I made a commitment to see these ROH reviews through until Death Before Dishonor, but it has been a challenge to find the motivation or want to continue with these episodes. That challenge was exacerbated when I saw that the first ROH episode taped alongside AEW Collision, which I felt was a perfect opportunity for them to reformat the show, was thirteen matches long. That is to say, it is as long, and in some cases longer, than most of the weekly episodes that preceded this filming change.

So I’ve decided to amend my commitment. Much like I did with Episode 13, I will only be reviewing the matches deemed substantial and/or important by ROH themselves. To determine this, I will see which matches receive detailed write-ups for the previews of the episodes on the ROH website and review those bouts. For this week’s episode, that’s 5 bouts to discuss.

Orlando, FL – 6.15.2023

Commentary is provided by Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman & Nigel McGuinness.

Matt Sydal tells Dasha Gonzalez every single break he has had in wrestling is because he stepped up and took it. He admits when he was in ROH originally, he was afraid of Samoa Joe, but he isn’t intimidated now, and tonight is the night for him to win the title. Later, Joe says he will teach Sydal a lesson about what happens when your ambition overcomes common sense, and that he will regret calling out Joe for this title match.

ROH World Television Championship
Samoa Joe vs. Matt Sydal

Joe has been champion since 4.13.2022 and this is his eleventh defense. This is, surprisingly, a first time singles contest. Joe pummels Sydal down in the corner to start, but a high kick from Sydal sends Joe to the outside. Sydal follows up with a running Meteora off the apron and to the floor. Back in the ring, Joe quickly turns things around with a back elbow. He wears down Sydal with a nerve hold and gets two with a powerslam. Sydal fires back with his own chops when Joe starts throwing them. Sydal also side steps a corner attack and rolls him up for two. When Sydal flies at him with a spinwheel kick, Joe is able to grab and slam Sydal, even though Joe himself also tumbles. Sydal cracks Joe with a high kick to get another two count, and a standard Meteora doesn’t do the trick either. Joe crotches Sydal when he goes to the top turnbuckle again and brings him down with the Muscle Buster for the pin at 6:44. That was fairly spirited for the time they were given. Sydal blindsiding Joe with his offense and Joe needing to go low to retain his title was a solid enough story, and adds another ROH luminaries name to Joe’s title record. It would’ve been way better if Sydal earned this by defeating Joe in that tag match a few weeks ago. **¾

Athena mocks Kiera Hogan backstage with Dasha Gonzalez until the real Kiera Hogan attacks her with a forearm smash. She takes Athena’s blue wig and tells her to keep her name out of her mouth. Silly.

Stu Grayson & The Righteous (Vincent & Dutch) vs. Dalton Castle & The Boys (Brandon & Brent)

Castle and The Boys defeated The Righteous for the Six Man Titles at Death Before Dishonor, so Grayson served as the x-factor for this bout. The Boys used tandem offense to keep the Dark Order outcast at bay momentarily, but he ended up weaving under an Irish whip from Brandon and tossing him overhead with a belly-to-belly suplex. Grayson also surprised Castle from behind on the floor, sending him face first into the ring post. With Dalton disposed of, the Righteous were in the clear to dominate Brandon while Brent eagerly awaited a tag. Brandon does indeed tag out after rolling up Grayson, but Grayson instantly turns Brent inside out with a clothesline. Brent kicks Grayson away to escape the Righteous’ grasp. Castle tossed around Grayson, including a throw into Dutch, and took down Vincent with the Julie Newmar bulldog. Dutch however stops a dive from Castle and sends him into the ring steps, and also disposes of Brent the same way. Grayson and The Righteous deliver a reverse version of the Ragnarok, the Dark Order’s finisher, to Brandon to get the pin at 7:24. This match showed how Grayson as an aggressor is extremely beneficial to the Righteous, and them using a version of the Dark Order’s finisher both plays mind games with the Dark Order while also showing their cohesion. Defeating a set of two time former Six Man Tag champs is a feather in the cap as well. Good stuff. **¾

Backstage, Dasha Gonzalez asks Dark Order members John Silver, Alex Reynolds and Evil Uno about what they just saw. Silver says he isn’t impressed. Reynolds says people have left The Dark Order over the years and they have done nothing about it. The Righteous talks about how the Dark Order used to be the lion’s of AEW, and Reynolds says they have successfully awoken this “pride.” Uno through the camera asks Grayson if the Righteous are his family, if they’ll help him when he’s down, and if they’ll bleed for him. Uno has his doubts, but says they will have to wait and see.

ROH Women’s World Championship Proving Ground Match
Athena vs. Trish Adora

If Adora is victorious, or lasts 10 minutes, she will earn a future ROH Women’s World title match. Adora goes after Athena’s left arm, sending her crashing into the bottom turnbuckle shoulder first out of hammerlock. Athena lures Adora into the ropes where she gives Adora a kneeDT, and then dropkicks her knee first into the ring steps. Athena continues to attack the knee. She calls Adora a porcelain broad while pie facing her, and Adora makes her pay with a German suplex on her knees. Adora mistakenly gives Athena a backbreaker, but fights through the pain to pull off a pump kick and bodyslam for two. Athena kicks her inner thigh and wheelbarrows her into the corner. Athena superkicks Adora while she is in a daze, and then hits the O-Face for the pin at 7:11. Nice to see Adora positioned as genuine competition for the champion. However, it is hard to buy these Proving Ground matches when the champion is already in the midst of a story where another challenger is being built. I suppose that’s not the worst problem to have. **½

Speaking of, Athena is about to smash Adora’s face into the title belt when Kiera Hogan enters the ring with a trash can lid. It backfires, as Athena hits her across the back with the lid. Athena is momentarily stopped by security, though she bashes one of them with a forearm smash to the face. Hogan then hits Athena in the head with the lid and brings a table into the ring. This also backfires on her, as Athena spears her through the table after Hogan sets it up in the corner. Referees and staff tend to the women before moving on to the next match.

Later, Tony Khan is in Colorado Springs, CO to present a very special ROH match. He introduces Stokely Hathaway from the ROH board, mentioning that other board member Jerry Lynn will be a judge for the next match. Stokely holds back tears as TK compliments him on the work he has been doing so far. Stokely then presents TK with another idea: having Athena and Kiera Hogan settle their score in a Chicago Street Fight for the Women’s title next week. TK loves it and books it. This was clunky, mostly due to the stilted performance by TK, but we got where we needed to.

Pure Rules Match
Daniel Garcia vs. The DKC

Excalibur is on commentary with Matt Menard, who is there to support his fellow Jericho Appreciation Society member. DKC is a student of Katsuyori Shibata, the current ROH Pure champion, who Garcia stared down after Shibata successfully defended the title against Lee Moriarty. The Pure Rules are as follows:
*The competitors are to obey the “Code of Honor”, shaking one another’s hand before and after the match.
*Each wrestler has 3 rope breaks to stop submission holds and pinfalls. After a wrestler has used all 3 of their rope breaks, submission and pin attempts on or under the ropes by the opponent are considered legal.
*Closed-fist punches to the face are not permitted. Punches to other parts of the body are permitted, excluding low blows. The first use of a closed fist results in a warning, a second will be a disqualification.
*This match has a 60 minute time limit. If the match goes past the time limit, three judges will determine the outcome. The judges for this match are ROH alumnus and former champions Jerry Lynn, Christopher Daniels & Dean Malenko.
*Any wrestler who interferes will have their contract terminated.

Garcia wipes his feet after taking down DKC. DKC takes him down with a flying mare and lands a single-leg low dropkick before dropping a falling chop. Garcia shoves DKC off of the top rope and to the floor to stop his momentum. DKC uses his first rope break to escape an STF. Garcia teases a hesitation dropkick, but instead does his little dance before pulling DKC back to his feet. DKC throws some chops at Garcia and knocks him down with a tumbleweed senton. DKC pulls off a flying single foot dropkick off of the middle turnbuckle. He unloads DK Fire before putting Garcia in a crucifix stretch, which results in Garcia using his first rope break to escape. Garcia pulls DKC by his hair to bring him to the mat and lock in a Boston Crab. DKC turns that into a small package for two. Garcia then pulls DKC up in a front facelock into the Code Breaker. Then then puts DKC in the Dragon Tamer. He leans back for extra leverage until DKC taps out at 7:28. Garcia then sits mid-ring with his arms crossed, mocking Shibata. Garcia beating one of Shibata’s pupils is a great way for him to send a message to the Pure champion. I’m pumped DKC got this opportunity, even if the Colorado crowd didn’t seem to care. **½

Backstage, Prince Nana says the Mogul Embassy are getting bored with the weak competition that has been put in front of them. Brian Cage runs down all three of their opponents tonight before stating that they will continue to run down everybody put in front of them.

ROH World Six Man Tag Team Championship
The Mogul Embassy (Brian Cage, Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona) vs. AR Fox, Darius Martin & Action Andretti

The Mogul Embassy have been champions since 12.10.2022 and this is their third defense. Prince Nana is in their corner. Fox gets in some offense to start, but it isn’t long before Martin finds himself at the mercy of the Mogul Embassy in their corner. He uses a pendulum DDT on Kaun to escape a slam attempt. Andretti stuns Liona with an enzuigiri, but when he goes to the second turnbuckle, Liona Mongolian chops him to the floor where Kaun sends him into the ring frame thrice before sending him into the ring post. Andretti is mauled by the Mogul Embassy until he surprises Cage with a Destroyer. Fox maneuvers all of the Mogul Embassy to the floor, and his teammates clean up with dives onto Kaun and Moses. Fox looks to put the finishing touches on Cage with a Swanton Bomb back in the ring, but it only gets a two count. Andretti and Martin then hold up Cage for an assisted springback Ace Crusher. Liona breaks the pin and lariats Martin inside out. He crossbody’s Fox and Andretti at the same time. On the floor, Andretti takes out Kaun with a Spanish Fly. He rolls him back inside to take a 450 Splash from Fox. Andretti then lands a springboard 450 Splash, and Cage makes the save at the last minute. Andretti impressively picks up Cage in a torture rack and drops him with a neckbreaker. Andretti back handspring elbows Liona after Liona takes out Fox with a Samoan Drop. Martin sends him outside with a top rope dropkick, and Cage discus lariats Martin afterwards. Andretti shotgun dropkicks Cage to the corner. Cage pops him to the middle rope for a Nando’s Kick. He then pulls Andretti into Weapon X for the pin at 10:18. This was far and away the Mogul Embassy’s best defense to date. The speed, cohesion, and surprising strength out of the opposition made it very believable that they could be the ones to unseat the champions. It was the first time in awhile it seemed like the Embassy actually had to work hard to achieve victory, and be on their toes to prevent their partners from being pinned. Color me impressed. ***½

These five matches, along with the relevant backstage segments, stands on its own as a competent, fulfilling, and enjoyable experience. You really, truly did not need the other seven matches. How do they not see this?