ROH World Tag Team Championship
MJF & Samoa Joe vs. The Devil’s Masked Men
AEW Dynamite #221; New Year’s Smash 2023 Day 1 – Orlando, FL – 12.27.2023

Adam Cole & MJF have been champions since 8.27.2023 and this is their fourth defense. Samoa Joe is stepping in as a replacement for Cole, who is still recovering from an ankle injury. The week after his injury, a character called “the Devil” appeared on the program sporadically. The Devil also had some masked men who would appear and attack people sporadically. The Devil challenged Joe and MJF to this match via video screen. If you know what I am talking about, you know how dreadful this storyline was. If you don’t know, consider yourself lucky. It is not worth going into. Samoa Joe did not show up for the match, as he was attacked backstage earlier in the night. MJF, with an injured shoulder, tried to fight the Masked Men on his own and tried unmasking them in the process. A third Masked Man appeared from under the ring and attacked MJF with a pipe while referee Bryce Remsburg was distracted, and a rope-assisted piledriver got the Masked Men the pin and the titles at 1:48. I’m delighted the titles are no longer on MJF and Cole, who literally turned the titles into a joke during half of their defenses and didn’t appear on ROH TV one time. Not even in a pre-tape. Thank goodness that’s over with.

The Devil and his Masked Men would reveal themselves three days later at the AEW World’s End PPV. Matt Taven and Mike Bennett were under the hoods during this match, and would be recognized as the champions. They, along with Roderick Strong, Wardlow, and Adam Cole, became The Undisputed Kingdom.

On November 11th, Tony Khan announced an AEW tournament called the Continental Classic, a twelve person two-block tournament, with the winners of each block squaring off on the World’s End PPV on December 30th. The winner of the tournament would become the inaugural AEW Continental Crown Champion, a championship which encompasses the ROH World Championship, the NJPW STRONG Openweight Championship, and the newly created AEW Continental Championship. Jon Moxley won the Gold League, and Eddie Kingston, who entered the tournament as both the ROH World and NJPW STRONG Openweight champions, won the Blue League.

AEW Continental Classic Finals – AEW Continental Crown Championship
Jon Moxley [Gold League Winner] vs. Eddie Kingston [Blue League Winner]
AEW World’s End – Long Island, NY – 12.30.2023

This is Kingston’s seventh defense of the ROH World Championship and his eighth defense of the NJPW Strong Openweight Championship. This is their fourth singles match. Moxley won the previous three matches, defeating Eddie Kingston in ICW New York in 2011, again on Dynamite in September of 2020 to retain the AEW World Championship, and then again at AEW Full Gear 2020 to retain the AEW World Championship in an I Quit match. Moxley’s partner Bryan Danielson is on commentary. Kingston usually sports the black and yellow for his idol Toshiaki Kowada, but tonight he took the tribute one step forward with yellow kick pads.

Moxley fires up Kingston with a kick to the spine, and Kingston damn near wipes himself out when he suicide dives onto Moxley and goes head first into the barricades. Moxley capitalizes on that by giving Kingston a Paradigm Shift on the floor. Kingston shakes out his shoulder and head before heading back into the ring. Kingston also hurts his hand when Moxley covers up from a chop and his hand hits Moxley’s forearm bone. Moxley gives Kingston a piledriver for two. Kingston bites Moxley’s hand to escape an STF, and also brings Moxley down to his knees during a chop exchange. This evolves into a clothesline exchange, ending with a Northern Lights suplex from Kingston. Moxley’s knee is visibly tweaked as he turns around into a Backfist from Kingston. Kingston has to take a moment to get his bearings instead of going for a cover. Kingston chops up Moxley in various corners. Moxley gives him a DDT, and Kingston comes back with a Backfist. Moxley uses the ropes to land the king kong lariat. Kingston counters a Paradigm Shift with a Northern Lights Bomb for two, and then applies a bulldog choke. Moxley counters into his own Bulldog choke, and as a last ditch effort, Kingston lunges to the ropes to get Moxley to break the hold. Moxley gets the better of a headbutt exchange, but he allows Kingston to get up to his feet. They throw open hand shots until Kingston surprises Moxley with a Backfist and gets the pin at 17:16. I don’t know how I feel about the ROH and STRONG titles being lumped in with another title as a Triple Crown of sorts – time will tell how this works out. I do, however, think the match was a letdown. The emotion just didn’t feel as strong as it did when Eddie won the ROH title from Claudio. The way the match ended didn’t make it feel like Kingston had overcome an obstacle. I also just think Kingston and Moxley have better chemistry as allies than opponents. Don’t get me wrong – I am pleased Kingston will continue on as ROH and STRONG champion and look forward to his reign, but this fell short of the “instant classic” tag some have placed on it. ***¼

ROH Pure Championship
Wheeler Yuta vs. Matt Sydal
AEW Rampage #125; New Year’s Smash 2023 Day 2 – Orlando, FL – 12.29.2023

Yuta has been champion since 11.25.2023 and this is his second defense. No clue why or how Sydal earned this title shot. 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. Overhanded slaps and chops to the face are permitted. Punches to the rest of the body are permitted, excluding low blows. The first use of a closed fist results in a warning. The second use of a closed fist to the face results in a disqualification.
*If the match goes past the undetermined time limit, three judges will determine the outcome. The judges for this match are ROH alumni and former champions Chistopher Daniels and Jimmy Jacobs, along with AEW Coach and Producer Sarah Stock.

Sydal nearly catches Yuta in a schoolboy pin to end the opening exchange. He crushes Yuta with a standing moonsault senton for two. Yuta uppercuts the top rope into Sydal’s throat and pump kicks him down. Yuta holds onto Sydal’s leg when Sydal kicks out of a fisherman’s suplex, paint brushing the back of Sydal’s head before locking in a Bow and Arrow stretch. Sydal flips out into a lateral press for two, and then gets slammed immediately back down by Yuta into a senton. Yuta wears down Sydal in a cravate during the commercial break. He is able to escape without using the ropes, but is taken down with a dropkick right after doing so. Sydal comes back with a spinwheel kick. Sydal kicks Yuta upside the head and gives him an Air Raid Crash for two. Sydal roundhouse kicks Yuta. Yuta uses the bottom rope to reverse the momentum, rolling back into the ring and into a German suplex on Sydal for two. The Painthriller also gets him a two count, so he locks Sydal in a hammerlock chin hold. Sydal uses his first rope break to escape. Yuta uses a closed-fist on Sydal while he has him in a headlock. Sydal angrily knee strikes Yuta before wheelbarrowing him into a pin for two. Yuta back elbows Sydal before rolling him into hammer and anvil elbows. Yuta then seatbelt pins Sydal at 9:34 to retain the title. This was lifeless. It was two competent wrestlers the crowd did not particularly care about having a very competent wrestling match. It was just kind of nothing. **½

ROH World Television Championship
Kyle Fletcher vs. Willie Mack
ROH on HonorClub #45 – San Antonio, TX – 1.4.2024

Fletcher has been champion since 12.15.2023 and this is his first defense. Mack impresses with some Lucha inspired offense, and Fletcher flexes his strength with a spin-out slam to the challenger. Mack lays in some chops before Fletcher knocks him down with a running back elbow. Fletcher has trouble getting Mack up for another slam, but Mack has no trouble doing so to Fletcher, though it does trouble his taped up left shoulder. An inside out cannonball splash and a standing moonsault get Mack a two count. Fletcher weaves under an Irish whip and Cobra Clutch suplexes Mack onto the top of his head. Fletcher yakuza kicks Mack in one corner. Mack hops over Fletcher when he charges at him in an opposite corner, but Fletcher quickly cuts him off with a cyclone kick. Fletcher muscles him up for a brainbuster, but only gets a two count. Mack cuts off Fletcher with a leg lariat and tosses him into the turnbuckles out of a Razor’s Edge. Fletcher gets the ropes to block a cloverleaf. Mack places Fletcher on the top rope and follows him up. Fletcher takes him down with a super Michinoku Driver, and is enraged when Mack kicks out. Fletcher hits a flying leg lariat to the back of his head before pulling him up into Ganso Bomb for the pin at 11:03. Despite being a cold challenger, Mack looked formidable against the new champion. You could argue Fletcher let him have a bit too much for his first defense with two significant kick outs, but those kick outs did add to the matches overall excitement, especially since the crowd was behind Mack. Good stuff overall. ***¼

ROH Pure Championship
Wheeler Yuta vs. Komander
AEW Rampage #126 – Newark, NJ – 1.5.2024

Yuta has been champion since 11.25.2023 and this is his third defense. Alex Abrahantes is in Komander’s corner and Ian Riccaboni is on commentary with Excalibur. 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. Overhanded slaps and chops to the face are permitted. Punches to the rest of the body are permitted, excluding low blows. The first use of a closed fist results in a warning. The second use of a closed fist to the face results in a disqualification.
*If the match goes past the undetermined time limit, three judges will determine the outcome. The judges for this match are ROH alumni and former champions Chistopher Daniels and Jimmy Jacobs, along with AEW Coach and ProducerPat Buck.

Komander uses his first rope break to rescape a grounded double wrist lock. Yuta is not happy to use a rope break to escape a knee hook, but he has no other choice. Komander uses his foot to drag Yuta up to his feet and sends him to the floor with a Frankensteiner. Yuta side steps a pescado and cracks Komander with a questionable strike to the face. He then drives Komander into the floor while in a hammerlock, crashing down shoulder first. Yuta continues to attack Komander’s shoulder back in the ring, and a grounded double wrist lock results in Komander spending his second rope break to escape. Yuta wrenches Komander’s shoulders in a Gory Stretch, driving him chest first into the corner twice in the process. Komander uses a Code Red to escape, sending Yuta into the corner and rolling him into a small package for two. Komander gets two with a flying DDT. Yuta evades a Phoenix Splash and drops Komander with a Paintrhiller for two. He reapplies the double wristlock when Komander kicks out of the hold, which results in Komander using his third and final rope break to escape. Komander tries to send Yuta back to the floor again with a headscissors, but Yuta uses the ropes to roll back in and German suplex Komander for two. Komander reverses a seatbelt pin into his own pin attempt. Yuta quickly converts into the hammer and anvil elbows and then reapplies the double wristlock. Komander grabs the bottom rope, but Yuta does not have to release the hold. He keeps it applied and Komander taps out at 10:55. This had a creative story where Komander used his legs to pull off a lot of offense and counters since Yuta put his shoulder out of commission. Not many wrestlers could pull that off, but Komander did so swimmingly. This had more energy than the Sydal match, but the same flatness from the crowd. I think getting AEW fans to care about ROH titles is a lost cause. ***

AEW Continental Crown Championship
Eddie Kingston vs. Trent Beretta
AEW Collision #29 – Charlotte, NC – 1.6.2024

Kingston has been the Continental Crown Champion since 12.30.2023. This is Kingston’s first defense of the AEW Continental Championship, his eighth defense of the ROH World Championship, and his ninth defense of the NJPW Strong Openweight Championship. Beretta earned this title match by winning a fatal four way on Dynamite three days prior. Kingston chopped Beretta in the face, breaking his nose. Kingston showed no mercy, giving Beretta a Saito suplex on the show while blood poured down his face. Beretta’s mother Sue appears in the front row to cheer on her son, who is able to take down the champion with simultaneous clothesline. Kingston facewash kicks Beretta right before the commercial break ends. Beretta hops to the middle turnbuckle, but Kingston swipes his leg and the back of Beretta’s head comes crashing down on the top turnbuckle pad. Beretta cuts off Kingston with a jumping knee strike. He dropkicks Kingston to the floor and follows with a suicide dive. Back in the ring, Beretta scores with a sit-out sunset bomb for two. Kingston avoids the Dudebuster with a suplex, following up with an enzuigiri and DDT for two. Beretta musters the strength for three German suplexes, but has to use the ropes to pull himself up to his feet. He nails a Busaiku knee and pulls off a GSP on Kingston, but that still wasn’t enough to keep the champion down. Beretta half-nelson suplexes Kingston. Kingston retaliates with one of his own after ducking a Busaiku knee. He then lands a Backfist and Northern Lights suplex, and the crowd roars when Beretta kicks out. Kingston, who is in disbelief, uses a stalling Northern Lights suplex to finally keep Beretta down at 15:13. Just like he did against Shingo last month, Beretta delivers when called upon for a big singles title bout. One concern I have about Kingston is his finishers are starting to be watered down. It takes upwards of four Backfists and now two Northern Lights Bombs to keep his opponents down, and it dilutes the power of those moves when it happens in nearly every title match in which this happens. You would also need several matches where Kingston won with just one backfist or one Northern Lights Bomb for this to be effective. All of this is to say that while I do like Beretta, for where he stands in the AEW pecking order, Kingston should have been able to put him away a little easier, especially since Beretta had a broken nose. ***½

ROH World Television Championship
Kyle Fletcher vs. Angelico
ROH on HonorClub #46 – Charlotte, NC – 1.11.2024

Fletcher has been champion since 12.15.2023 and this is his second defense. Fletcher denies Angelico the Code of Honor. Fletcher does not care for Angelico’s post-armdrag dance, so Fletcher mocks him with it after delivering a bodyslam and then pummels him down in the corner. Angelico stuns him with an enzuigiri to buy some recovery time. He also surprises Fletcher with a capoeira kick and gets two with a small package. Fletcher gamengiri’s Angelico to cut off his springboard attempt. Fletcher lands on his feet when Angelico side steps his pescado. Angelico then dropkicks Fletcher’s knee out, causing Fletcher to land face first onto the ring apron. In the ring, Angelico slingshot sunset flips his way into a jackknife pin on Fletcher for two. Fletcher boots and superkicks Angelico from out of the corner before taking him out with a diving Ace Crusher for two. Angelico fights out of a superplex and pulls Fletcher down into a back suplex, following up with a Magistral cradle for two. He locks Angelico in the reverse figure seven. Fletcher gets the ropes to escape. He fights for a half-dragon suplex and then lands a flying leg lariat to the back of Angelico’s head. The Ganso Bomb gets Fletcher the pin at 7:40. Angelico and Fletcher are remarkably similar physically and worked together well. Angelico’s creative offense and submission acumen made him a believable threat to the championship. I like that Fletcher pivoted to the Ganso Bomb in the last match when his hammerlock tombstone didn’t work out on Mack and decided to keep it in his arsenal. Another good defense from Fletcher. ***

AEW Continental Crown Championship
Eddie Kingston vs. Wheeler Yuta
AEW Rampage #127 – Jacksonville, FL – 1.12.2024

Kingston has been the Continental Crown Champion since 12.30.2023. This is Kingston’s second defense of the AEW Continental Championship, his ninth defense of the ROH World Championship, and his tenth defense of the NJPW Strong Openweight Championship. Yuta called out Kingston on Dynamite two days prior, taking umbrage with Kingston calling him a “young boy” just before he met Moxley at World’s End. He mentions being on a hot streak on Rampage of late, and actually, you have to go back to January of 2023 to find his last loss on Rampage (to Hangman Page). Yuta disrespects the champion as he attempts to keep him grounded. When that fails, he sends Kingston into the barricade with a suicide dive and then snaps his arm across the top rope before wiping him out with a high crossbody for two. Kingston evades a corner splash and lands rapid fire chops on Yuta. Yuta elbows Kingston to cut off a charge and drives his right shoulder and elbow into the canvas. Yuta focused his attack on Kingston’s right shoulder after this, finding more success in keeping him grounded. When he gets cocky and kicks Kingston in the back, Kingston wakes up and throws his own kick to Yuta’s back. When he looks for a chop, Yuta grabs his arm and throws him back down to the mat. Not learning his lesson, Yuta slaps Kingston twice, and the champion tosses his overhead with a butterfly suplex. Yuta sends Kingston shoulder first into the corner. Kingston catches Yuta coming off of the top turnbuckle and throws him across the ring with an exploder suplex. Kingston gets two with a DDT, and a few moments later, Yuta also gets two with a diving DDT, with Kingston getting his hand on the bottom rope to avoid the pinfall. Kingston also gets the ropes to escape a modified Fujiwara armbar. Yuta lands a top turnbuckle splash after the Pain Thriller, and then a double wristlock when Kingston kicks out from that. Kingston peppers Yuta in the face with strikes after blocking a boot to the shoulder. After a suplex, he clobbers Yuta with a Backfirst. A half-nelson suplex and Northern Lights Bomb gets Kingston the pin at ___. Yuta controlled the match for too long in the beginning and they lost my interest. The intensity just wasn’t there to make it interesting, which was also an issue in their STRONG Openweight Title match back in September. Things picked up by the end but this would’ve been a lot better with five or so minutes cut from earlier in the match. ***

ROH World Six Man Tag Team Championship
The Mogul Embassy (Brian Cage, Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona) vs. Lance Archer & The Righteous (Vincent & Dutch)
AEW Collision #30- Norfolk, VA – 1.13.2024

The Mogul Embassy have been champions since 11.1.2023 and this is their second defense. Prince Nana is in the Mogul Embassy’s corner and Jake Roberts is in Archer and The Righteous’ corner. This match came about due to Archer and the Embassy coming to blows during an eight man tag team match on Dynamite earlier in the week. The Embassy mauls their smallest opponent, Vincent, in their corner until Dutch knees Kaun from the apron as Kaun hits the ropes. A brawl erupts between all six men after this instance, with The Righteous taking control out on the floor. They choose Kaun to be brought back into the ring and beaten down in their corner. Kaun takes out Archer with a knee kick and DDT, and then uses Vincent as a springboard for a dropkick to Dutch, but Archer wipes out Cage and Liona before Kaun can tag out. Cage and Liona take matters into their own hands, interjecting to fight off Archer and Vincent, but Dutch manages to wipe out all three Embassy members with a tope con hilo on the floor. Nana grabs hold of Kaun’s foot to save him from Archer’s Blackout, with Roberts cracking Nana with a right hand to make him pay for it. Dutch Doctor Bombs Kaun into a diving headbutt from Vincent, with Cage breaking up his pin just in time. Vincent puts Kaun in a Guillotine choke as Liona and Cage take care of Dutch and Archer on the floor. Liona blindsides Vincent with a Pounce. Archer saves Vincent from being pinned after a double facebuster. Cage and Liona keep Archer and Dutch. Kaun escapes a jackknife pin, and then converts an Orange Sunshine attempt into Veambe (a Pedigree) for the pin at 11:45. This got far too repetitive for its length. I think you had too many similar wrestlers in one match, and while they jived just fine, nobody had a chance to do anything substantial. You only squeeze so much juice from two teams low on the AEW totem pole fighting for a set of titles no one cares about. That said, if you trim the fat you’ll find a totally solid match underneath. ***

After the match, Prince Nana acknowledges that the BULLET CLUB Gold were talking about aspiring for gold three days earlier on Dynamite. Prince Nana says that their leader, Jay White, couldn’t even beat Swerve in the Continental Classic, but since they’re so generous, they will challenge them to a title match on Dynamite this upcoming week. Nana’s delivery made this work.

On the same night, on the other side of the country, Eddie Kingston made his first defense of the Continental Crown in New Japan Pro Wrestling.

AEW Continental Crown Championship
Eddie Kingston vs. Gabe Kidd
NJPW Battle In The Valley 2024 – San Jose, CA – 1.13.2024

Kingston has been the Continental Crown Champion since 12.30.2023. This is Kingston’s third defense of the AEW Continental Championship, his tenth defense of the ROH World Championship, and his eleventh defense of the NJPW STRONG Openweight Championship. Kidd and Kingston were supposed to wrestle last year at “Collision in Philadelphia.” The match was delayed indefinitely, but Kidd got tired of waiting and attacked Kingston last month at “Lonestar Shootout”, resulting in the match finally being put back on the schedule tonight. Kidd attacks Kingston during his entrance and ends up taking a backdrop onto the floor when he attempts a piledriver. He pulls off a German suplex moments later on a different side of the ring. He pulls Kingston’s shoulder into the ring post thrice before bringing him into the ring to officially start the match. A lengthy chop exchange concludes with Kidd biting Kingston’s forehead, though Kingston quickly comes back with a t-bone suplex. He lights up Kidd with rapid chops in the corner, though Kidd makes Kingston punch drunk with a back elbow and forearm strikes. Kingston ducks a strike and half-nelson suplexes Kidd. He hits a Backfist for two. Kidd counters out of a Northern Lights Bomb with a dragon suplex and drops Kingston with a tombstone piledriver for two. After minutes of striking on the mat, Kidd spits on Kingston three times. Kingston’s eyes go wide before he relentlessly open hand strikes Kidd and knocks him down with a Backfist. The momentum sends Kidd to the floor, and Kidd has to use the ring apron to pull himself up to his feet. He pulls Kingston to the floor where they throw chops at each other. They both dismiss the referee telling them to get back in the ring, so he starts the count as they continue to strike one another. Kingston exploder suplexes Kidd onto the floor. Kingston is about to get in the ring as Kidd grabs a microphone and asks if that’s all he’s got. Kingston turns around and pummels Kidd, and the match is rendered a double count out at 12:06. The two men have to be pulled apart, though they do break away from the officials and staff a few times and strike one another. Alex Coughlin and Clark Connors attack Kingston from behind just as he is about to clobber Kidd with the AEW Continental title, and instead, Kidd lays out Kingston by giving him a piledriver onto the title. As a set up match, this was great. It was suitably violent without going overboard, involved two people you can believe would lose themselves in a skirmish where the rules would get away from them, and the crowd has a genuine desire to see them wrestle again. I do wonder if this result was the plan all along, or if this Continental Crown situation muddied things up. Either way, this was successful. ***½

ROH World Six Man Tag Team Championship
The Mogul Embassy (Brian Cage, Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona) vs. BULLET CLUB Gold (Jay White, Austin Gunn & Colten Gunn)
AEW Dynamite #224 – North Charleston, SC – 1.17.2024

The Mogul Embassy have been champions since 11.1.2023 and this is their third defense. Prince Nana is in their corner. The BCG are 3-0 heading into this match, but all of those matches were eight man tags with Juice Robinson by their side. White sticks and moves on Liona, with Liona ultimately surprising White with an inside out lariat. White takes down Kaun with a dragonscrew leg whip and passes him off to the Gunns. Austin misses a corner splash. He lights up Cage with some Juice-like jabs, but a superkick and German suplex from Cage takes Austin down. Kaun and Liona punctuate this attack with a back cracker/elbow drop combo. The champions continue to beat down Austin until he clotheslines Cage and Liona off of the apron when whipped to the corner and hops over a charging Kaun. Colten takes out the Embassy, earning a nearfall on Kaun with a half-nelson slam. Liona surprises Colten with a Pounce. Liona and Kaun toss Colten to Cage for a powerbomb, and Kaun follows that up with an Air Raid Crash. White and Austin make the save. Liona charges after them on the floor and ends up in the timekeepers area when they move. White also sends Cage face first into the ring post. Kaun sets up Colten for Veambe, but he escapes and tags in White. White pummels Kaun with repeated chops and puts him down with a uranage slam. After Cage rolling lariats White, the Gunns take him out with 3:10 to Yuma. Kaun dropkicks the Gunns to the floor. Nana trips White and Kaun gives him a gutbuster, but White kicks out. Anthony Bowens stops Prince Nana from hitting Jay White with the title belt. Kaun looks for Veambe, and White counters into the Blade Runner for the pin and the titles at 9:30. This was very basic, and the titles were a macguffin to strengthen the relationship between The Acclaimed and BC Gold. Being a macguffin is the most utility those titles can serve these days, it seems. The Acclaimed and BC Gold relationship ultimately deteriorated, with each team holding a set of Trios titles, it would be best to let them be absorbed into the AEW titles so we only have one useless set of six man belts being carried around. **¾

ROH World Tag Team Championship
The Undisputed Kingdom (Matt Taven & Mike Bennett) vs. Iron Savages (Boulder & Bronson)
ROH on HonorClub #47 – Norfolk, VA – 1.18.2024

The Undisputed Kingdom have been champions since 12.27.2023 and this is their first defense. Jacked Jameson is in the Iron Savages’ corner. Ian Riccaboni proves why he’s a great commentator, reminding us that The Kingdom’s toughest challenge was War Machine, who are of a similar size and stature to Iron Savages. That one statement gives them credibility and value. They’re a little more silly than War Machine, and that costs them the advantage when Taven escapes Bronson trying to send Taven to “titty city.” That means rubbing Taven’s face into Boulder’s chest. Anyways, Bronson is hit with the Kick of the King by Taven and a spear on the ring apron by Bennett after Boulder is disposed of. Bronson is double teamed by the champions in their corner. Boulder fights them off and side-steps a corner splash from Bennett to tag in Boulder, who slams both champions before splashing them in opposite corners. Boulder powerbombs Bennett while simultaneously giving Taven a falling slam for two. Taven low bridges the top rope to send Boulder to the outside and takes him out with a baseball slide. In the ring, Bronson gets two on Taven with a Rydeen Bomb due to Bennett breaking his cover. Taven rolls through a piledriver attempt and hits him with Just The Tip, and then a second time after a Death Valley Driver from Bennett. Taven wipes out Boulder with a twisting pescado, and the Kingdom put away Bronson with Hail Mary at 6:53. This was competent and enjoyable, and a good first step on getting the tag titles back on the right track. It’s nice to see them on an actual ROH show again. **¾

ROH World Television Championship
Kyle Fletcher vs. Christopher Daniels
ROH on HonorClub #47 – Jacksonville, FL – 1.18.2024

Fletcher has been champion since 12.15.2023 and this is his third defense. Daniels of course is a former champion. Fletcher goes to Daniels’ eyes and delivers a cheap shot to the midsection after pushing him to the corner to break his arm hold. Daniels leaps over Fletcher’s charge, but turns around right into a rolling boot. Fletcher and Daniels engage in a forearm strike battle, ending with a Complete Shot from Daniels. After an STO and several punches in the corner, Daniels drops Fletcher with a Flying Complete Shot for two. Fletcher backdrops out of an Angel’s Wings attempt and schoolboys Daniels up into a half-hatch Saito suplex. Fletcher blasts Daniels with a running gamengiri as Daniels is recovering in the corner, followed by a brainbuster for two. Daniels victory rolls his way out of the hammerlock tombstone and then rolls Fletcher up into the Angel’s Wings for two. Daniels calls for the BME, but Fletcher grabs his leg and kicks him from the apron. He half-nelson suplexes Daniels onto his head and nails him in the back of the head with a flying leg lariat. The Ganso Bomb gets Fletcher the pin at 9:13. This was good in bolstering Fletcher’s credibility early on in his reign, defeating a former TV champion (and World/Tag/Six Man champion for that matter) and an ROH stalwart Daniels using his cred to bolster young talent is the perfect use for him, and he worked well with Fletcher. Good on Daniels for getting the fans to believe he had a chance when he hardly wins anymore. ***

After a few weeks of sneak attacks and putting each other through tables ringside and backstage, Athena challenged Nyla Rose to a tables match for the Women’s championship. Rose raised the stakes, making it the first ever 2 out of 3 falls Tables match.

ROH Women’s World Championship – 2 Out Of 3 Falls Tables Match
Athena vs. Nyla Rose
ROH on HonorClub #52 – Cedar Park, TX – 2.22.2024

Athena has been the champion since 12.10.2022 and this is her nineteenth defense. The first person to put their opponent through two tables wins. Nyla is a former AEW Women’s World champion, and heads into this match with a 6-0 ROH record. Rose sets up a table ringside within the first minute of the match after taking down Athena with a Samoan Drop. Athena foolishly tries a headscissors on the floor. Nyla powerbombs Athena onto the ring apron before powerbombing her through the table at 1:17. Rose picks up another table, but before she can bring it into the ring, Athena baseball slides it into Rose’s mid-section. Rose slams Athena onto the ring apron again to take control of the match. She sets up a table in the corner. Athena flips out of a hip toss attempt, and rolls to the floor after Rose lands a running crossbody. Rose misses a running somersault senton into the barricades. Athena shotgun dropkicks Rose into the barricades and sets up a table ringside. They fight on the apron for control, ending with Athena slipping back into the ring. She uses the O-Face to snap Rose’s neck on the top rope, resulting in Rose falling off of the apron and through the table at 10:08. In the ring, Athena is too worn down to keep Rose up on her shoulders. Rose laughs as she picks Athena up off of the mat. Athena slips out of Rose’s running powerslam attempt. Rose takes her down and places her on the table. Rose ascends to the second rope. Athena climbs up after her and Rose knocks her to the apron. A table is placed ringside directly under both of them on the floors in addition to the one in the ring. Athena resists being booted from Rose, who is still perched on the top turnbuckle. Athena strikes Rose, places her on her shoulders in an electric chair, and then slams Rose face first off of her shoulders and through the table on the floor for the win at 13:57. It speaks to the match that even after witnessing Matt Taven and Orange Cassidy put each other through tables on the Dynamite episode that preceded this match being filmed, the crowd was still super into this. This was also perhaps the only time during her title reign where Athena felt like an underdog, and I really like how both times she put Rose through tables it was the awareness of Rose’s positioning and using that against her. This was well constructed and such a good time, and was a great way to end what is basically an Anniversary episode of ROH. ***¾

AEW Continental Crown Championship
Eddie Kingston vs. Bryan Danielson
AEW Revolution 2024 – Greensboro, NC – 3.4.2024

Kingston has been the Continental Crown Champion since 12.30.2023. This is Kingston’s fourth defense of the AEW Continental Championship, his eleventh defense of the ROH World Championship, and his twelfth defense of the NJPW Strong Openweight Championship. This is a threematch between Kingston and Danielson, as they traded wins in their two singles matches back in December. Danielson goes after Kingston’s left leg, while Kingston throws strikes at the challenger. When Danielson grabs Kingston’s head to cut off his barrage of chops, Kingston throws a headbutt and takes him out with a Saito suplex. Kingston lands a suicide dive, but grimaces in pain due to landing on his left knee. Danielson suplexes Kingston off of the apron and to the floor, and then attacks Kingston’s right elbow and shoulder back in the ring. Kingston pulls off an exploder suplex after catching Danielson leaping off of the top turnbuckle, using Danielson’s own momentum to pull it off. Danielson attacks Kingston’s right wrist to break out of a Stretch Plum. Kingston finds himself in a position to use his left arm to land hammer and anvil elbows. Danielson overhead armdrags Kingston into the corner and follows him in with several flying boots. Even though Kingston does avoid one, Danielson is able to come back quickly with a Dragon suplex for two. Danielson gives him a double underhook superplex. Kingston grabs the ropes before he can apply a submission, so Danielson unloads the hammer and anvil elbows to the side of his head before looking for a suplex. Kingston breaks his grasp and nails a leaping enzuigiri. He backfists Danielson, and when Danielson looks for a Busaiku Knee, Kingston halts him with a Northern Lights Bomb for two. Danielson kicks Kingston in the wrist as he lays on the mat and successfully delivers the Busaiku Knee. Kingston kicks out, so Danielson goes for a triangle choke and Kingston makes his way to the ropes to escape. They knock each other out with competing half-nelson suplexes. They pepper each other with strikes when they get back to their feet. Danielson dizzies Kingston with open-handed strikes. Kingston jabs Danielson and swipes him with repeated punches. Kingston cuts off a Busaiku Knee with a left-armed lariat and then powerbombs Danielson into a folding press for the pin at 19:45. This was so great. Danielson changing his focus from Kingston’s leg to Kingston’s arm when it became clear that striking was Kingston’s game plan was such a great wrinkle to the story for me, especially when Kingston ended the match by using his other arm to put Danielson down. Their exchanges were very engaging, and the crowd was really hot for them too which elevated everything. Kingston earned Danielson’s respect by defeating him yet again, and you felt that need from both competitors to win throughout the contest. It’s a toss up which of their three matches I liked best, and it says something that this might be the one I enjoyed least when I still really liked it. ****

ROH World Television Championship
Kyle Fletcher vs. Blake Christian
ROH on HonorClub #57 – Quebec City, QC – 3.28.2024

Fletcher has been champion since 12.15.2023 and this is his fourth defense. He flexes after knocking down Christian with a simple shoulder block. Chrisitian picks up the pace to humble the champion, sending him careening into the ropes with a shotgun dropkick. Christian also victory rolls Fletcher into a standing frog splash for two. Christian Fosbury Flops onto Fletcher and then drives him into the floor with a falling elbow drop. In the ring, Fletcher cuts off Christian with a spin-out slam. Christian reverses positions in the corner and lights up Fletcher with chops, only to be cut off again with a running back elbow. Christian baits Fletcher into a headstand DDT out of the corner. He enzuigiri’s Fletcher to the apron where he gives him a spear. Christian then sends Fletcher crashing into the barricades with an elbow suicida before giving him a top rope elbow smash back in the ring for two. Christian sets up for a 450 Splash. Fletcher kicks out his legs, causing Christian to fall off the top turnbuckle and to the mat. Fletcher cracks him with a running gamengiri before dropping him with a brainbuster for two. Christian plants Fletcher on the top rope when Fletcher is fighting out of a rolling Death Valley Driver. He lands a frog splash to his back as he is on the top rope. Fletcher rolls Christian into a cradle as he tries to jump off of his back. Fletcher then rolls Christian up into the Ganso Bomb for the pin at 8:05. Christian got a lot more offense than I expected, but that did get the crowd to buy into a potential title change and made Fletcher’s win feel hard fought. It was a solid victory for Fletcher heading into the PPV where he will defend his TV title against Lee Johnson, who comes out on the entrance ramp and does the universal belt around the waist sign to Fletcher. ***¼

ROH World Tag Team Championship Proving Ground Match
The Undisputed Kingdom (Matt Taven & Mike Bennett) vs. The Infantry (Carlie Bravo & Shawn Dean)
ROH on HonorClub #58 – Worcester, MA- 4.4.2024

If The Infantry win this match or last the ten minute time limit, they will earn a ROH World Tag Team title match. The Infantry double team Taven in their corner from the start. Bravo has Bennett pinned in a small package, but at the time, Taven has referee Stephon Smith distracted. Bennett kicks out by the time Smith notices, and the Infantry take him out with a dropkick to the knee and a sliding dropkick to the side of his head. Dean ends a chop exchange by slamming Bennett into a running elbow drop. Taven blind tags in, but Dean is on top of it, rolling through a slingshot roll-up and Magistral cradling Taven for two. Dean then baits Taven into his corner, where Bravo delivers a super fist drop across Dean’s knee. Taven ducks under Bravo’s leapfrog and cuts him off with a dropkick. Dean tags back in and dropkicks Taven to the corner. The Infantry send the Kingdom to the floor with a double dropkick. They slingshot back in with double sunset flips. Taven knocks out Bravo with Just The Tip. After saving Bennett from being pinned by Dean, Taven pops Dean up into the Boston Bayonet from Bennett. The Kingdom wear down Dean until he catches Taven with a DDT. Bennett pulls Bravo off of the apron before Dean can make a tag and clobbers him with a rebound Boston Bayonet. He also gives Dean a Death Valley Driver on the ring apron. Dean evades Taven’s Aurora Borealis and tags in Bravo, who wipes out both of the Kingdom on the floor with a pescado. Taven trips Bravo to stop the Infantry’s Boot Camp double team finisher. Dean kicks out of Taven’s lionsault. Just as the Kingdom is setting up for Hail Mary, the 10:00 time limit expires, officially earning The Infantry an ROH World Tag Team title shot. The Kingdom bail as Bravo enters the ring and the fans chant “let them fight.” That’s the best possible chant you can hear after a match like this. They kept things interesting throughout the match and the last couple of minutes were especially fun. It’s been a very long time since we saw a Proving Ground match yield a title opportunity, and we were getting to the point where they needed to have one just so we could buy it ever happening again. Given the quality of this bout, I look forward to the title match. ***

Bravo challenges the Kingdom to put the titles on the line tomorrow night at Supercard of Honor. The match was made official that night. These teams had a substantial feud going last Summer. It was dropped out of nowhere, and now we get this title match between them on 24 hours notice. Stinky!

The build to Supercard of Honor has been weak this year, and they are very much hanging their hat on Mark Briscoe finally winning the World Title and the novelty of some of the STARDOM wrestlers to get fans into the show. I do appreciate that the Dalton Castle/Johnny TV rivalry was built on TV for months, and that Lee Johnson earned his TV title match due to his ROH win-loss record, but as a whole the show on paper lacks the luster of other Supercard shows.