ROH Women’s World Television Title Match
Red Velvet vs. La Catalina
ROH on HonorClub #114 – Boston, MA – 5.1.2025

Red Velvet has been champion since 7.26.2024 and this is her seventh defense. Catalina earned this title shot by defeating Taya Valkyrie in a #1 contenders match on the “Prelude to Spring BreakThru” special. Just like Athena, Velvet mocked Catalina’s dancing at the start of the match, but does acquiesce to following the Code of Honor. Velvet goes to Catalina’s eyes to escape an electric chair position, then begs off when Catalina threatens her with a punch. Catalina picks up the pace so she can pull off a shotgun dropkick, leading to her landing a somersault senton off of the apron and to the floor. Catalina blocks being sent face first into the ring post and batters Velvet with repeated forearm strikes to the chest. Velvet however trips Catalina on the ring apron, causing her to crash face first on the ring’s edge. Velvet throws Catalina’s left leg and knee into the ring post and continues to wear it down back inside the ring. Catalina uses her right leg for a Busaiku Knee to end Velvet’s offensive stride. Catalina hip attacks Velvet in the corner and gets two with a fisherman’s suplex. Catalina lands a double underhook facebuster, doing some damage to her knee upon landing. Velvet evades a hip attack against the ropes, drop toe holds Catalina onto the middle rope, and delivers double knees to Catalina’s shoulder blades. Catalina kicks out of The Mix and lands a shotgun dropkick off of the middle rope. She uses the ropes in the corner to help pull off an electric chair slam. Velvet catches Catalina on the top turnbuckle and brings her down with a superplex. Velvet gives Catalina’s leg a dragonscrew leg whip before applying a half crab, which Catalina escapes by getting to the ropes. Velvet decides to grab the half crab again, and Catalina submits at 9:08. Velvet grabs the bottom rope, making me think she was supposed to grab it for leverage before Catalina tapped. but either Catalina grabbed it too early, or thought Velvet had hold of the rope. Ian does an incredible job on commentary covering it up. Anyways, I thought this was about as good as Velvet’s other defenses, mostly because she has a formula that she more or less sticks to. Catalina did a really good job conveying she was in pain throughout the match, even when on offense, which definitely helped the overall story. Good crowd too. ***

On the May 7th episode of Dynamite, Christian Cage brought The Patriarchy of Shayne Wayne, Kip Sabian, and ROH World Television Champion Nick Wayne to the ring. Christian had set up for Wayne to defend his ROH World TV title against a mystery opponent, with Christian mentioning that it is somebody from his own past. Rhino then made his way to the ring, with Wayne immediately looking worried. Christian tells Wayne “you’ve got this” with a shit eating grin on his face.

ROH World Television Championship
Nick Wayne vs. Rhino
AEW Dynamite #292 – Detroit, MI – 5.7.2025

Nick Wayne has been champion since 4.17.2025 and this is his second defense. Christian Cage, Shayna Wayne and Kip Sabian of the Patriarchy are in his corner. This would be Rhino’s first ROH match since Mike Bennett’s Bachelor Party Unauthorized event in 2014. Wayne gets his knees up to block a corner attack and takes Rhino off of his feet with a dropkick from the second turnbuckle. When Rhino begins to fight free from a rear chinlock, Wayne throws him down to the mat by his hair. Rhino rolls away from a standing moonsault. Rhino tackles Wayne in the corner and brings him out with a belly-to-belly suplex. Sabian jumps to the apron to distract the referee when Rhino looks to be going for the Gore. Despite Cage grabbing Rhino’s boot, Rhino is able to cut off a charge from Wayne with a spinebuster. Wayne side steps a Gore attempt and drops Rhino with the Killswitch for the pin at 3:22. Not much to the match at all – mostly an extended angle to further the dissension between Christian and Wayne. Christian makes himself the center of attention after the match by dropping the title instead of handing it to Wayne or putting it around his waist. *

After this defense, Wayne made his way to New Japan for the Best of the Super Juniors tournament. He started very strong, defeating SHO, Robbie Eagles, and the current IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion El Desperado in his first three tournament matches. Fellow AEW roster member Kevin Knight would serve him his first loss, but Wayne would rebound the next night with a win against Ryusuke Taguchi. That would be Wayne’s last tournament victory, losing the rest of his matches to Taiji Ishimori, YOH, MAO, and Titán, ending the tournament with a 4-5 record.

Dean Rasmussen, one of the founding fathers of the beloved and influential Death Valley Driver Video Review (DVDVR) website passed away in May 2023. The following April, ACTION Wrestling held a tribute show titled DEAN~! during WrestleMania weekend. The show was an eclectic mix of wrestling styles, and received acclaim and praise from fans and pundits alike. One of the producers of that event was Phil Schneider, host of the “Way of the Blade” podcast, and author of the “Way of the Blade: AEW Edition” book. Tony Khan appeared on the April 22nd Way of the Blade podcast episode and announced that AEW would co-promote a 2nd and 3rd tribute show for Dean Rasmussen. The second installment took place the day before Double Or Nothing 2025 in Glendale, AZ, in the WaterDance Plaza in front of the Desert Diamond Arena, and was free to attend. On May 15th, the event suddenly changed to a copromoted show between ACTION Wrestling and Ring of Honor instead of AEW, and an ROH Pure Title match was added to the card. The show aired on the ROH YouTube channel for free three days later. The Pure title match was also broadcast on ROH on HonorClub #118.

ROH Pure Championship
Lee Moriarty vs. Matt Mako
ACTIONxROH DEAN~!!! 2 – Glendale, AZ – 5.24.2025

Moriarty has been champion since 7.26.2024 and this is his seventh defense. Shawn Dean is in Moriarty’s corner. Mako debuted for ROH at the end of 2021 as Matt Makowski, winning two matches on “Week By Week” and the “Top Prospect Special.” Mako’s first appearance in ROH under the current regime occurred just nine days prior to this event, losing to Wheeler YUTA in Atlantic City. That said, Mako did defeat Arez on the first DEAN event, so in that chronology, this title match does feel earned.

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 not acknowledged, aside from noting that they are watching in the back.

Mako forces Moriarty to use two of his rope breaks within the first ninety seconds of the match by attempting two cross armbreakers. Moriarty comes back with La Mistica into a Border City Stretch, resulting in Mako using his first rope break. Moriarty snaps Mako’s arm across the top rope and hits a top rope dropkick onto the arm. Moriarty uses his legs and own arm to outstretch Mako’s arm on the mat, and Mako uses his feet to escape, losing yet another rope break. Moriarty snaps Mako’s arm before releasing the hold. Mako is able to catch a rib kick and back elbow Moriarty, leading to Mako giving Moriarty a Saito suplex so he can buy some time to recover. Mako butterfly suplexes Moriarty before landing a spinwheel kick for two. Moriarty rolls to dodge and attack from Mako. He then sends Mako into the middle turnbuckle with a Complete Shot and kicks his bad arm. Moriarty gives Mako a modified Fang! in which Mako lands on his arm. Mako uses his third and final rope break to escape a Border City Stretch. Mako is able to pull off a superplex thanks to Moriarty’s positioning himself. He then slams Moriarty into another cross armbreaker. Moriarty tries to pin him to escape, but Mako pivots, and Moriarty also has to use his final rope break to escape. Mako looks for a grounded sleeper hold. Moriarty turns it into a European Clutch for two. Moriarty then schoolboys Mako into the Border City Stretch. Moriarty digs his boot underneath Mako’s chin while keeping the hold applied, and Mako taps out at 10:04. This was a rare instance where the challenger stole the show. Mako stepped up and showed out, convincingly putting the champion in peril on several occasions. He is exactly the kind of competitor I want to see featured in a Pure division. ***¼

June 4th was AEW Fyter Fest, with Dynamite and Collision taping back-to-back. On Dynamite, Lexy Nair interviewed The Patriarchy of Christian Cage, Shayna Wayne and ROH World Television champion Nick Wayne, who had just returned from his tour with New Japan. Christian says Nick had a good showing in Japan, but he did not win the Best of the Super Juniors. He may have had a grueling schedule, including fourteen matches in twenty-two days, but Christian isn’t making any excuses. While that schedule would earn anybody a well deserved night off, Nick isn’t just anybody, and he will continue the momentum from Japan tonight by defending the ROH TV title. Nick isn’t worried, reminding Christian that he sprung a title challenge on him right before he left for Japan, and it was light work. Christian said things will be different tonight, as Nick will defend his title in a four-way. Christian says he and Shayna will watch the match up close, and tells Nick that Kip Sabian is working on an “even bigger surprise.”

ROH World Television Championship
Nick Wayne vs. AR Fox vs. Lee Johnson vs. Sammy Guevara
AEW Collision #96; Fyter Fest 2025 – Denver, CO – 6.4.2025

Nick Wayne has been champion since 4.17.2025 and this is his third defense.Ricochet joins commentary for the bout. Blake Christian is in Johnson’s corner, and The Patriarchy of Christian Cage and Shayna Wayne are in Nick’s corner. Guevara ruled the roost to start, mostly keeping Johnson and Wayne at bay while he and Fox went at it in the ring. Blake Christian distracted Guevara when he looked to dive onto Fox, and instead, Johnson shoved Guevara to the floor and landed a tope con hilo. Fox then caught Johnson with a kickflip moonsault. Christian then assists Johnson by landing a step-up tope con hilo off of the ring steps and onto Fox. Johnson and Fox go at it during the break as Wayne and Guevara lick their wounds. Johnson does deliver a brainbuster to Guevara when he enters the ring, but Wayne breaks up the pin just in time. The fans chant “Daddy’s boy” at Wayne as he wears down Guevara’s mid-section with knee lifts. Guevara cuts off Wayne with a jump-up knee strike. Wayne blocks a rolling Ace Crusher with a backslide. Guevara kicks out, knees Wayne in the face again, and nails him with the GTH. Johnson breaks up Guevara’s pin and gives him a rolling Death Valley Driver. Johnson then knee strikes Guevara before landing a standing moonsault for two. Fox sends Guevara outside with a step-up enzuigiri. Wayne dragon suplexes Johnson, leaving Wayne and Fox face-to-face. Fox pummels Wayne after a Thesz Press. He big boots Wayne before dropping him with the Foxcatcher. Fox spikes Johnson with a rope-assisted Destroyer, and then wipes out all three of his opponents with a swan dive to the floor. He brings Wayne back into the ring. Wayne gets his knees up to block Air Fox. Wayne then pins him with the Prodigy Plex at 11:07. We can just call this what it is – a spotfest to kill time in a four hour block. It was pretty fun, and Guevara and Fox especially killed it. Christian celebrates with Nick’s title after the match. Unlike the Rhino match, though, Christian actually places the title on Nick’s shoulder and gives him a hug. ***

As part of a multi-day event in Mexico, Bandido would defend the ROH World Title in Arena Mexico for the first time ever.

ROH World Championship
Bandido vs. Mascara Dorada
CMLL Martes Populares; CMLL vs. AEW/ROH – Mexico City, Mexico – 6.17.2025

Bandido has been champion since 4.6.2025 and this is his second defense. Dorada saved Bandido from a beatdown at the hands of Blake Christian and Lee Johnson, and then indicated his interest in challenging Bandido for his title, leading to this bout. Just a few minutes into the match, Bandido goes for the 21 Plex, but Dorada evades. Bandido points a finger gun in his face, indicating to Dorada he is in control of the bout. Dorada takes back control with a corkscrew plancha to the floor. He lands a 450 splash back in the ring for two. Bandido pops up Dorada into an Ace Crusher as he comes off of the ropes. Bandido pump kicks him to the floor and follows with a Fosbury Flop. He deadlifts Dorada back into the ring with a superplex for two. Dorada and Bandido follow each other into opposite corners with strikes. When Dorada slides to the outside, Bandido surprises him with a tope con hilo over the ring post. Dorada leans on the middle rope back in the ring, luring Bandido into a 21 Plex attempt. When Bandido takes the bait, Dorada runs away, pops himself onto Bandido’s shoulders, and then spikes him with a huracanrana for two. The two men make their way to the ring apron as they exchange strikes. They end up cracking each other with stereo Sick Kicks and fall to the floor. Both men make it back into the ring right before the count. They trade slams and throws on the entrance ramp. Dorada climbs up one of the video walls and lands a crossbody onto Bandido! Dorada hip tosses him back into the ring and then runs the length of the entrance ramp into a Fosbury Press for two. Bandido rolls through a sunset flip and puts Dorada into a standing wrist capture pin. Dorada sits up while he is being held but ends up maneuvering himself into a belly-to-back piledriver from Bandido. Dorada seats Bandido on the top rope. He pops himself up into a headstand on Bandido’s shoulders before bringing him down with a super Frankensteiner. He follows that up with a shooting star press for two. Bandido catches Dorada coming off of the ropes with the X-Knee. Bandido successfully pulls off the 21 Plex but only gets a two count. Dorada gets up his feet in the corner to block an attack. When he goes for another 450 splash, Bandido cuts him off with a gamengiri. Bandido brings him down with an avalanche fallaway slam. A second 21 Plex gets Bandido the pin at 19:31. That was a spectacle. The match was basically back and forth the entire time, with each competitor having to dig deeper and deeper to keep going and also escalate their offense. The crowd and environment also made for a very distinct and unique title bout. They were certain at one point Dorada had this match in the bag. Easily one of the best and most memorable World Title defenses of the Khan era. ****¼

This match would also be broadcasted with English commentary as part of Global Wars Mexico the following week. After the match, with assistance from his fellow Don Callis Family member Rocky Romero, Konosuke Takeshita challenged Bandido to an ROH World Title match at Supercard of Honor. Takeshita is salty that Bandido prevented him from winning the number one spot in the Casino Gauntlet match at “All In”, so now he wants to take Bandido’s World Title as a measure of revenge. Takeshita says he will etch his name in the ROH history books at Supercard of Honor. Bandido would quickly accept.

All three other Global Wars matches have Supercard of Honor implications, so let’s take a look at those as well:

Athena & Red Velvet vs. Thunder Rosa & Persephone
ROHxCMLL Global Wars Mexico – Mexico City, Mexico – 6.26.2025

The same day this aired, it was announced Thunder Rosa would challenge Athena for the Women’s World title at Supercard of Honor. This is a first time teaming of the current ROH Women’s World Champion and ROH Women’s Television Champion. Persephone defeated Red Velvet last week at the CMLL Martes Populares; CMLL vs. AEW/ROH event. Athena and Velvet end up isolating Persephone until she catches Velvet coming off of the ropes with a clothesline. Velvet saves Athena from being pinned twice by Rosa: once after a suplex, and another after a lungblower/flying dropkick sequence from Rosa and Persephone. Persephone then saves Rosa from being pinned by Velvet after a rolling enzuigiri. After Rosa took out Athena with a Busaiku knee, Rosa ducked a rolling gamengiri from Velvet and rolled her up for the pin at 7:16. Honestly the match was a bit of nothingburger. I don’t feel like anyone was truly highlighted or gained momentum from this bout. I think Persephone vs. Velvet would be a solid TV title match for Supercard if they decide to go that route (they didn’t). **

ROH World Television Championship Proving Ground Match
Nick Wayne vs. Titán
ROHxCMLL Global Wars Mexico – Mexico City, Mexico – 6.26.2025

If Titán wins this match or lasts the ten minute time limit, he will earn a future World Television Championship match. Titán defeated Nick Wayne in the NJPW Best of the Super Juniors tournament last month. He is also the current CMLL World Welterweight Champion. Wayne tries embarrassing Titán by not shaking his hand and scraping his forearm in his face. Titán picks up the pace and snaps off a Frankensteiner, but Wayne shoves Titán to the floor when he perches himself on the top turnbuckle. Wayne throws him into the barricades before bringing him back into the ring. Wayne teases taking off Titán’s mask, angering the Arena Mexico patrons. Titán cuts off Wayne with a series of kicks out of the corner. He also sends Wayne crashing into the barricades with a suicide dive. Back in the ring, Titán gets two with a springboard splash. Wayne reverses an Irish whip reversal and drops Titán with a back handspring Ace Crusher for two. Wayne drops Titán with a standing shiranui, and Titán pops up to superkick Wayne before crumbling. Titán ripcords Wayne into a slam and pulls himself up to the top turnbuckle. Wayne rolls out of the ring, so Titán climbs down and instead lands a tope con hilo onto the champion. Wayne gets his knees up to block Titán’s second springboard splash. Titán counters the Prodigy Plex into a schoolboy for two. Titán then spikes Wayne with a tornado DDT. Titán is about to put Wayne in Llave Immortal (Muta Lock) when the 10:00 time limit expires, which earns him a future title shot. Wayne did a great job as the cocky young American looking to embarrass the luchador in his home country, and Titán was great at thwarting Wayne’s attempt. I’d always prefer someone to win a Proving Ground match rather than lasting the time limit, but they’re treating the NJPW match where Titán defeated Wayne as canon, so in this instance it is a little less irksome. These two have really good chemistry and I am happy we will see them against each other for a third time. ***

On Monday July 7th, it was officially announced that Titán would challenge Nick Wayne for the TV Title at Supercard of Honor. That means that Titán and Nick Wayne will have wrestled three singles matches for three different promotions in three different countries in three consecutive months. That has to be a first.

Blue Panther vs. Lee Moriarty
ROHxCMLL Global Wars Mexico – Mexico City, Mexico – 6.26.2025

Shane Taylor, Carlie Bravo and Shawn Dean are in Moriarty’s corner. Moriarty’s Pure Title is not on the line. This Panther’s ROH singles debut. He won both of his previous two ROH matches: a six man tag in February, and the Cibernetico at “DEAN~!!!2” with Hologram. Moriarty claps for himself when he steps over Panther and armdrags him to the corner. He almost pins Panther in a European Clutch, which only increases his confidence. Moriarty stomps Panther down in the corner and digs his foot into Panther’s neck. Panther comes back with a series of clotheslines. Moriarty enzuigiri’s Panther to the floor and sends him into the barricades with a suicide dive. Moriarty takes him back into the ring with a superplex for two. He puts Panther in the Border City Stretch until Panther makes it to the ropes. Panther once again charges and knocks down Moriarty with a clothesline for two. Panther clotheslines Moriarty to the floor and then crossbody’s off of the entrance ramp onto him. In the ring, Panther takes down Moriarty with a second rope crossbody. Moriarty rolling kicks Panther in the stomach. He when he looks to pull Panther into something, Panther pulls him down into an armbreaker. Moriarty taps out at 11:17. The crowd loved Panther which helped this match quite a bit. Moriarty did most of the heavy lifting as Panther’s offense was almost exclusively clotheslines. This match would earn Panther a Pure Title match at Supercard of Honor, and I think the structure of those matches will be helpful. **½

The Infantry and Shane Taylor beat down Panther after the match. The Infantry holds Panther down while Taylor sets up for a second rope splash. Bryan Danielson’s music hits and he sends Hologram, Hijo de Blue Panther and Mascara Dorada out to come to the aid of his hero. Danielson gives Taylor a Busaiku Knee for good measure. I love that Danielson basically shows up to see Blue Panther and no other time.

ROH World Tag Team Championship #1 Contender’s Match
The Infantry (Carlie Bravo & Shawn Dean) vs. Top Flight (Dante Martin & Darius Martin)
ROH on HonorClub #123 – Kent, WA – 7.3.2025

The winning team faces The Sons of Texas in a tag title match at Supercard of Honor. Shane Taylor, Lee Moriarty and Trish Adora are in The Infantry’s corner, and Leila Grey is in Top Flight’s corner. A distraction from Shane Taylor leads to Darius giving chase to Bravo on the floor. Dean surprises him with a shoulder tackle, and the Infantry then beat down Darius back in the ring. Bravo unwittingly sends Dean into Darius’ boots in the corner. He then drops Bravo and Dean simultaneously with a DDT and reverse DDT before tagging in Dante. Dante cracks the Infantry in the chin with jump-up knee strikes and then lays them out with a springboard somersault senton. As Dante and Dean are switching waistlocks, Trish Adora jumps on the apron to distract Dante. Although Dante has a short setback, he is able to send Bravo crashing into Dean, and then feed him to Darius for springboard Complete Shot. Leila Grey neutralizes Adora when she tries to interfere again. Bravo pulls Dante to the floor and knocks him out with a haymaker. Darius O’Connor rolls Dean. When Dean pushes Darius to the ropes to break the pin, Moriarty nails him with his Pure title belt. The referee misses the shot, and Dean pins Darius at 9:27. A pretty generic tag team match from two very colorful teams. The interference made Top Flight look kind of dumb more than it did make the Infantry look dastardly or cowardly. The actual wrestling was good, but as a whole package it was lacking. **½

In this two month span, we had a classic World title bout, some really fun and unique atmospheres in DEAN and Global Wars, and a better than usual PPV build. I’ll take it.