ROH Death Before Dishonor PPV Live Covergae - July 21st, 2023
Ring of Honor Death Before Dishonor 2023 PPV coverage from Trenton, NJ at the CUREInsurance Arena.
Zero Hour Pre-Show:
Ian Riccaboni and Caprice Coleman welcomed everyone to the broadcast.
Pure Wrestling Rules: Josh Woods with Tony Nese & Ari Daivari & Smart Mark Sterling vs. Tracy Williams
The Judges were Jerry Lynn, Chrisopher Daniels and Jimmy Jacobs.
Very good back and forth action with Woods forcing Williams to tap to a guillotine choke while trapped in the ropes, as Williams had used all of his rope breaks.
Action Andretti & Darius Martin vs. The WorkHorsemen.
Everyone worked their asses off here. Really strong tag team wrestling. Andretti and Martin hit an elevated double-team neckbreaker on JD Drake for the pin.
Winner: Action Andretti & Darius Martin
Trish Adora vs. Leyla Hirsch
Adora was accompanied by The Infantry. They locked up and Hirsch used a shoulderblock. Adora fired back with a clothesline. Hirsch went for a cross armbreaker, but Adora fired back and pulled her up into a powerbomb. She went into a series of fiery maneuvers but Hirsch made the kickout. They continued to battle until Hirsch finally locked in a armbreaker after Adora missed Lariat Tubman and got the submission.
Winner: Leyla Hirsch
After the match:
Hirsch attacked her again until Skye Blue made the save.
Shane Taylor vs. AR Fox
It was power vs. finesse. Fox dropkicked Shane to the floor. Fox hit several big dives. Back in the ring, Taylor caught Fox and took him out. He worked him over in the corner. Taylor drilled Fox with a hard chop and took him down. Fox hit an inverted flip on Taylor outside. They fought back and forth with Fox missing several strikes. Taylor hit a big splash and scored a two count. Taylor missed a legdrop on the apron. Fox nailed a double knee strikes to the chest and a DDT off the ropes but Taylor kicked out. Fox nailed a stunner and went for another off the ropes but was caught and hit with the Michinoku Driver for another two count when Fox grabbed the ropes. They battled until Fox nailed a DVDR. He nailed a big 450 splash off the top for the pin.
Winner: AR Fox
End of show.
Bobby Cruise welcomed everyone to the show.
Komander vs. Gravity
Some nice action early before they faced off with the audience applauding. Gravity mocked Komander after taking him to the mat and hit a bodypress. Komander sent him to the floor and nailed a really nice flip dive to the floor. He tossed Gravity back into the ring and hit a shooting star press for a two count. Gravity sent him to the floor and hit a flip into the buckles, pulled himself up and dove over the ring post, taking out Komander with a cool looking dive.
Back in the ring, Gravity continued to score a number of near falls. Komander came off the top with a moonsault but was booted in the face. Gravity nailed a sit-out powerbomb for a two count. Gravity rolled him up for a two count, then elevated him into a powerbomb for another near fall. Gravity was sent to the floor, where Komander hit a series of springboards into a beautiful dive. He went to the top but Gravity cut him off in the corner. They battled atop until Gravity used a wristlock takeover back into the ring. They battled in the corner. Komander nailed him, ran the top rope and nailed a springboard moonsault off another rope for a two count.
They battled back to the top rope, where Komander nailed a top rope rana but Gravity hooked him for a pinfall and scored it.
Winner: Gravity
ROH TV Championsjip
Samoa Joe (c) vs. Dalton Castle (w/ The Boys)
Stokely Hathaway joined the announcing team. He was hilarious. Castle tried to psych himself up but was caught in the corner by Joe, where he ducked an elbow. Castle tried to nail several clotheslines and a DDT. Castle attacked Joe's back and went for a back suplex but Joe grabbed the ropes. Castle nailed a big boot and scored another two count after a splash. They began chopping each other an you could see the immediate effect of the blows in Dalton's chest.
It turned into the Samoa Joe show as he began nailing all his big signature maneuvers. Joe was in control and knocked Castle off the apron, where The Boys caught him. Joe went after them but missed. Castle went to dive on Joe but he walked away. The Boys caught Castle and saved him, allowing Castle to nail another dive and hit Joe. Back in the ring, Castle nailed a big back suplex. They battled into the corner but Castle ducked a clothesline and nailed another German suplex. Joe rolled to the outside, where he grabbed at Stokely Hathaway and screamed at him to "fix this." Hathaway, scared for his life, made the referee throw The Boys out of ringside. The crowd chanted that Hathaway sucks.
Joe nailed a low blow as Hathaway had words with the referee and cinched in the Coquina Clutch. Castle was unable to intelligently defend himself, and the referee stopped the match.
Winner: Samoa Joe
ROH Tag Team Championship
The Lucha Brothers (c) vs. The Kingdom vs. Aussie Open vs. Best Friends
Lots of in and out tags. Lucha Brothers nailed a series of cool moves on Aussie Open. They went nose to nose and Kingdom got involved. Best Friends took out Mike Bennett. Taven got involved but Taylor hit a rolling splash over the ropes. They went into a series of dives to the floor. Bennett went to the top, where Beretta grabbed him and nailed a big superplex off the top to the floor, taking out the entire pile of combatants. Trenton chanted "Holy sh**."
Beretta and Taven batted on the top. Taven knocked him into the ring and nailed a big missile dropkick. The Kingdom cleaned up with double-team moves but when Bennett went for a Spicoli Driver, Beretta spun off, kicking Taven and hitting a DDT on Bennett. Lucha Bros. tagged in and just massacred Taven. Penta nailed the pumphandle driver for a two count. Everyone battled. Aussie Open declmated the ring and took out Rey Fenix before turning to Penta. They nailed the Whirlybird on Penta but Taven broke it up.
The Best Friends nailed a stacked superplex on Taven. They went to hug but Bennett attacked, which the crowd hated. Berretta and Chucky teamed on Bennett but Taven dumped Trent. He went for a move but Taylor transitioned it into a piledriver. Maria got on the apron but Chuck ignored her and hugged Trent. Everyone went into a series of piledrivers. The Lucha Bros regained control and nailed a double stomp/package piledriver combination on Mark Davis for a two count.
The Kingdom nailed a stuff piledriver on Penta, who somehow kicked up. Penta escaped the Proton Pack and nailed a series of kicks. He went for the package piledriver but Beretta taged himself in. They nailed Strong Zero on Bennett but the Lucha Brothers pulled the referee out. The Best Friends and Lucha Brothers brawled. Taven nailed Baretta and scored the pin byt Kyle Fletcher broke it up. Aussie Open attacked Beretta and scored the pin.
Winners and new ROH Tag Team Champions: Aussie Open
ROH Six-Man Tag Team Championsgip
Brian Cage & Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona (c)(w/ Prince Nana) vs. NJPW's Ryusuke Taguchi & Master Wato & Leon Ruffin.
Leon Ruffin was basically a sacrificial lamb early on here, almost to the point of it being comical. They showed Big Bill backstage watching. Ruffin was worked over and trapped in the Champs' corner for a long, long time. Wato finally scored a tag and tried to turn the tide of battle. Taguchi got involved and tricked the champions into careening into each other. He locked an anklelock on Kaun. Liona made the save but Wato wiped him off with a huge leaping elbow. Cage nailed a 619. Taguchi nailed one of his own. Taguchi nailed a low kick on Jaun as Nana argued with the referee. All enjoyable.
Ruffin nailed a leaping cutter on Cage and nailed a series of kicks on Liona. He went for a springboard crossbody but was caught and slammed, yet still kicked out. They mauled and slammed Ruffin and scored the pin.
Winners: Brian Cage & Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona
ROH Pure Wrestling Championship
Katsuyori Shibata (c) vs. Daniel Garcia
Good grappling early on and the battled on the floor. Garcia used a rope break to escape a submission. Garcia began doing the sports-entertainment gyrations to try and play mind games with Shibata. Shibata nailed a big running dropkick in the corner. He cinched in a sleeper but Garcia escaped and went for a Boston Crab. Garcia went for an STF but Shibata turned it into a bow and arrow submission. Shibata and Garcia battled over a series of suplexes before taking the other out. The crowd loved it. Garcia really took the fight to Shibata including some hard chops and back suplexes. Shibata locked on the sleeper but Garcia did the gyrations. He faded and was nailed with a running kick and pinned.
Winner: Katsuyori Shibata!
Backstage:
Lexy Nair interviewed new ROH Tag Team Champion Aussie Open. They are back to what they do best, collecting gold. They won't stop until they run the whole world.
Fight Without Honor Match
Dark Order vs. The Righteous
Everyone brawled as Grayson and Uno faced off. They finally started battling. Grayson speared Uno off the apron through a table. Silver and Dutch faced off with weapons. They battled over a barbed wire wrapped 2x4. Silver dropkicked it into his face and then ripped at it with the barbed wire, busting open Dutch. Vincent returned the favor on Alex Reynolds. Tacks were brought into the equation and Silver took bumps into them.
Uno grabbed a chair was was smashed into the corner. Vincent ripped at Uno's mask. Uno was busted open under the torn mask. Vincent kept punching him, telling him this is what you wanted. The Righteous were going to smash Uno into the tacks with a burning hammer but Silver broke it up. Reynolds used a chair to save Silver. Silver nailed a back suplex into the tacks on Dutch. Uno smashed The Righteous with the barbed wire 2x4.
They poured Legos on the mat and went to hit Vincent with the T-Gimmick but Grayson and Dutch made the save. Silver was splashed through a table on the floor roughly by Grayson. Uno was powerbombed twice onto the Legos. The Righteous pulled a barbed wire table out from under the ring. They pulled Reynolds to the entrance stage. Grayson was going to send him off but Reynolds saved himself and nailed a DDT on the floor. Dutch wiped out Reynolds, who escaped a Black Hole Slam off the stage and shoved Dutch off, with Dutch crashing through the barbed wire table.
Silver kicked the hell out of Vincent in the ring but Grayson nailed him with a big knee. Uno was placed on several tables on the floor and Grayson pulled a LARGE ladder out. He climbed the ladder but Uno had escaped and tipped the ladder, smashing Grayson rudely through the tables below. They nailed a triple T-Gimmick on the tacks and Legos on Grayson and scored the pin.
Winners: The Dark Order
ROH Championship
Claudio Castagnoli (c) vs. Pac.
Claudio exploded out with an uppercut and then nailed a pop-up uppercut on Pax, scoring several early near falls. He went for the Neutralizer but Pac retreated to the floor. Claudio followed where they battled back and forth. Pac went for a moonsault but was caught and slammed on the guard rail. They battled to the stage, where Claudio did the big swing. He went for the Gitch Neutralizer on the stage but Pac backdropped him on the stage. Pac nailed a moonsault from the top to the floor on Claudio.
Pac pulled a table out from undr the ring and set it up but was attacked from behind by Claudio, who sent him over the table and then into the barricades. Pac regained control as they returned to the ring, nailing a series of kicks to the chest. They showed Gravity watching from backstage. Pac and Claudio battled to the top rope, where Pac nailed a brainbuster into the ring. Pac worked over Claudio with kicks until getting caught, press and sent over the top to the floor, smashing him through the table that was set up earlier.
Claudio tossed him and nailed a flying elbow for a two count. Claudio nailed a series of elbow and went for the Neutralized but Pac escaped and nailed a kick to the back of the head, trying to garner a chance to regroup. He went after Claudio but was caught with a powerbomb variation and a Neutralizer but Pac kicked out at the last second. Claudio was shocked. They battled back and forth with uppercuts and strikes. Claudio went for a lariat but was booted in the face. They took each other out.
Pac nailed a German suplex with a bridge for a two count. They battled back and forth. Pac went for a rana off the top but Claudio held him. He went for a Ricola Bomb but Pac turned it into a rana. Pac went to the top and went for Black Arrow but missed. Claudio hit a lariat and went for the Ricola Bomb but Pac maneuevered it into a Brutalizer. Claudio was taken down to the mat. Claudio smashed him backwards to break it but Pac clamped on again. Claudio fought to his feet and nailed an Air Raid Crash. That brought out a HUGE "ROH" chant.
Wheeler Yuta ran to ringside but Pac took a swing at him. That allowed Claudio to nail him and hit the Ricola Bomb for the pin.
Winner: Claudio Castagnoli (Retains championship)
After the match:
Yuta and Claudio stood tall against PAC but the Lucha Brothers hit the ring, reuniting at Death Triangle. They attacked but the Best Friends hit the ring. Orange Cassidy came out and nailed Claudio with the Orange Punch.
They showed AR Fox watching on a monitor as he's facing Cassidy on Wednesday.
ROH Women's Championship
Athena (c) vs. Owen Hart Foundation Tournament winner Willow Nightingale.
Nightingale embraced her family in the front row. She was the big babyface to the crowd.
They went back and forth. Willow nailed a big dropkick. Athena wasn't happy and they fired into each other with uppercuts and forearms.
Willow gained control and nailed a series of suplexes. Athena caught her with a crucifix takedown for a two count. They battled to the outside where they popped each other with hard shots. Willow was shoved into the ring post and slammed onto the apron outside. This allowed Athena to gain control, smashing the hell out of Willow with shots to the head and ears.
Athena worked her over but Willow fought back until missing a back senton splash. Athena tossed her into the coner and used a boot to smother her against the turnbuckles. Willow came back with a Pounce. She nailed a series of clotheslines and followed up with a spinebuster. They fired back and forth with chops. Athena smashed her with a backbreaker over the knee for another two count.
They battlled to the outside, where Athena was knocked to the floor. Athena was hit with a bodypress off the apron to the floor. Athena sent her into the steps but missed a hip attack. Willow smashed her into the steps and brought the champion back in, scoring a two count. She went for a suplex but Athena turned it into a gourd buster. Athena nailed a standing moonsault but Willow rebouned and fought to her feet, nailing Smashmouth for a two count.
They continued to battle back and forth, scoring two counts. Wuillow nailed a butterfly suplex. She went for a Doctor Bomb but Athena blocked it. They continued batting until Athena nailed a driver off the ropes. Athena powered her up for a sit-out powerbomb, scoring a two count. They fought to the top rope where Willow nailed a DVDR off the top for a close two count. The crowd chanted "Fight Forever."
They fought back to the floor where Willow was sent into the steps. Dumped back in the ring, Athena nailed her with the O-Face and lost it when Willow kicked up. Willow almost scored a three count with a sit-out powerbomb. They battled to the top, where Willow was knocked into the ring. Willow was hit with the O-Face and locked in a submission. Willow fought like hell to escape but was trapped and the referee stopped the bout.
Winner: Athena (Retains championship)
After the match:
Athena helps Nightingale up and holds up her hand.
End of show
