The two months before the Global Wars Cincinnati event and the Death Before Dishonor PPV were loaded, so let’s get right to it.

ROH World Tag Team Championship
La Facción Ingobernable (Sammy Guevara & The Beast Mortos) vs. El Sky Team (Místico
& Máscara Dorada)
CMLL Viernes Espectacular – Mexico City, Mexico – 6.26.2026
ROH on HonorClub #173 – 7.3.2026

LFI have been champions since 12.5.2025 and this is their third defense. Right off the bat, the challengers took out the champions with double dives. Guevara and Mortos did their best to isolate Místico to ensure double dives could not happen again, with Mortos taking out Dorada with a pop-up Samoan Drop. Unfortunately for the champs, Dorada came back and sent Guevara to the floor with a headscissors takedown. He also assisted Místico with a pop-up headscissors takedown to send Mortos to the floor. Back in the ring, they failed to keep Dorada isolated, with Guevara even trying to hold him back by his mask. Dorada faked out a dive to Mortos, maintaining the mental advantage for his team. When Místico squared off against Guevara, Mortos kneed him in the back from the apron, enabling LFI to beat him down once again. Místico takes them down once more, but when he calls Dorada in the ring for another double dive, LFI re-enters the fray. Guevara ends up delivering the GTH to Místico for two. Mortos blocks a super Frankensteiner from Dorada with an Avalanche Powerslam, which Guevara follows up right away with a Senton Atomico. Místico tackles Guevara onto Mortos and Dorada to break the pin. Evasion of offense leads to LFI both being on the floor, where Dorada and Místico land back-to-back dives. In the ring, Guevara kicks Místico low when referee Aubrey Edwards is distracted, but Místico still manages to kick out of his small package. Dorada jumps in with a springboard crucifix driver to Guevara, and follows him to the floor with a springboard shooting star press. In the ring, Místico takes down Mortos in La Mística, and Mortos verbally submits at 19:00, making El Sky Team the new champions. I liked what they were going for, with LFI trying to ground one of the high-fliers to prevent them from overwhelming them, and it not working out. They were out of their league against two of CMLL’s best, and once Sky Team separated LFI for good, it was over. I thought the first LFI defense was disappointing and unfortunately, because of the high bar Místico has set for himself, this also falls into that category. It was good, even very good, just not great. I can’t imagine Sky Team doing any Florida tapings but I can envision them defending in AEW or post-AEW TV ROH tapings. ***½

History was made on July 4th, as the ROH World Title was defended for the very first time in Italy:

ROH World Championship
Bandido vs. Joe Lando
BZW Jackpot – Lille, France – 7.4.2026

Bandido has been champion since 4.6.2025 and this is his eleventh defense. Lando is a former RevPro Undisputed British Cruiserweight Champion. Commentary for this event is in French, so if they discuss how Lando earned this title match, it is lost on me. The match was mostly Bandido versus a guy who emulates 2015 Will Ospreay. That sounds like a shot, but it’s more to give an idea for those of you who have not seen Lando. The champion was giving Lando a bit of a gut check on his home turf, one upping him on dives and strikes throughout the match, though Lando would surprise him with his own impressive offense along the way. Lando would block Bandido’s first two X-knee attempts in the match, and Bandido only pulled it off the third time when he caught Lando’s back handspring and delivered the move. Right after, Bandido delivered the 21 Plex for the pin at 17:02. This was a solid exhibition enhanced by an excited crowd. There were some technical issues with the video, sometimes replaying clips when the audio went off sync, and I wonder if those issues are why this match wasn’t included as part of the weekly show, like the CMLL title defenses have been. ***

ROH World Championship
Bandido vs. Bryan Keith
ROH on HonorClub #174 – 7.9.2026

Bandido has been champion since 4.6.2025 and this is his twelfth defense. Keith does not adhere to the Code of Honor handshake. It’s impressive that Keith kept pace with Bandido in the opening exchange, but even more impressive he kept his poncho on the entire time. Keith mauled Bandido on the floor, and when Bandido grabbed a waistlock in the ring, Keith immediately grabbed the ropes and threw Bandido across the ring with a suplex. After trading t-bone suplexes, Bandido successfully pulled off his O’Connor roll German suplex that Keith thwarted earlier. Bandido staggered Keith with three Superman punches before taking him out on the floor with a suicide dive. In the ring, Keith fought his way out of an X-knee and attempted to slow down the champion with a front facelock. He struck Bandido in the face with a knee prior to planting him with a spin-out sit-out powerbomb to earn a two count. Keith pulled a fork out of his pants, and while referee Aubrey Edwards disposed of it, Keith pulled a second fork out of his knee pad. Bandido fortunately saw it coming and was able to use his foot to flip Keith over. With the fork out of the ring, Keith came charging and was met with the X-knee. Keith crumpled and Bandido immediately covered him for two. Keith caught Bandido on the top turnbuckle and brought him down with an exploder superplex. Another knee strike led to a two count. Bandido then managed to counter Keith’s Tiger Driver attempt into a huracanrana and got the pin at 13:40. Something I always appreciate in a company’s top champion is adaptability. Keith was able to keep pace and over Bandido, and also showed that he was willing to cheat to win. With these factors against him, how would Bandido overcome the challenger? By catching them off guard and using Keith’s own momentum against him. Leaning into the gunslinger motif of the match, Bandido dodged Keith’s bullet rather than putting one in Keith himself. It’s a match I can see them coming back to down the line. It had the same issue as many of Bandido’s non PPV defenses, where the shot doesn’t feel earned, but I can’t say he was not believable. Bravo, Keith. ***½

Just two days later, Bandido defend his title on AEW Collision:

ROH World Championship
Bandido vs. Katsuyori Shibata
AEW Collision #152 – Roanoke, VA – 7.11.2026

Bandido has been champion since 4.6.2025 and this is his thirteenth defense. Shibata earned this match due to being undefeated in ROH since 2023. He lost his Pure Title on AEW Rampage, so this stat is technically correct. It seemed like Shibata was an honorable competitor, not attacking Bandido against the ropes, obeying the Code of Honor, but then he used a handshake to bait Bandido into a kick to the gut. He also gave Bandido a low blow behind the referee’s back. After beating down Bandido ringside, Shibata pulled at Bandido’s mask back inside the ring. After they knocked one another down with backfists, they made their way to the apron, where Shibata gave Bandido a DDT, and then a suplex onto the floor. Bandido fired up when Shibata chopped him after a failed pin attempt. Bandido fought back with his own chops, and halted Shibata’s momentum with a pair of superkicks and a gorilla press slam. Shibata kicked out of the subsequent shooting star press, and also blocked Bandido’s X-knee. After a hesitation dropkick, Shibata butterfly suplexed Bandido for two. Bandido ducked a PK and completed the X-knee, leading to a 21 Plex attempt. Shibata countered into an O’Connor Roll for two, and landed the PK after Bandido kicked out. It took moments for both men to get back to their feet. Shibata attempted another low blow, but this time, Bandido caught Shibata in the act. While still holding onto Shibata’s wrist, Bandido converted into an Oklahoma Roll and pinned Shibata at 12:33. “Dishonor doesn’t pay” is a story that I can jive with, especially when it’s someone like Shibata breaking bad. It also had a similar vibe to the Bryan Keith defense, as like in that match, Bandido took an opening when it presented itself to defeat a competitor that had otherwise overwhelmed him. I think this could have been even better on an ROH PPV but was still very good for what it was. ***½

ROH World Six Man Tag Team Championship
Dalton Castle & The Outrunners (Truth Magnum & Turbo Floyd) vs. The Premier Athletes (Tony Nese & Ariya Daivari) & BEEF
ROH on HonorClub #175 – Jacksonville, FL – 7.16.2026

Dalton Castle & The Outrunners have been champions since 5.15.2026 and this is their first defense. “Smart” Mark Sterling and Stori Denali are in the Premier Athletes and BEEF’s corner. They’re also 0-2 as a trio, so I am puzzled as to how they earned a title shot. Commentary mentions that BEEF’s asset to the Premier Athletes was his raw power, which we would see on display during this match. However, BEEF was not a team player. The Premier Athletes wanted him to cheat and use a title belt as a weapon, but he refused. That decision cost his team the advantage, with Magnum Floyd backdropping BEEF and bringing in a fresh Floyd. Floyd is still wrestling with the title around his waist, by the way. BEEF regained control with a body block to Floyd, and assisted his partners with triple team offense to Floyd in the corner. BEEF would save Daivari from succumbing to Castle’s Bang-A-Rang, but unfortunately would errantly take out Daivari with a Body Block when aiming for Castle. Total Recall and the Predator double elbow from the Outrunners, combined with a falling double axle handle from Castle, gave the champions the pin on BEEF at 11:07. A pretty simple story of the more well-oiled team getting the better of a tag team with a partner they can’t get on the same page with. Regardless of their legitimacy as challengers, the Athletes and BEEF did a good job and were solid fodder for Castle and The Outruners’ first defense. **¾

Ian Riccaboni interviews Castle and the Outrunners after the match. Castle says they are the greatest trio to ever step in a wrestling ring. Ian questions them about another undefeated trio in ROH – The Lethal Twist. Castle becomes irate just hearing the name. Castle says Floyd is a well-oiled machine and a rock monster, and that Magnum can’t be stopped. Magnum says if you haven’t seen Dalton Castle and the Outrunners, you haven’t seen nothing yet.

ROH World Tag Team Championship
El Sky Team (Místico & Máscara Dorada) vs. Los Hermanos Chávez (Ángel de Oro & Niebla Roja)</b CMLL Viernes Espectacular – Mexico City, Mexico – 7.10.2026
ROH on HonorClub #175 – 7.16.2026

El Sky Team have been champions since 6.26.2026 and this is their first defense. Los Hermanos Chávez defeated El Sky Team in a trios match last Friday and then challenged them to this title bout. Los Hermanos Chávez are also the current CMLL World Tag Team and NJPW STRONG Openweight Tag Team champions. As part of a 20th anniversary celebration, Los Hermanos wore masks and colors identical to Sky Team. It made for a very confusing watch at times. After a pair of suicide dives, Los Hermanos double teamed Místico in the ring, and kicked Dorada in the hamstring when he looked to interject. As Los Hermanos were showboating, the champions recovered on the stage and dove back in, sending the challengers to the floor and following with corkscrew pescados. Dorada seems to have hurt his head when taking out one of the brothers with a headscissors. There was a bit of stalling after so if it was not legitimate, they did a good job making it seem as such. More hot dogging from Los Hermanos costs them, as Místico shoves them together and takes them both out with headscissors. Both Místico and Dorada take out Oro and Roja with stereo slingshot Frankensteiners to the floor. The challengers were able to stop the champions ascending the ropes, and both delivered dropkicks while the champs were in trees of woe, for two. Místico and Dorada then caught Los Hermanos on the ropes and brought them back into the ring with springboard Frankensteiners for two. Roja gives Místico a Falcon Arrow, and Oro comes off the middle rope with a double underhook facebuster to Dorada onto Místico, and both Místico and Dorada kick out of the subsequent pin, much to the surprise of the challengers. Místico assists Dorada with a step-up Frankensteiner, taking Oro off of the apron and to the floor. With him out of the picture, Místico submits Roja to La Mística at 13:55. I understand that they were intentionally mirroring each other, but watching one team do stuff, then the other team do similar stuff, got boring. The last couple of minutes were excellent, but the rest of the time was filled with repetitive offense. ***

ROH World Television Championship
Lio Rush vs. Lee Johnson
ROH on HonorClub #175 – Jacksonville, FL – 7.16.2026

Lio Rush has been champion since 6.18.2026 and this is his first defense. Johnson has a singles match victory over Lio Rush from December of 2025, so that’s at least something. Johnson held onto the title prior to the bell ringing, which commentary points out is a bad omen in other sports, such as holding the Stanley Cup before winning it. Although Rush had Johsnon’s number early on, Johnson’s luck turned around with a back suplex onto the ring apron. Rush gets momentum back on his side with a spear. After a suicide dive, Rush busted out a Jackhammer back inside of the ring for two. Rush delivered a pair of cutters during his offense, and when he tried for one off of the middle rope, Johnson shoved him away and took down the champion with a moonsault into a reverse DDT. Johnson is spooked by Rush getting up after a half-nelson suplex. A second one keeps Rush down for a bit longer, but when he attempts a third, Rush bit his fingers, and took him down with a spinning enzuigiri. Johnson blocked the Come Up the first time, but the second time it connected and got Rush a two count. A distraction from Christian allowed for Johnson to land a tope con hilo, followed by a running Ace Crusher, superkick, and sit-out powerbomb, but even after all of that, Rush kicked out of his pin attempt. Rush evaded a frog splash and brought down Johnson with a moonsault slam. Rush then locked Johnson in his bridging cravate until Johnson submitted at 13:06. This match implemented more strength based offense into Rush’s repertoire than we have seen before, and continued to establish his grounded cravate as his new finisher. While not overtly stated at this point, it is also interesting that the TV title has become the thing that continues to allude Johnson despite his multiple attempts against multiple champions. Rush’s character work resulting in him losing focus took the match off the rails momentarily but they managed to get things back on track. It’s no surprise that this was a very good match. ***½

The same night as this episode aired, Lee Moriarty defended his Pure Title against a man who once reigned the division with an Octopus’ grip:

ROH Pure Championship
Lee Moriarty vs. Jonathan Gresham
PRODUCE Volume 2: TAIGASTYLE – Jersey City, NJ – 7.16.2026

Moriarty has been champion since 7.26.2024 and this is his seventeenth defense. Moriarty issued this challenge after the first PRODUCE show, and after he and Gresham wrestled to a Draw in February. He wants to prove he is the greatest Pure Champion of all time. In Summer 2022, Gresham successfully defended the ROH World Title against Moriarty. The Pure Rules can be found here. The judges for this match are Ryan Clancy, Nick Knowledge and Gabby LiSpisa.

Gresham asserts his dominance by having Moriarty be the first person to use his rope break. He does so by repeatedly slamming Moriarty’s knee into the canvas until Moriarty grabs the bottom rope. While Gresham did more damage to his knee, Moriarty was able to force Gresham to use his first rope break by reversing a figure four leg lock. When Gresham ends a waistlock exchange by drop toe holding Moriarty, Moriarty braces himself by placing both hands on the middle rope. Referee Adam Gault decides to count that as Moriarty using his second rope break. When Moriarty drop toe holds Gresham, Gresham halts himself, so Moriarty pushes him into the ropes so that Gresham will also lose his second rope break. Earlier in the match, they had reversed hip tosses and tumbled to the floor. When they did it a second time, they both wrapped their arms around the ropes to remain inside the ring, and it was decided that it did not count as a rope break for either man. While the referee was disposing of some loose athletic tape that Gresham intentionally dropped, Gresham nut tapped Moriarty behind his back. As they exchange nearfall attempts, Gresham sneaks in a suicide dive to the floor. He hops back into the ring with an armdrag into a cradle. Moriarty escapes that, and then wheelbarrows Gresham into a European Clutch for the pin at 21:24. This felt like a match where they told you how important it was for them to win rather than showing it. There was some intensity to the action, but no real sense of urgency or importance. Then it just sort of ended. It had some good moments but not enough connective tissue to make it a satisfying whole. It started stronger than it ended, which is never a good thing. As down as I sound on this match, it was still pretty good, it just isn’t the classic you would hope these two would produce (no pun intended.) ***

ROH World Television Championship
Lio Rush vs. 23 Hazard
Limitless Wrestling “Crunch Time” – Westbrook, ME – 7.17.2026

Lio Rush has been champion since 6.18.2026 and this is his second defense. This was not originally a title match, but Hazard challenged Rush to put the title on the line before the bell, and Rush said “it’s fine” while nodding his head. Rush always says that, but ring announcer Rich Palladino deciphered that to be an agreement to put the title on the line, and thus it was. Hazard cheap shots Rush with a forearm smash to the shoulder blades, ignoring the Code of Honor. Rush picks up the pace to get the better of Hazard and gets two with a splash. When Rush grabs his neck, Hazard pushes him away, and positions the referee so he can poke Rush in the eyes without him noticing. Hazard then throws Rush upside down into the corner and throat first into the ropes. Rush bites Hazard’s hand as he looks to pick him off of the mat, and Hazard shuts him down with a backflip single-leg dropkick. When Hazard rebounds off of the ropes, Rush cuts him off with a spear. He gets two with a basement tornado enzuigiri. Hazard rolls out of the way out of the Rush Hour, so Rush comes down to the mat. Hazard cuts him off with a right hand and then delivers the Chin Check (a rebound haymaker) for two. Hazard also gets two with the SDT. Frustrated, Hazard grabs the title belt. The referee stops him from using it as a weapon, but as he disposes of it, Hazard tosses Rush a pair of brass knuckles and tries to convince the referee he used them. Hazard sneaks a roll-up attempt while they’re arguing. Rush sends Hazard to the apron with the Come Up and backhandspring kicks him to the floor, where he then lands a suicide dive. Back in the ring, Rush pins Hazard with the Black Thunder Bomb at 11:57. This was your garden variety indie wrestling match. I’m sure for the live crowd it was neat to have a surprise title defense, but it’s hardly worth going out of your way to see if you’re not an ROH die hard. **¾

ROH World Championship
Bandido vs. Adam Priest
AEW Collision #153 – Boston, MA – 7.18.2026

Bandido has been champion since 4.6.2025 and this is his fourteenth defense. Bandido successfully defended his title against Priest almost one year ago in his fourth title defense. Never a good sign when the challenger gets an “already in the ring” entrance. Priest mocks Bandido’s finger gun after stomping on his foot and giving him a dropkick. Bandido comes back with a pump kick and superkick, but when he tries a one-handed powerslam, Priest slides out and throws Bandido shoulder first into the corner twice. Priest wears down Bandido’s left arm during the commercial break, but that did not prevent Bandido from taking down Priest with two German suplexes and using his other arm for one-armed powerslam. More impressively, Bandido used his healthy arm to pull off a one-armed German suplex. Priest evaded a frog splash and spun Bandido into a jackknife pin for two. Bandido Yo! Throws Priest before attempting the 21 Plex. Priest holds onto the second rope to block it and then goes for a crossface chicken wing. Bandido armdrags Priest away and catches him coming off the ropes with a buggy-armed spinebuster. Priest grabs Bandido’s foot so Bandido cannot take off for the ropes, so Bandido kicks him in the face and backflips into a deadlift bridging German suplex for the pin at 7:00. They packed quite a lot into seven minutes, including a simple, effective story. That story made the finish all the more impressive as well. This was almost as good as their first bout. ***

On an ROH YouTube Special, The Outrunners and Bustah And The Brain defeated The Swirl and The Premier Athletes in an eight man tag team bout. After the match, The Swirl disposed of Alec Price and Jordan Oliver and put the boots to the Outrunners. Jay Lethal joined in and was ready to clobber Truth Magnum with his title belt when Dalton Castle came to the rescue. He sent Johnson and Christian running and dropped Lethal with the Bang-A-Rang.

ROH World Television Championship
Lio Rush vs. Main Man Oro
ROH on HonorClub #176 – Jacksonville, FL – 7.23.2026

Lio Rush has been champion since 6.18.2026 and this is his third defense. Oro is the former Oliver Carter/Oro Mensah from NXT. Commentary notes that his win over Mark Davidson on the previous week’s episode earned him this title bout. I guess! Oro baits Rush to the outside by picking up his title belt that is on the apron. He tosses it, and when Rush goes after it, Oro surprises him with a thrust kick to the side of the head. Rush bites Oro in the face when he takes him to the top turnbuckle, though Oro knocks him off the top and to the floor with a wall walk Pele kick. Oro mocks Rush’s as he puts the boots to him. Rush deceives Oro, whether intentionally or not, into a chop and a splash. Oro capoeira kicks Rush, and also delivers a rolling kick after Rush gives him a stunner. Rush maneuvers Oro into position to deliver the Come Up for two. Rush evades a flying savate kick but falls victim to a pop-up Pele kick, the same move Oro used to pin Davidson, for two. Rush bites Oro’s hand to escape his grasp and gives him another stunner. After a suicide dive on the floor, Rush brings him back in the ring and pins him with the Black Thunder Bomb at 8:39. This felt similar to the Hazard match. Rush more or less wrestled the same, and Oro is better than Hazard, but the vibe was similar. Like the majority of the ROH roster, Oro is a good wrestler who feels perennially listless. ***

Action Andretti attacks Rush from behind after the match. He grinds Rush’s face into the TV Title plate before smashing his face onto it. He puts Rush in a cravate choke, similar to the one Rush has used, until referees break them apart. As they check on Rush, Andretti tells the camera that the championship belongs to him.

On another ROH YouTube Special, they hyped up a rematch between Lee Moriarty and Angelico for the Pure Title on that week’s HonorClub episode. They justified the rematch by saying Angelico “took Moriarty to the limit” as his first title challenger, so two years into Moriarty’s reign, they are circling back to Angelico since he gave Moriarty a run for his money in that initial contest. That’s a pretty flimsy reason, but, Angelico at least had a recent singles win against Oro, the first match was terrific, and Angelico did make Moriarty spend all three of his rope breaks, so I can buy into it as a TV defense.

ROH Pure Championship
Lee Moriarty vs. Angelico
ROH on HonorClub #177 – Jacksonville, FL – 7.31.2026

Moriarty has been champion since 7.26.2024 and this is his eighteenth defense. The Pure Rules can be found here. The first five minutes of the match involve strictly grappling, with a lot of focus on one another’s wrists. Neither man kept a hold applied for too long, knowing that the other would figure out how to escape sooner or later. Moriarty uses his first rope break to escape an ankle lock while also in a spladle, which delights Angelico. Moriarty trips Angelico and maneuvers him into the Border City Stretch. Angelico uses his first rope break, and Moriarty holds up one finger in his face, taking away Angelico’s mental advantage over him. Moriarty kneels on Angelico’s left bicep while he twists and bends Angelico’s fingers on his right hand. Angelico shifts so he can place his foot on the rope, using his second rope break to escape Moriarty’s grasp. Moriarty cloverleafs Angelico’s arm and pulls him into a Bald Eagle stretch, which Angelico uses his third and final rope break to escape. Angelico picks up the intensity by pulling Moriarty down by his wrist into a single leg crab while keeping his arm key locked, pulling back Moriarty’s knee as far as he can. Moriarty uses his second rope break as fast as he can. Angelico rolls Moriarty into a Calf Crusher. Moriarty rolls back to alleviate the pressure and gets Angelico in a triangle choke. Angelico counters into a double hammerlock stretch, using his legs to keep the arms locked, and Moriarty uses his third and final rope break to escape. Just like their first match, Angelico has exhausted Moriarty’s rope breaks. Moriarty looks to pin Angelico the same way he did in their first match, with a hammerlock cradle where he sits down on him. Angelico escapes and they begin trading pinning combinations. Angelico mi paso’s Moriarty to the apron. Moriarty slides through Angelico’s legs and schoolboys him for two, and then pivots Angelico back into the Border City Stretch. Angelico taps out at 12:31. In the first match, Moriarty escaped by the skin of his teeth by capturing him in a cradle. Two years later, Moriarty decisively makes him submit in a rematch. It’s an easy, effective way to show the champion’s growth. These “human chess match” Pure title defenses are extremely up my alley, and these two are extremely good at it. What the heck, give Angelico a title run at some point. ***½

This episode was significant as it set up FOUR title matches for Death Before Dishonor:

After this match, we see Lexy Nair backstage with ROH World Champion Bandido and former TV Champion Nick Wayne. Lexy informs us that Bandido will defend the World championship against Nick at Death Before Dishonor. Nick reminds Lexy that he is the youngest person to hold both AEW and ROH gold, and that he held the TV title for 387 days. Bandido says those accomplishments mean nothing when you do not have honor. Wayne says honor does not win championships – talent does. He will set another record at DBD by becoming the youngest and greatest ROH World champion. Bandido says he will show Nick why they call him the most wanted.

On the July 30th episode of AEW Collision, STARDOM’s Hazuki pinned Athena in a six person tag team match. Athena then beat down and left Hazuki laying. This victory would give her a title shot against Athena at Death Before Dishonor. Athena says Hazuki got a gleam at her forever championship in that match, and at DBD, she will learn what everyone else has – that no man can touch her reign and that no woman can live up to her legacy, because she is forever. At DBD, Hazuki and her supporters will have to get over it.

Steph De Lander made her return to ROH for the first time in over three years and defeated Rachael Ellering in a Pure Rules match. De Lander showed a lack of familiarity with the rules, spending two rope breaks and being warned due to a close fist shot within the first 90 seconds of the contest. However, she adapted and threw a closed fist out of the view of referee Mike Posey before dropping Ellering with a spin-out facebuster to get the pin. Later in the episode, she calls herself the best Pure wrestler in Ring of Honor, and that she deserves a shot at the Women’s Pure championship. She says Deonna Purrazzo has been sitting at the top for too long, and soon, ROH will become SDL. Later in the episode, Deonna accepted the challenge for Death Before Dishonor. She says the outcome is the same for everyone who steps in the ring with her; they become fluent in Purrazzo.

Nigel McGuinness reminds us that he earned a Pure Title opportunity at Supercard of Honor, and that he will take his shot at Death Before Dishonor. The last two times he faced Lee Moriarty in Pure Rules matches, he lost. If he cannot defeat Moriarty on the third attempt, he should not be able to challenge for the title again. He ups the stakes and says if he does not defeat Moriarty at Death Before Dishonor, he will never wrestle in Ring of Honor again.

On the same YouTube special that set up Angelico’s Pure Title match, Isla Dawn challenged Red Velvet to a TV title match. She has won two singles matches since the last PPV, so I will take it. Later in the episode, Velvet accepted, and two weeks later the match took place.

ROH Women’s World Television Championship
Red Velvet vs. Isla Dawn
ROH on HonorClub #178 – Jacksonville, FL – 8.6.2026

Red Velvet has been champion since 12.5.2025 and this is her seventh defense. Dawn attacks Velvet as she enters the ring. Although Velvet does make a quick comeback, Dawn evades her double knee attack and against the ropes and German suplexes her for two. Dawn further attacked Velvet’s neck, and also kicked her in the thigh to stop a comeback. Velvet utilized a stunner to escape a potential Cobra Clutch, but Dawn pummeled her back down in the corner immediately. Dawn would stop a dive to the floor from Velvet and throw her into the ring ropes. However, Velvet side stepped a running knee strike, resulting in Dawn striking the steps and Velvet being able to send her into the steps a second time with a double knee attack. Velvet kept her momentum back in the ring with a DDT and another double knee attack to Dawn’s shoulder blades. Dawn caught the champion with a Shining Wizard for two. After taking an Iconoclasm from Velvet, Dawn managed to duck a rolling enzuigiri, and planet Velvet with a cradle slam for two. Dawn looked to pull Velvet into a Dragon Sleeper, but instead, Velvet pulled Dawn into a cradle for the pin at 12:26. These two had very good chemistry, and that ending makes me hopeful we will see a rematch down the line. Dawn brought an intensity that Velvet was able to match, which is always the scenario in which Velvet looks her best. ***

On the July 25th episode of Collision, El Clon defeated Lio Rush in a singles match to qualify for a ladder match at AEW Redemption to determine the #1 Contender for the AEW International Title. He also pummeled Rush after the bell. Clon would not win that ladder match, but, by defeating Lio Rush in a singles match, it was determined he had earned a shot at his Television title.

ROH World Television Championship
Lio Rush vs. El Clon
ROH on HonorClub #179; Global Wars Mexico – Mexico City, Mexico – 8.13.2026

Lio Rush has been champion since 6.18.2026 and this is his fourth defense. Don Callis is in Clon’s corner. Rush was busted open in their previous singles match, and now has a scare going down his face and under his left eye. Rush’s eyes and mouth are now also purple. Callus instructs Clon to slow the match down, and that’s exactly what he does. After taking Rush out on the floor, he wears down Rush with strikes back inside of the ring. When they go back to the floor, Rush gets the better of Clon with a headscissors off of the barricade. Back in the ring, Clon uses his legs to stop Rush after Rush had crawled between his legs, and pulls him up into a Falcon Arrow for two. Clon halts Rush again with a backbreaker for two. Rush uncharacteristically goes after Clon’s mask. It works in getting him the advantage, as he spikes Clon with a reverse Frankensteiner. Clon gets up from that rather quickly, so Rush spikes him again with a Destroyer for two. Rush goes back to the mask to avoid a super Frankensteiner. Rush is able to counter his flying Thesz Press into a cradle for two. Rush cuts him off with a stunner, then gives him a second stunner, converting into the bridging cravate until Clon taps out at 10:51. Clon’s ability to be one step ahead of Rush for most of the match made for Rush’s most compelling defense yet. Rush reeled in the shtick, and played into his surroundings by going for Clon’s mask as a method to play mind games. It took him doing so to finally catch Clon off guard and walk away with the title. A very unique and interesting match for the champion. ***½

After this match, it was made official that Lio Rush would defend the TV title against Action Andretti in a Fight Without Honor. That could steal the show.

It was also announced that The Outrunners and Dalton Castle would put the Six Man Tag Team Championships on the line against The Lethal Twist. If the challengers are successful, Lethal will be the first person in history to have won all five Men’s ROH titles.

Two days later, Bandido would head overseas and defend the ROH World Title in Germany:

ROH World Championship
Bandido vs. 1 Called Manders
wXw Shortcut To The Top 2026 – Oberhausen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, DE – 8.15.2026

Bandido has been champion since 4.6.2025 and this is his fifteenth defense. We went from mirth to death real fast, as Bandido went from playing the toreador to Manders’ bull, to giving him a Death Valley Driver onto a plethora of fans chairs. Manders made Bandido pay by reversing an Irish whip that sent Bandido multiple rows deep into seats. Bandido keeps Manders at bay when they get back in the ring and takes him down with a twisting press. When Manders went to the floor, Bandido followed him out with a moonsault press from the top turnbuckle. In the ring he landed a frog splash for two. During a strike exchange, Manders clotheslines Bandido in the neck, and muscles him up into a stampede slam for two. When he attempted a super powerslam, Bandido countered into a DDT off of the middle rope. When Bandido came off the ropes after a reverse spike Frankensteiner, from the canvas Manders hit him with a lariat, leaving both men laying. As they fight from the apron, Manders takes Bandido out with another lariat for two, and gets two with another lariat variation moments later. Manders went for broke with a top rope moonsault, and Bandido kicked out of that as well. Manders signals for another lariat, but gets caught off with a boot. Bandido fights for and pulls off a vertical suplex before putting Manders away with the 21 Plex at 18:21. A pretty classic big man vs. smaller man battle, augmented by a hot crowd. I love too that Bandido showed up Manders in the strength department to retain. Pretty fun stuff from start to end. This also was not shown on HonorClub, so perhaps it’s just title defenses in CMLL they plan on showing. ***½

Zayda Steel and Red Velvet had formed a bond with one another after Supercard of Honor, resulting in them teaming and defeating the Iinspiration. After some time apart, they came back together to team against and defeat the team of Skye Blue and Marina Shafir on a YouTube Special on August 18th. Two days later, a rematch would take place with tornado tag team rules. I guess now tornado rules not only means no tags but that weapons are legal. Shafir put Velvet through a table ringside, and Blue pinned Steel with a Code Blue. Blue and Shafir would continue their beatdown after the bell. When Blue looked to grab the TV title to hold up to make a statement, Shafir stepped on it. Shafir and Blue went face-to-face as they both held onto the title belt. It was announced then that these four women would meet in a four way for the TV title. Okay.

Also on the YouTube Special, it was also announced that El Sky Team would make their first tag title defense in ROH at Death Before Dishonor in a four way match against former champs Sammy Guevara & The Beast Mortos, The Kingdom, and Top Flight. Sure.

In addition to waiting in the wings for his Pure Title opportunity at Death Before Dishonor, Nigel McGuinness was competing in the Continental Challenge Cup tournament on AEW Dynamite and Collision. If he is to make it to the finals, he would be able to challenge for the AEW Continental Championship in Wembley Stadium in his home country. Unfortunately, Nigel suffered a broken foot against Katsuyori Shibata in the opening round, although he was still victorious. The night before Death Before Dishonor, Nigel said he was not medically cleared to compete at the show A new challenger would be determined in a Pure Rules match, pairing the last two Pure Champions against one another – Wheeler Yuta, the only three time Pure champion, and coincidentally, Katsuyori Shibata himself.

ROH Pure Championship #1 Contendership Match
Wheeler Yuta vs. Katsuyori Shibata
ROH on HonorClub #180; Duel To The Death Before Dishonor – Baltimore, MD – 8.20.2026

The Pure Rules can be found here. Chris Hero, Jerry Lynn, and Madison Rayne are the off-screen judges for this bout. When Yuta backs Shibata to the ropes in a lock-up, he purposefully hooks Shibata’s leg around the middle rope while referee Bryce Remsburg is focused elsewhere. Yuta points it out, and Remsburg counts that as Shibata’s first rope break. Angry, Shibata overhead throws Yuta into the ropes twice, and puts him in a leg lock until Yuta spends his first rope break to escape. Yuta uses his second rope break fairly quickly after to escape Shibata’s sleeper hold. Yuta then pushes Shibata into the ropes white he has him in a waistlock, and Bryce counts that as Shibata’s second rope break. Yuta then uses a closed fist strike which earns him a warning, but puts him in a firm control as he drops Shibata with a DDT. As Yuta lands multiple running elbows into the ropes, Shibata cuts him off with a yakuza kick and follows up with a delayed basement dropkick. As Shibata kicks Yuta to the ropes, Yuta uses the ropes to roll back into the ring with momentum. He tries to do that a second time when Shibata rolls him to the floor again, but when he comes in, Shibata grabs hold of Yuta’s mid-section. Since Yuta is holding the ropes, Bryce counts that as Yuta’s third and final rope break. Shibata suplexes Yuta on the ring apron and then on the floor before bringing him back in the ring for a two count. Yuta ducks the PK and rolls up Shibata for two. Shibata cracks Yuta with an open hand and locks in the sleeper hold. Yuta grabs the ropes, which no longer counts as he is out of rope breaks. With Yuta’s arm outstretched, Shibata grabs hold of that and pulls Yuta to the mat in a grounded Cobra Twist. Yuta taps out at 7:11, punching Shibata’s ticket to Death Before Dishonor. That was a compact, fulfilling story, of a man who tried to exploit the Pure Rules ending up succumbing to them. Who better to tell that story than these two? It stinks Nigel can’t challenge for the title, but you were getting a great replacement either way. I’m glad they went with Shibata, the fresher opponent for Lee. ***¼

What a loaded two months it was for ROH’s titles. Deonna was injured at a taping, hence why no defenses for her, and Athena at least had a couple of Proving Ground matches in this period. Some very good stuff to parse through in these matches as well. My strongest recommendations are for Bandido vs. Bryan Keith and Lee Moriarty vs. Angelico. PPV looks solid, but was mostly built up like shit, the story of all ROH PPV’s.