ROH Women’s World Television Title Match
Red Velvet vs. Robyn Renegade
ROH on HonorClub #102 – Jacksonville, FL – 2.6.2025

Red Velvet has been champion since 7.26.2024 and this is her sixth defense. Renegade won two singles matches in the Summer, so I guess that’s enough to earn a title shot. Renegade taunted Velvet as she struck her in opposite corners and after a side slam. Velvet shut her down when she tried a sliding dropkick and Velvet caught her in the ring apron. She pummeled Renegade’s back and took her down with a leg lariat back inside of the ring. After choking Renegade with her shin, Velvet drives both of her knees into Renegade’s shoulder blades. Both Renegade and Velvet try to use the ropes for leverage during their respective pin attempts. Renegade ducks a back elbow and face plants Velvet for two. Renegade also stomps her face into the mat as Velvet is hung from the middle rope for two. Velvet gets the better of a strike exchange. Even though Renegade surprises her with a superkick, Velvet is able to counter her pump-handle slam into the standing Diamond Dust for the pin at 8:10. There are compelling stories you can tell when a match is between two heels – “the heel is whoever is on offense at the time” is not one of them. It especially doesn’t resonate when the structure of the match is the two of them taking turns on offense. At least Renegade got a couple of believable nearfalls along the way. **¼

ROH World Television Championship
Komander vs. Nick Wayne
ROH on HonorClub #103 – Norwegian Pearl Cruise Ship – 2.13.2025

Komander has been champion since 12.20.2024 and this is his third defense. This entire episode was filmed on the Jericho Cruise, and I actually liked the Jericho promo that opened the show where he presented it as a gift to the fans from our current World Champion. Wayne’s ROH debut was a loss to Katsuyori Shibata in a Pure Title match, and since has had two singles matches of which he won both. Komander is too engaged with the crowd to notice Wayne, who forearms Komander from behind. Komander headscissors Wayne onto the entrance ramp, but Wayne cuts off his dive attempt and gives him a DDT on the ramp. Commentary covers up Wayne’s idiocy for attempting a count out win, bringing Komander to the top of the ramp and going back to the ring, by saying Wayne did it so that Komander would now need to expend more energy to beat the twenty count. Genuine kudos for that. Wayne wears down Komander when he returns to the ring. When he Irish whipped to the ropes, Komander rolls through the middle rope and onto the ramp. This time, Komander pulls off an Asai moonsault onto the stage. He then rope walks back into the ring with a crossbody for two. Wayne hits the ropes to crotch Komander and block Cielito Lindo. Wayne fails to get a pin with both a German suplex and fisherman’s suplex. He goes for Wayne’s World. Komander evades and spikes him with a springboard Mexican Destroyer. A tiger feint kick and Cielito Lindo gets Komander the pin at 9:21. The fans got into this in the last few minutes, but were too busy chanting for Nick Wayne’s Mom (not anywhere to be found) or checking their phones to be bothered with this genuinely good match. I guess I shouldn’t expect much from a cruise crowd. These two could tear it down in the right place with some time, and for what was essentially a house show outing, this was very good and fun. ***

ROH then went Down Under for the first time ever for a “Global Wars” event with AEW. In the opening match, Bandido pinned ROH World Champion Chris Jericho with the 21 Plex in a six man tag team match. Jericho and his Learning Tree partners Big Bill and Bryan Keith attacked Bandido after the match, including attacking him with a chair. Powerhouse Hobbs saved Bandido from further doom, but that would lead to stuff in AEW. As for Bandido, this would earn him a World title shot a week later. We’ll get to it.

Also at Global Wars, three ROH championships were defended on the continent for the first time.

ROH Pure Championship
Lee Moriarty vs. Robbie Eagles
AEWxROH Global Wars Australia – Brisbane, Queensland, Australia – 2.17.2025

Moriarty has been champion since 7.26.2024 and this is his fifth defense. Robbie Eagles earned this match by (checks notes) being Australian. Being one-half of the IWGP Jr. Tag Team champions probably doesn’t hurt either. 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.
*The title can change hands on a count out and disqualification in addition to a pinfall.
*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.
*The judges for this match are ROH alumni and former champions Christopher Daniels, Nigel McGuinness and Jerry Lynn, who commentary says are watching from the production truck.

Moriarty scurries to the ropes in the first minute of the match when Eagles looks for the Ron Miller Special. Moriarty uses a closed fist behind referee Mike Posey’s back. Posey sees Eagles retaliate with a closed fist of his own and is given a warning. Moriarty snaps Eagles’ shoulder on the top rope. Eagles tries to roll away when Moriarty grabs his arm, but Moriarty ends up getting the Border City Stretch applied, resulting in Eagles spending his first rope break to escape. Moriarty outstretches Eagles’ shoulder in a double handlebar stretch. Moriarty front flips Eagles into a kneeling kimura lock, but Eagles uses his second rope break to avoid it being applied for long. Eagles kicks at Moriarty’s legs before rolling him forward into the Ron Miller Special. Moriarty uses his second rope break quickly and thrusts Eagles into the throat. Regardless, Eagles takes Moriarty back off of his feet and elbows him in the back of the head. Moriarty resists a standing Shiranui. He snaps Eagles’ fingers and transitions from Fang! into the Border City Stretch. Eagles uses his third and final rope break to escape. Eagles springboard dropkicks Moriarty’s knee. He gets Moriarty to use his third and final rope break with yet another Ron Miller Special attempt. Moriarty avoids a 450 Splash. He also avoids the Turbo Backpack and drops Eagles with Fang! Eagles maneuvers Moriarty into a couple of pin attempts and then muscles him up into the Turbo Backpack for two. Eagles 450 Splashes Moriarty’s leg. He looks for the Ron Miller Special, which Moriarty counters into the Border City Stretch, which Eagles counters into a pin attempt. When Eagles tries to roll Moriarty back into the Ron Miller Special, Moriarty kneels down and holds onto the rope legally, pinning Eagles at 10:27. Earlier in the match, Ian Riccaboni on commentary stated that “Eagles doesn’t have the muscle memory of the Pure rules like Moriarty does”, and that is exactly what cost him. Moriarty has learned to manipulate the Pure Rules to his advantage, just like Nigel did when he was champion. They each had their signature submissions, and instead of one of them leading to a win, it led to a loss for Eagles. I love small twists like that. This makes three years in a row where Eagles will have challenged and failed to win a different ROH championship: Claudio and the World Title in 2023, Atlantis Jr. and the TV title in 2024, and now this. ***¾

ROH World Tag Team Championship
The Sons of Texas (Dustin Rhodes & Sammy Guevara) vs. MxM Collection (Mansoor & Mason Madden)
AEWxROH Global Wars Australia – Brisbane, Queensland, Australia – 2.17.2025

The Sons of Texas have been champions since 8.16.2024 and this is their fourth defense. Guevara defeated Mansoor in a singles match two weeks prior, but after the match, MxM laid out Guevara with The Centerfold (tandem double underhook DDT) and stole his tag title. They bring the tag title with them to the ring, which has photos of either of them on the side plates, and the leather around the main plate is now bedazzled. MxM’s shenanigans don’t thwart the champions as well as they wanted. Rhodes’ mind games results in MxM taking a double 450 splash from Guevara. MxM get serious after that, cutting off Rhodes with a combo back heel kick/spinebuster. Rhodes escapes their beat down when Mansoor misses a super elbow drop and Madden misses a regular elbow drop. Guevara wipes out both MxM Collection on the floor and then in the ring with Cutters. Mansoor blocks Guevara’s GTH and flips him into a spin-out slam from Madden for two. Guevara escapes the Centerfold. Rhodes gives Mansoor a running Destroyer. Madden is caught trying to hit Rhodes with the ROH tag title belt, and that distraction allows for Rhodes to nail Mansoor with the Unnatural Kick. Guevara impressively hits Madden with GTH. Rhodes clotheslines him to the floor. Guevara superkicks Mansoor into Rhodes’ Final Reckoning and Guevara follows up with a Senton Atomico for the pin at 12:53. This was more light-hearted than your standard title affair, which would be fine given the competitors if this was a cold match. Didn’t really seem like the Sons were all too bothered with their titles being stolen. Madden had an off night but everyone else brought the goods. It could’ve been better, but maybe we’ll get something better in the States. **¾

ROH Women’s World Championship
Athena vs. Alex Windsor
AEWxROH Global Wars Australia – Brisbane, Queensland, Australia – 2.17.2025

Athena has been the champion since 12.10.2022 and this is her twenty-seventh defense. No real rationale for Windsor getting a title match. Her only other ROH match was last May in a six man tag. Even Athena questioned her validity as a challenger in a pre-tape. Momo Kohgo was watching in the crowd, as she had a title shot of her choosing in any company that she won at Wrestle Dynasty. Athena powerbombs Windsor with one arm onto the ring apron and sends her face first into the ring post. Back in the ring, she catches Athena on the middle rope with a neckbreaker for two. She also catches a crossbody from Athena and overhead throws her. Athena retaliates with a Saito suplex, and Windsor comes back with a Blue Thunder Bomb for two. When Athena is about to escape Windsor’s sharpshooter, Windsor transitions into an inside cradle. Athena escapes that as well, and Windsor pummels her with repeated clotheslines in the corner. Athena superkicks Windsor and goes for a powerbomb. Windsor tries to backdrop out, but Athena uses the ropes as momentum to swing back and deliver the Despicable Knees. Windsor and Athena fight on the ropes, with Windsor getting in a super fisherman’s buster on Athena for two. Athena ducks a rolling clothesline and DDT’s Windsor. A shotgun dropkick leads to the O-Face and the pin at 11:51. They damn sure turned this cold match into a hot one by sheer force. Similar to the tag match, there’s bigger potential for this match-up in a rematch, which I have doubts about happening. Also, Kohgo would end up challenging Mercedes Mone for the AEW TNT Title and losing. ***¼

ROH World Television Championship
Komander vs. Lee Johnson
ROH on HonorClub #104 – Rosenberg, TX – 2.20.2025

Komander has been champion since 12.20.2024 and this is his fourth defense. EJ Nudka is in Johnson’s corner and Alex Abrahantes is in Komander’s corner. Johnson earned this match by outlasting the time limit of a Proving Ground match last month. Johnson disobeys the Code of Honor. Komander is not shaken by Johnson’s cockiness, giving him a headscissors on the floor right in front of Nduka. Ndukas does however provide a distraction for Johnson to blindside Komander from the side with a running forearm shot. Johnson calls Komander “nothing” as he continues to wear him down. Johnson gets Komander to come to the apron, but it backfires as Komander brings Johnson back into the ring with a Frankensteiner driver through the middle rope. Komander sees Johnson move out of the way of a Cielito, so he pivots into a headscissors. Johnson catches it and looks for a buckle bomb, but instead Johnson is sent head first into the middle turnbuckle. Johnson turns Komander inside out with a dropkick. He goes for another buckle bomb, and this time, Komander counters into a reverse Frankensteiner for two. Komander looks for Three Amigos. After the second suplex, Johnson, while still in a front facelock, rolls himself and Komander to the floor and gives Komander a brainbuster onto the floor. Johnson smashes Komander’s ankle into the barricades repeatedly. Komander unlaces his boot to take some pressure off when Johnson rolls him back into the ring. Johnson frog splashes onto Komander for two. He immediately lifts him up into a fisherman’s buster for another two count. Johnson brings Komander to the top turnbuckle. Komander fights him off, and looks for Cielito Lindo with just one boot. Nduka pulls Johnson out of the ring, so Komander dives onto both of them on the floor. Komander pulls off Cielito Lindo onto Johnson back in the ring for the pin at 15:23. Komander’s hurt ribs from their first encounter did not come into play at all, which is disappointing. Despite that, they had a good story going, with Johnson consistently evading Komander’s Cielito until he couldn’t, and being overly reliant on Nduka to maintain control of the match. There was a little too much space in between Komander’s dive and him hitting his finisher, but otherwise this was well executed and enjoyable. We need more well built title matches on ROH shows! ***¼

ROH World Championship
Chris Jericho vs. Bandido
AEW Collision #81 – Phoenix, AZ – 2.22.2025

Jericho has been champion since 10.23.2024 and this is his third defense. Bandido challenged Jericho unsuccessfully during Jericho’s first reign as champion. The announcers incorrectly discuss the circumstances around Bandido’s title loss. Tough to say if they’re retconning Jonathan Gresham out of ROH/AEW or if it was an honest mistake. Although Bandido scores with a suicide dive early on, he is caught back in the ring mid-air with a Code Breaker from the champ for two. Jericho tries to silence his detractors in the crowd with a super Frankensteiner. Bandido snaps off a Frankensteiner of his own off of the ring apron and to the floor to reset the match. They both make it back into the ring before the twenty count, and Jericho now carries a visible bruise on the right side of his back. After the commercial break, Bandido gets on an offensive roll, ending with a tornillo and facebuster for two. Jericho catches Bandido coming off of the ropes with a Death Valley Driver for two. After knocking each other down with rapid fire strikes, they stand up back to back and take paces to each corner like a shootout. Bandido initially catches Jericho onto his shoulder for the X-Knee, but Jericho counters out into the Walls of Jericho. Bandido grabs the bottom rope to escape. He also pulls up Jericho into a one-handed slam when Jericho comes charging. A Mad Splash gets Bandido a very close nearfall. Jericho dropkicks Bandido to the apron. He looks for a springboard dropkick, but Bandido jumps up and counters into a sunset bomb for two. Jericho holds onto the ropes to avoid a dropkick and lands a lionsault for two. Jericho takes down Bandido with the “Hi Spot”, which is a Greg Gagne/Chad Gable-esque headscissors where he waves to the crowd mid-way through. I gotta admit, I chuckled. Bandido halts Jericho on the top turnbuckle and brings him down with a moonsault fallaway slam for another close nearfall. Bandido successfully delivers the X-Knee. He goes for the 21 Plex, which is how he defeated Jericho in Australia, but Jericho wheelbarrow rolls Bandido into a clutch instead and pins him at 17:21. Easily the best of Jericho’s defenses in this reign thus far. Lots of back-and-forth action, a good crowd, no chicanery, and Jericho was working hard. I was really surprised Jericho didn’t hold the tights or bottom rope, he just flat out bested him and learned from their prior encounter. This wouldn’t have been out of place on an ROH PPV. ***¾

A really enjoyable month of ROH action. Check out the Pure and World title matches for sure.

On March 23rd, it was announced that for the very first time, Supercard of Honor would not be taking place during WrestleMania weekend. Instead, it will take place two weeks later in Atlantic City. I think this is absolutely the right move. Mania weekend continues to be too crowded, and you’re better off letting WWE have the weekend and doing your own thing later. Since March was light on ROH title matches, I will return with a combined March and April match review collection titled “Road to Supercard of Honor 2025” on May 1st or 2nd.