One year ago Tony Khan stood in the middle of the ring in Jacksonville, Florida excited as could be, and claimed, “Today I signed some paperwork and became the new owner of Ring of Honor”. For the past year, many fans have had questions about what was going to happen with one of the biggest independent wrestling companies in the world, but we finally got our answers. I can firmly tell you that ROH TV is back, baby, and the new era of honor is already off to a hot start so let’s talk about it.
First I am going to say that the stage looks incredible. It is giving that 2015 NXT feel and this crowd was electric all night long. Every match on this card was given a lot of time, it did not feel rushed or dragged out the show was timed perfectly. One of the major things I love about ROH is there is something for everyone. Technical wrestling, fast-paced wrestling, great storylines, how can you not love this company?
Slim J vs Mark Briscoe: This was very fitting to kick off these tapings with the wrestler who swore that he would never go to another wrestling company. Briscoe just knows how to work for a crowd they were practically on their feet the entire match. This was a great back-and-forth between two great wrestlers. The ROH veteran gets the first win of the brand-new era of ROH. Winner: Mark Briscoe
Tony Deppen called out Samoa Joe and said he is the real star of ROH and he will defeat Joe for the TV title next week. Deppen is an ROH veteran and also a former ROH TV champion, too bad he won’t be reclaiming his title anytime soon.
The Kingdom (Matt Taven and Mike Bennett with Maria Kanellis Bennett) vs The Infantry (Shawn Dean and Carlie Bravo): Speaking of ROH veterans, the Kingdom is here. Seeing Taven and Bennett in ROH just seems right. This was the first time Dean and Bravo have teamed together and this team had a great showing. I expect big things from the Kingdom in ROH here and this win was just the start of their winning ways. Winners: The Kingdom (Matt Taven and Mike Bennett)
New Japan World Television Title Match: Zack Sabre JR. vs Blake Christian: If you are going to watch one match from this entire episode this is the one because WOW. In the Final Battle 2022 media call, Tony Khan talked about the working relationship between ROH and New Japan, I guess this is what he was referring to. The big thing coming out of this match is Sabre calling out Bryan Danielson claiming “he is the true best technical wrestler in the world”. Now if this match happens this year that is your match of the year, remember that. I hope this is not the last we see of Sabre in ROH though, bring him back more often TK! Winner: “And Still” Zack Sabre JR.
Konosuke Takeshita had a backstage segment with Mark Sterling who did not want his client to face Josh Woods. Sterling offered Takeshita a lot of money to turn the match down and he ripped the contract and walked away. MORE OF THIS AND PROTECT TAKESHITA AT ALL COSTS!
Christopher Daniels vs Rohit Raju: This match was fine. Great way to get Daniels on the card since he was in the first-ever ROH event and he is a part of the new era of honor as well. Easy win for the ROH veteran over the Impact veteran in Rohit Raju. Winner: Christopher Daniels
Rhett Titus and Tracy Williams had a backstage segment where they talked about how they want to be one of the top tag teams in ROH. Aussie Open interrupted them claiming there is no better tag team in the world than Aussie Open. These two teams will have a stellar tag match next week.
Konosuke Takeshita vs Josh Woods: Takeshita gets the win in an entertaining one on one match. I don’t know if the plan is to stick him in ROH or keep him in AEW, but before this year he will be a champion in one of the two companies. I think he should be the one to defeat Joe and carry around the TV Title for a long title reign. Winner: Konosuke Takeshita
Claudio Castagnoli cuts a backstage promo ahead of his main event match with AR Fox. He says that no one will be taking away his ROH Championship and he was made for situations like this where he is under pressure and he will be walking away with the gold. He then ended the promo by speaking in another language, because remember he can speak 5 languages.
The Embassy (Brian Cage, Kaun, and Toa Liona) vs Joe Keys, LSG, and Rex Lawless: This was a powerful showing from the Embassy. They dominated the entire match whereas the team of Keys, LSG, and Lawless barely got any offense in. Guess that’s why they are the six-man tag team champions right? Winners: The Embassy (Brian Cage, Kaun, and Toa Liona)
Metalik vs Ari Davari: The Trustbusters will be a major part of ROH as Davari got a win here! Metalik is so good, his move set is really impressive and if you blink you will miss one of his cool moves. If ROH does not take advantage and sign him, that is their loss. Winner: Ari Davari
AR Fox cut a promo before his match with Catsagnoli saying that 10 years ago he had a tryout with ROH, but never got a callback. Now he is in the main event fighting for the ROH championship. He is coming for that title. AR Fox was a great signing for ROH he is going to take them far.
The Renegade Twins (Charlette and Robyn Renegade) vs Madison Rayne and Skye Blue: Meaning that The Renegade Twins have entrance music and a titan tron, one has to think they are signed to some capacity, right? Rayne and Blue work well together as a team, it is essentially the student-teacher tag team until one of them turns eventually. Rayne and Blue get the grueling win. Winners: Madison Rayne and Skye Blue
Wheeler Yuta had an in-ring interview with Ian Riccaboni. He said that he is the Pure Champion and he calls out anyone in the back for a match on next week’s episode. Timothy Thatcher accepts the challenge and warns Yuta that next week his Pure Title will not be his much longer.
Lady Frost vs Willow Nightingale: Two women’s matches! Hell yeah! Frost is someone who is underrated in the independent scene right now and I would love for her to be a regular in ROH going forward. Willow continues to show why she is so good and lovable she truly is the babe with the power. Winner: Willow Nightingale
When the match ended Riccaboni asked Willow what was next for her, and she called out Athena to challenge her for the ROH Women’s Championship. Athena reluctantly accepts the challenge for next week’s episode.
ROH World Heavyweight Championship: Claudio Catsagnoli vs AR Fox: Talk about the future of ROH because these two are representing the future so proudly. This match went back and forth so many times and it seemed as if Fox was going to take the title here. Fox continues to prove how good he is and Catsagnoli is one of the best to ever do it. This was a great way to end a great first episode of ROH. Winner: “And Still” Claudio Catsagnoli
When the match was over Eddie Kingston, who recently quit AEW came out to confront Castagnoli. He said he was a free agent and can do whatever he wants. Although he promised Jon Moxley he wouldn’t beat up Castagnoli on AEW, this is not AEW it’s ROH and he wants a title shot. Castagnoli leaves the ring and Kingston is left in the ring hyping up the crowd to close out the show. This match at SuperCard of Honor is going to kill and we are most likely going to get a new champ!
Overall: The first episode was great. The future of this company seems to be something Tony Khan is invested in and I can appreciate that. I am excited to see where they go from here, but they are off to a great start!
ROH TV is streaming now on HONOR CLUB!
