ROH World Tag Team Championship
El Sky Team (Místico & Máscara Dorada) vs. RPG VICE (Trent Beretta & Rocky Romero)
ROH on HonorClub #182 – Allen, TX – 9.3.2026

El Sky Team have been champions since 6.26.2026 and this is their third defense. This RPG VICE’s seventh overall attempt at the ROH tag titles since 2015, their last occurring at Forbidden Door 2022.  RPG VICE isolated Dorada after a Doomsday Knee Strike to the floor, threatening to take his mask off as they wore him down. Romero has a history of being sneak attacked after doing his victory knee slide, so I loved that when he did it this time, he quickly looked around anticipating a possible attack. Not doing the slide isn’t an option. Dorada escaped isolation by landing an enzuigiri on Romero. Sky Team sent RPG VICE to the floor with a Frankensteiner to Romero and a headscissors to Beretta and followed with tandem suicide dives. Unfortunately for the champions, Beretta took out Místico with a piledriver on the floor, putting Dorada back into an isolated state. Just when RPG VICE had Dorada down for the count with Strong Zero, Místico jumped in and broke up the pin attempt. Beretta accidentally superkicks Romero and Dorada dropkicks them into place for a double tiger feint kick from Místico. When RPG VICE look for Strong Zero on Místico, Dorada superkicks Beretta. Místico then brings down Romero from the top turnbuckle with a one man Spanish Fly. Dorada takes out Beretta with a shooting star press at the same time Místico takes down Romero with La Mística, resulting in Romero tapping out at 15:13. This should have been the Death Before Dishonor defense. It was a far more focused and interesting match than the four way. RPG VICE I feel outshined the champions here, as they put in all the effort of getting the crowd to hate them while Sky Team just went through the motions. They put this match up on YouTube and I think it’s worth checking out. ***¼

ROH World Championship
Bandido vs. The Beast Mortos
ROH on HonorClub #182 – Reading, PA – 9.3.2026

Bandido has been champion since 4.6.2025 and this is his seventeenth defense. Sammy Guevara is in Mortos’ corner. This is Mortos’ third shot at the title, unsuccessfully challenging Mark Briscoe in 2024, and in the Survival of the Fittest match at last year’s Final Battle. Mortos denies the Code of Honor handshake. As you’d expect, Mortos used his size to his advantage (including one hell of Pounce), but what you wouldn’t expect is him using submission holds so effectively. He used a courting hold to keep Bandido grounded early on, and then looked to submit him in a reverse figure four later in the match. Bandido managed to counter a powerbomb into a Yoshi Tonic, and then wipe out Mortos with a tope con hilo on the floor. Back in the ring, Mortos pops up Bandido into a Samoan Drop as he comes off of the ropes. When Mortos comes charging at him again, Bandido cuts him off with a crucifix driver. He then Déjà vu headscissors Mortos into a schoolboy roll-up for the pin at 11:13. Bandido is so pumped he even lifts up referee Stephon Smith when Smith is about to present him with the title. This has really good moments without something holding it together. I do think it is interesting that Bandido’s latest defenses have been due to him catching his opponents in pin rather than emphatic pinfalls after a finisher. Makes me wonder if that will lead to anything. ***

ROH World Television Championship
Action Andretti vs. Adam Priest
ROH on HonorClub #183 – Jacksonville, FL – 9.10.2026

Action Andretti has been champion since 8.21.2026 and this is his first defense. Andretti has changed back to the regular title, as opposed to the title with all black plates that Rush had started to carry. He enjoys his own reflection in the title plates and also smooches the title during the match to emphasize this reversion. Priest ends Andretti’s opening advantage with an explosive clothesline out of the corner. He catches Andretti’s knee in the ropes and does some damage, and further angers the champion by smooching the title himself! Priest is able to stop a drop toe hold in the ring by holding the middle rope, but Andretti kicks his arm and Priest falls ribs first into the ropes. Andretti then focuses his attack on Priest’s ribs until once again Priest uses an explosive clothesline to turn things back in his favor. A Frankensteiner and DDT get the challenger a two count. Andretti prawn holds Priest to avoid a half-crab, and after a pair of superkicks takes him down with a Falcon Arrow for two. When Priest is able to grab the half crab after Andretti misses an Arabian Press and tweaks his knee, Andretti makes it to the ropes to escape. A series of evasions leads to Andretti rolling through Priest’s O’Connor roll, sitting on his shoulders and holding onto the ropes to get the pin at 9:44. This was OK for a cold defense. They at least had some semblance of a story with Priest going after Andretti’s knee and Andretti targeting Priest’s midsection. The sudden ending fell flat. You’d hope for your title reign to start off with something more satisfying. **¾

ROH Women’s World Television Championship
Red Velvet vs. Remi Reade
1FW Rebel Heart – Athens, GA – 9.9.2016
ROH on HonorClub #184 – 9.17.2026

Red Velvet has been champion since 12.5.2025 and this is her ninth defense. Reade is a Nightmare Factory trainee and is the former 1FW Women’s champion. For a cross-over show I’ll accept that as being worthy enough for a TV title defense. Her poise and ability to keep in step with the champion makes her look very formidable. A knee to face got her a two count, and when she tried it again, Velvet had her scouted. Velvet drove her knees into Reade’s shoulder blades as she lay against the ropes to earn her own two count. Reade came back with a pair of uppercuts in the corner and got another two count with a Falcon Arrow. Velvet countered Reade’s over the shoulder hold into a sunset flip, and then nailed her with a roundhouse kick for the pin at 5:45. With as talented as Reade clearly is, based on her merit as a challenger and experience compared to the champion, it made sense for Velvet to defeat her without one of her bigger signature offensive maneuvers. I liked what I saw from Reade and would welcome seeing her in ROH proper. **½

ROH World Six Man Tag Team Championship
The Lethal Twist (Blake Christian, Jay Lethal & Lee Johnson) vs. The Dark Order (Evil Uno, Alex Reynolds & John Silver)
ROH on HonorClub #185 – Jacksonville, FL – 9.24.2026

The Lethal Twist have been champions since 8.21.2026 and this is their first defense. A back and forth contest leads to a stand off between two teams. Christian and Johnson are sent outside after the Dark Order delivered triple superkicks. Lethal is taken out with Ragnarok, but his partners jump back in before he can be pinned. Reynolds would then save Silver from being pinned by Christian after a springboard splash. Lethal took out Reynolds with the Lethal Combination, and placed Uno in the ropes for a sliding German suplex from Christian. Even though he was left alone, Silver fought back against all three Lethal Twist members valiantly, including a double suplex to Christian and Johnson. Christian reversed an Irish whip, sending Silver into a rolling forearm strike from Reynolds. Johnson pitched Reynolds to the floor and Christian took him out with a PK. A double stomp from Christian into a rolling Death Valley Driver from Johnson got the Lethal Twist the pin on Silver at 9:28. This moved quickly while also showing the dynamic teamwork from both trios. The Lethal Twist defeating an AEW/ROH institution is a nice feather in their cap to kick off their title reign. Silver being the one dissenter in Preston Vance rejoining the Dark Order, while also being the one who took the pinfall in this match, could be a wrinkle in their story too. ***

After defeating LJ Cleary on the October 1st episode of ROH, AR Fox told Sam Leterna that his next move is ROH gold. He remarks that in a tag team match two weeks ago, Fox lost to Bandido, but that he wasn’t the one pinned. He wants to meet Bandido one-on-one for the ROH World Title. At the end of the episode, it was announced that this title match would take place on October 15th.

On the October 3rd episode of AEW Collision, Kofi (no longer Kingston) defeated ROH Pure Champion Lee Moriarty in a non-title match. Backstage, Austin Creed hyped up Kofi for defeating someone who has been an ROH title holder for 800+ days in his first singles match in AEW. He says that should put him in line for a bigger opportunity. Kofi then issued a challenge to Bandido for the ROH World Title at Grand Slam Paris on the upcoming Tuesday. The match would be made official later in the episode. Kofi, Creed, and Strickland also defeated Bandido, Brody King, and Hangman Page at All Out (although Strickland pinned Bandido), so I think that’s enough to justify Kofi’s World title opportunity.

The next morning, Fox addressed Kofi’s challenge. He says Kofi needs to fall back, as Fox has already earned his shot. He doesn’t want to wait until the 15th, and says he and Bandido will meet on Monday in a World Title match. He then tells Kofi he will see him Tuesday in Paris. Well, I can’t think of a reason to expedite a taped title match unless Kofi was defeating Bandido on Tuesday. Let’s see if I am right.

ROH World Championship
Bandido vs. AR Fox
ROH YouTube Special #14 – Jacksonville, FL – 10.5.2026

Bandido has been champion since 4.6.2025 and this is his eighteenth defense. This is Fox’s first crack at the World Title since Episode 1 of Tony Khan’s ROH reboot. Bandido looked to be in control when he sent Fox outside with a headscissors. Fox turned things around when he cut off Bandido taking a lap around the ring with a suicide dive. Fox then looked to tire out Bandido in the ring by making him kick out of multiple pinfall attempts in a row. Bandido angers Fox when he surprises him with a pump kick from out of the corner, pulling himself up from the ground using the top rope. Bandido then took him out with a corkscrew press and dropped an elbow on the top of Fox’s head. Bandido impressed by lifting up Fox with one-hand and dropping him with Snake Eyes in the corner. Fox however escaped a vertical lift, leap frogged over Bandido, and took him down with a springback Ace Crusher. Bandido evaded a 450 Splash, but Fox evaded his pop-up cutter and dropped him with a twisting brainbuster for two. Bandido ended a back-and-forth exchange by catching Fox coming off of the ropes with the x-knee. Fox slid Bandido to the apron when he came up his back for the 21 Plex. Fox also moved to the apron when Bandido attempted a slingshot sunset flip. Fox then landed on Bandido with a slingshot senton and followed Bandido to the floor with a tope con hilo. In the ring, Fox landed the 450 Splash, and Bandido kicked out at one. Fox himself kicked out at one after Bandido successfully pulled off his pop-up cutter. After a German suplex and superkick, Bandido pulled off the 21 Plex for the pin at 11:09. This was pretty exciting, and I actually think if it was presented on its original intended air date, an extra week or so of built up anticipation would have gone a long way. Instead, it’s pre-taped footage they need to blow off early for logistical purposes. ***¼

ROH World Championship
Bandido vs. Kofi
AEW Dynamite #366: Grand Slam Paris – Paris, France – 10.6.2026

Bandido has been champion since 4.6.2025 and this is his nineteenth defense. Brody King is in Bandido’s corner and Austin Creed is in Kofi’s corner. There’s a good hearted nature as they go back and forth, doing a little dancing in between, making each other smirk. When Bandido looks to pick up the pace, Kofi derails him with a dropkick to the floor and a tope con hilo. Impressively, Bandido catches Kofi’s crossbody attempt in the ring, and holds him in place for a delayed vertical suplex. Swerve Strickland and Prince Nana make their way ringside after this to add extra moral support for Kofi, and Adam Page follows right behind him to even the odds and support Bandido. During the commercial break, Bandido attacks Kofi’s mid-section, and Kofi stomps down Bandido after evading a splash in the corner. Bandido catches Kofi coming off of the ropes and press slams him face first onto the top turnbuckle and takes him down with a pump kick. Back from commercial, Kofi weaves under an Irish whip attempt, kicks Bandido in the mid-section, and takes him down with a FameAsser. A High Fly Flow earns Kofi a nearfall. After taking a Boom Drop, Bandido comes back with a twisting springboard crossbody. Kofi springboard Sick Kicks Bandido after escaping an X-knee for two. During a back and forth, both men leave each other laying with Bandido popping up Kofi into a knee to the face, and Kofi stomping Bandido into the mat from a standing position. Kofi catches Bandido coming off of the middle rope and sends Bandido crashing into the turnbuckles with the S.O.S. Shadows Over Hell follows for a two count. Kofi is stopped as he climbs back up to the top turnbuckle, and Bandido brings him down with a fallaway moonsault slam. Kofi grabs the bottom rope just before the three count is made. Kofi blocks the X-knee and delivers another S.O.S for two. Page and Swerve get into a shoving match and are held back by their respective partners on the floor. While this is going on, Bandido delivers a 21 Plex as Kofi lay on the mat, and retains the title at 14:08. I was wrong! What I didn’t take into account is that once again AEW would use an ROH title match to build towards an AEW match, as this would lead to a rematch for the AEW Trios titles between both teams at WrestleDream. The good news is, this match was great. The back and forth nature of the bout worked, as all that offense gassed out Kofi, who has not been a consistent singles wrestler for many years now, and Bandido was able to take advantage of that. I wouldn’t mind if they had a rematch at Final Battle or elsewhere. ***¾

Back in June, Mance Warner lost a Pure Title Proving Ground match against Lee Moriarty. The following month, Mance defeated Matt Menard in a Pure Rules Match. On the October 8th edition of ROH on HonorClub, Mance stated that he has been studying up on the Pure Rules since losing to Moriarty. He now understands the rules and how to manipulate them. He wants Lee Moriarty one more time, and this time, he wants the Pure Title on the line. Why he wouldn’t need to go through another Proving Ground match to earn that I do not understand. On Episode 188, it was confirmed the match would take place on Episode 189.

Meanwhile, the women’s Pure champion, Deonna Purrazzo noticed that a lot of the women’s roster had begun finding partners, and thought she could enlist in some Emi Sakura offered herself to be Purrazzo’s partner, and together, they defeated The Hex last month. After the match, however, Sakura attacked Purrazzo. Her offer to be partners with Deonna was a ruse, a cunning attempt to trick the Pure champion and bait her into a title match. Deonna stated Emi didn’t need to go to those lengths for a title match, as she is a fighting champion, and that she will settle her vendetta with Emi soon.

ROH Women’s World Pure Championship
Deonna Purrazzo vs. Emi Sakura
ROH on HonorClub #188 – Jacksonville, FL – 10.15.2026

Deonna Purrazzo has been champion since 12.5.2025 and this is her eighth defense. The Pure Rules can be found here. Sakura pulls Purrazzo into a Fujiwara armbar during the Code of Honor, and Purrazzo immediately rolls under the bottom rope to break. Sakura gloats about taking away Purrazzo’s first rope break so quickly, but Purrazzo takes her down and sends her into the barricades with a baseball slide dropkick. In the ring, Purrazzo pulls Sakura down into her own Fujiwara armbar, and Sakura uses her first rope break to escape. Sakura bites Purrazzo’s wrist to escape a modified STF and puts the champion in a figure four. As they roll on the mat and reverse the pressure, Sakura uses her second rope break to escape. Purrazzo gets her boot up to block a corner attack and stomps Sakura’s arm while Sakura is grabbing the middle rope. Purrazzo grabs the Fujiwara armbar and Sakura uses her third and final rope break to escape. Sakura catches Purrazzo coming off of the rope and pulls her down into a Fujiwara armbar. Purrazzo uses her second rope break to escape, and Sakura takes her down with a hammerlock clothesline for two. Purrazzo ends an exchange with a clothesline into a pin for two. Sakura also gets a two count after a senton splash. Sakura avoids a piledriver, but is pulled down into a Fujiwara armbar, and Sakura submits at 9:17. I liked the idea of two competitors going for the same submission move. Sakura is also the craftiest challenger Deonna has faced to date, and she had to boost both her awareness and intensity to combat it. This suffered from some clumsiness and general disorganization yet was still rather enjoyable. ***

ROH World Television Championship
Action Andretti vs. El Phantasmo
ROH on HonorClub #188 – Jacksonville, FL – 10.15.2026

Action Andretti has been champion since 8.21.2026 and this is his second defense. ELP earned this title match by defeating Adam Brooks at “Death Before Dishonor.” ELP is also a two time NJPW Television champion. ELP kept the pressure on Andretti by going for constant pin attempts. Andretti would cut him off with something and work on his back, arm, or another body part to keep the challenger down. Around the 10 minute mark, ELP scored big with a tornado DDT. From there, he pulled out his bigger offense in an attempt to put away the champion. Andretti fought out of ELP’s cut-throat driver twice, but the third time was the charm. Andretti kicked out of the subsequent pin, so ELP followed up with Thunderkiss ‘86 (top rope splash). Unfortunately for ELP, the 15:00 time limit expired before he could follow up with a pin. The last five minutes were good but the first ten felt like a lot of filler. Two people killing time to get us to a time limit draw result. The finish lends itself to a rematch, perhaps with an extended or no time limit. I think they can do better, so I am in favor of that. **½

ELP asked Andretti for another match down the line. Andretti shook his hands, seemingly in agreement, but he then clobbered ELP with the title belt. He said ELP would get another match “in his dreams.” He put the boots to ELP until Adam Priest chased him off.

ROH Pure Championship
Lee Moriarty vs. Mance Warner
ROH on HonorClub #189 – Jacksonville, FL – 10.22.2026

Moriarty has been champion since 7.26.2024 and this is his twentieth defense. The Pure Rules can be found here. In the first minute, Warner has to spend his first rope break to escape an armbar. Moriarty surprises himself when he uses the ropes to escape Warner’s crossface. Warner cleverly snapmares Moriarty close enough to the ropes so that he can place Moriarty’s leg on the bottom rope. Warner points that out to referee Mike Posey, and Posey does dock Moriarty a rope break. As Warner is punching Moriarty in the corner, Moriarty slips underneath and pulls Warner down so his head hits the ring post. Warner very slowly makes his way back into the ring, now busted open from the fall. The blood flow continues as Moriarty puts Warner in a straightjacket choke. Warner uses his mouth to spend his second rope break and escape the hold. After delivering a big boot, Warner uses his bandana to clear the blood from his eyes. Warner superplexes Moriarty for a two count, and then brings in a chair from outside of the ring out of frustration. He teases hitting Moriarty with the chair, but instead sits in the chair and applies a sleeper hold to Moriarty. Posey disposes of the chair and Moriarty begins a comeback. Warner rolls backwards to escape a crossface, but Moriarty converts to a Cobra Twist when Warner rolls up to his feet. Warner then uses his third and final rope break to escape. Warner cleverly headbutts Moriarty’s hand to block a chop. He also fakes out Moriarty, enabling him to clothesline Moriarty in the back of his neck. He puts Moriarty in a crossface, and the champion uses his third and final rope break to stay in the match. Warner pops Moriarty up into a headbutt, sending the champion to the floor, following him out with a spicy dropkick. Warner uses the chair from earlier to launch himself into a tornado DDT to Moriarty. Back in the ring, Warner cracks Moriarty with a knee strike for two. Warner looks for a chicken wing. Moriarty maneuvers his way through the ropes and back in the ring so that he traps Warner in the ropes with a hammerlock stretch. He pulls on Warner’s chin and neck while keeping the hammerlock applied until Warner verbally submits at 13:02. I very much loved the uniqueness of this bout. Warner brought a ruggedness many other Pure wrestlers do not, and him getting busted open added a dynamic not seen in any of Moriarty’s other defenses. Warner knew enough about the Pure Rules to exploit them, but so did Moriarty, and between him tying up Warner in the ropes and Warner’s blood loss, it was game over for the Southern Psychopath. An engaging and enjoyable defense. ***½

Some rock solid defenses in these months, and a pretty significant one in Kofi vs. Bandido. The more that feud has carried on, I do think a rematch at Final Battle makes sense. But first, Kaun has been at odds with Bandido the past few weeks, and I would guess he gets a crack at the title in November.

Speaking of Final Battle, it has been officially announced taking place on Friday, December 4th in San Antonio, TX, so I’ll be back with a “Road To” review right before that event.