizzled Young Veterans (James Drake & Zack Gibson) (c)
So as mentioned above the Veterans have been beefing with the Dark Order (specifically Reynolds and Silver, after Silver stole their scarves) and had an altercation with them earlier in the evening. Which led directly to this NJPW Strong Tag Team Championship match against… (checks notes) MxM Collective for some reason. Also John Morrison was there.
With all that out of the way, tips were touched and Gibson started off against Mansoor. Drake jumped in, but Mansoor reversed it into a double neckbreaker. That brought the tag to Madden who dominated the legal man, Drake. Madden tried to forcibly make Drake touch tips (I do not like that sentence) and Drake caught a flurry of offense.
Mansoor found himself isolated in the GYV corner with Gibson and Drake wailing on him. He tried a long-distance tip-touch to bring in Madden, but no dice as Drake and Gibson started a brawl. They eliminated Madden and then hit a high splash on Mansoor for a two-count.
Madden hit the ring and took out both Drake and Gibson with side kicks and slams. Mansoor tagged in and Gibson tossed Madden into the stairs on the outside. That left Mansoor alone against Drake and to be choked with a scarf by Gibson behind the ref’s back. GYV finished Mansoor off and retained their titles.
Winner: Grizzled Young Veterans via Pinfall to retain the NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Championship.
Backstage: Paul Wight, Jay Lethal, Sonjay Dutt, QT Marshall, Aaron Solo
.@TheLethalJay is excited to get back in the swing of things in #ROH. However, it isn’t exactly what he was looking for…
— ROH – Ring of Honor Wrestling (@ringofhonor) December 13, 2024
Watch #ROH TV on #HonorClub at https://t.co/8dcdtxr3sN pic.twitter.com/JyqrAiA2DA
Backstage, Board of Director Member Paul Wight joined us from the back to announce that Jay Lethal will be coming back to ROH at Final Battle! Lethal, anxious to get into the title picture, asked who his opponent would be, but before Wight could answer, QT Marshall arrived. He lamented the idea that Lethal might get a title shot before he does. The two fought and Wight made the match for Final Battle: Jay Lethal vs QT Marshall!
ROH Final Battle 2021
Fight Without Honor Match
Kenny King vs. Shane Taylor
#ROH CLASSIC: On December 11, 2021 in Baltimore, MD, @shane216taylor & @KennyKingPb2 went toe-to-toe in a FIGHT WITHOUT HONOR!
— ROH – Ring of Honor Wrestling (@ringofhonor) December 13, 2024
Subscribe today to watch this match in full on #HonorClub!https://t.co/8dcdtxqvDf pic.twitter.com/UtQMMjbCFh
What can I say about this match? It’s two very violent men doing violence to each other and doing it very well. Ladders, tables, trash cans, Kendo sticks, all used and destroyed in the first FEW MINUTES of this match. Super fun and worth a watch!
Winner: Shane Taylor via Pinfall.
Video: Shane Taylor
A video aired narrated by Shane Taylor hyping up his Shane Taylor Promotions as a force to be reckoned with in ROH.
Sons of Texas (Dustin Rhodes & Sammy Guevara) vs. Eric Dillinger & Josh Fray
Rhodes and Guevara have been ROH Tag champions since Mid-August, when they took the titles from the Undisputed Kingdom. From there, they’ve had a handful of title defenses, a Bunkhouse Brawl and a bunch of multi-team/person matches. As mentioned earlier, they’ve currently got The Righteous waiting for them at Final Battle and possibly somewhere in the arena tonight. As for their opponents, I couldn’t find anything on Crane, but Dillinger is the Asylum Wrestling Revolution (AWR) Champion and has been since 2022!
Crane and Guevara started things off, but Rhodes and Dillinger brawled on the outside. Rhodes left him laying and tagged in and out with Guevara, trading strikes on Crane in the corner. Dillinger tried to help his partner, but was tossed onto his prone partner for a Guevara standing slam.
Rhodes tagged in and took a punch each from Dillinger and Crane. Rhodes was sent to the corner and came out with a big boot to Dillinger. Guevara tagged in and met Dillinger and Crane with a high crossbody. A Texas Destroyer and a GTH followed by a CrossRhodes ended things with Guevara getting the pin on Crane.
Winner: Sons of Texas via Pinfall.
Suddenly, the Righteous’ music hit and they ran down the ramp. Vincent grabbed a mic and called Dutch back, addressing Guevara and Rhodes. Vincent asked the crowd if they wanted to see these two teams fight TONIGHT. They responded in the affirmative, but Vincent decided that they didn’t deserve it. Vincent ran down Dusty with a “polka dots” joke, causing Rhodes to grab a chair as the Righteous beat a hasty exit.
ROH Pure Championship
Matt Taven vs. Lee Moriarty (c)
Taven has won every title in ROH except the Pure Title. Taven has been showing some previously unseen technical prowess though and has picked up wins over Josh Woods and Aaron Solo in Pure Rules Matches. Moriarty has been holding the Pure Championship since July when he won it from Wheeler Yuta. Moriarty successfully defended the title against the likes of Angelico and Preston Vance and has been having great success as a member of Shane Taylor Promotions. The real question here is why is this match taking place now with Final Battle just over a week away?
Anyway, a Pure Rules match has three rope breaks and one closed fist allowed for each competitor. After that, it’s a DQ. If the match goes to it’s time limit, judges will award the match based on points.
Taven and Moriarty started off trading wrist locks, clearly in a feeling our process. for the next three minutes it went back and forth, Taven showing more of the surprising technical skill we’ve seen in past week and Moriarty finding a counter for every bit of it. A big kick to the sternum knocked the wind out of Taven and Moriarty got a two count. At 5:16 Taven used his first rope break to get out of a hold.
The pace slowed considerably, which allowed Taven to recover until Moriarty put on a stretch, causing Taven to reach for the ropes and use his second rope break at 6:31. Taven recovered and connected with a huge kick to Moriarty’s head.
In what I can only hope is a first in a Pure Rules Match, Taven hit an Atomic Drop on Moriarty followed by a big knee and got a two-count. Moriarty wishboned Taven’s hand and hit a huge straightjacket slam into a Border City stretch causing Taven to use his third Rope Break at 9:11.
The crowd got behind Taven as he went to the top rope and hit a big splash into a choke hold, forcing Moriarty to use his first Rope Break at 10:43. Moriarty also got his warning for a closed fist a few seconds later. Moriarty then wrapped Taven up in a Tarantula-style hold in the ropes, forcing Taven to tap out.
Winner: Lee Moriarty via Submission to retain the ROH Pure Championship.
Backstage: Athena, Billie Starkz
.@BillieStarkz wants a fight!#ROH Women’s World Champion @AthenaPalmer_FG wants an apology!
— ROH – Ring of Honor Wrestling (@ringofhonor) December 13, 2024
Whatever happens first…IT’S HAPPENING AT #ROHFinalBattle!
Watch #ROH TV on #HonorClub at https://t.co/8dcdtxr3sN pic.twitter.com/Yti2xi9HS3
Backstage, Athena joined us to talk about Final Battle. Who would her opponent be? Athena let us know that she’s moving on from Final Battle and is focusing on her International Tour. An angry Billie Starkz stomped in and demanded answers from Athena about their match earlier in the night. Athena said she’s been waiting for an apology. Starkz smirked and offered to give her one at Final Battle. For some reason, Athena decided that it would be a match instead at Final Battle. I won’t lie, It was hard to follow, but the bottom line is that Athena and Starkz will face off at Final Battle for the ROH Women’s World Championship!
In-Ring: Chris Jericho, Matt Cardona, Bryan Keith
.@TheMattCardona is fired up for his #ROH World Title match at #ROHFinalBattle!https://t.co/8dcdtxqvDf pic.twitter.com/kwx8miul8C
— ROH – Ring of Honor Wrestling (@ringofhonor) December 13, 2024
Final Battle is on Dec 20th, so that means time is running out for ROH World Champion Chris Jericho to get the paperwork in order! Last week, Matt Cardona revealed himself as Jericho’s opponent at Final Battle, but still needs to put his John Hancock on the contract. So, as with all matters of HR in wrestling, they are going to take care of it in the ring!
Let me just say that of all the recurring wrestling tropes that exist the “Contract Signing” is my least favourite. At best they are the same thing over and over again, where one person jaws at the other, they fight, usually at the cost of a table and then the one left standing angrily signs whatever documentation is needed. (I do like that they bring out special chairs for them though).
Anyway, Jericho came out with a Yankees hat on, as is apropriate for the King of New York. Cardona came out with his usual amount of pomp and circumstance. Tony Schiavone played host and gave a mic to Jericho. Jericho ran down the local sports teams while rhyming off his accolades. Cardona tried to talk, but was shushed by Jericho.
Jericho told Cardona he’s lucky Jericho granted him a shot at the ROH Title. He congratulated Cardona on having his biggest match ever; this one. But there will be no way that he will get the title from him. Cardona had enough and interrupted Jericho, telling him to shut up.
Cardona called Jericho a bull-spit artist and completely fake about his proclaimed love for Ring of Honor. Cardona called his shot at the ROH Title the biggest match of his life. It’s not about Jericho or the Title, it’s about Cardona needing to prove to himself that he’s the best. He then signed the contract. Angrily. Jericho asked to borrow a pen from Schiavone, then said that he should probably step out of the ring now.
Jericho went to sign the papers, but delayed, faking the crowd out over and over again. Finally, he signed, reluctantly. He stuck his hand out and Cardona took it… and threw Jericho into the ropes! He then put Jericho through a table and stood tall with the ROH Belt over top of him as the show ended.