ROH TV Episode 118 – May 29th, 2025

ROH TV Episode 118 – May 29th, 2025

Welcome back to Ring of Honor TV, exclusively on Honor Club at WatchROH.com. Last week on Episode 117, Marina Shafir tapped out Laynie Luck, The Vanilla Baby Blake Christian tapped out Gringo Loco, Queen Aminata tapped out Allysin Kay in a Pure Rules Match, and in the Main Event and a CMLL Trios showcase, Atlantis Jr. Neon, and Fuego defeated Hechicero, Barbaro Cavernario, and Volador Jr. when Atlantis pinned Cavernario. We’re also building interest for a TOURNAMENT to crown the first Women’s Pure Championship.

Ian Riccaboni and Caprice Coleman are calling the action, unless otherwise noted. OK, since it’s ROH TV and a lot of this is basically the modern day version of Metal or Sunday Night Heat, I will not reward star ratings, but I will adopt the “thumbs” system. Great must-see matches are 2 Thumbs Up. A good/fun match is a thumbs up. So-so matches are no thumbs. A bad/boring match is Thumbs Down. A truly AWFUL match gets 2 Thumbs Down (this is minus star territory, obviously)

Trish Adora (w/ The Infantry) vs. La Catalina:
Ian tells us that Trish recently returned from injury, defeating Rachel Ellering. La Catalina is representing CMLL and sports a 3-2 record on ROH. CODE OF HONOR ADHERED TO. Lockup and Trish throws Catalina to the canvas. Catalina goes for a waist-lock but Trish quickly counters and showboats. Catalina grounds Adora briefly with a side headlock. Whip to the ropes, Catalina ducks under a clothesline and snaps off a pair of arm drags. Reversal to the corner and La Catalina with a clothesline, followed by a basement dropkick. Adora fights out of an electric chair and drops La Catalina face-first. Adora starts working the arm while we hype up the Women’s Pure Tournament. Whip to the corner and Catalina explodes out with a big knee. Catalina throws a series of forearms that have little effect on Adora. Drop toe hold into the ropes and a dropkick to the back, followed by a modified Pedigree for a near-fall. Adora ducks a roundhouse kick and hits a squat bridging german suplex for two. Whip to the ropes and a black hole slam across the knee gets another two-count. They fight on the ropes with Adora holding on to avoid the sunset-Powerbomb. Catalina audibles, clipping the leg and hitting an electric chair drop. Catalina to the top rope and she comes crashing across Adora with a splash for the three-count at 7:11. Post-match, they shake hands without controversy. I wanted to see more of these women. I liked the style that Trish brings to the table and hope she gets some consistent time on AEW TV sooner than later. Thumbs Up

Taya Valkyrie is one of the six women announced for the Pure Rules Tournament to determine the inaugural Champion. She says she’s been pure her entire life and makes a bunch of references to Hollywood culture. This isn’t just a tournament, it’s a casting call, and SPOILER ALERT, she’s the main character. She’s not in the conversation, she’s the headline. Not a strong promo, hitting the same notes repeatedly, and it wasn’t that long! I’d call it a Thumbs Down for a segment.

Lance Archer vs. Diego Hill:
Yes. LANCE ARCHER IS STILL HERE. There’s nothing left for this guy to do unless he goes on a heater and wins a title. Archer throws his shirt at Hill. Archer sends Hill to the corner, but Hill surprises him with a boot. Archer avoids a springboard and lets everyone know NOBODY LETS HIM BLEED HIS OWN BLOOD. Hill throws chops that Archer no-sells. Wow, Hill actually cut Archer across the nose or eyebrow, hard to tell. Archer with our second black hole slam of the show, more traditional version. Whip to the corner and Archer charges in with elbows. Diego pops out of the corner and goes for a moonsault, but that doesn’t work for him. Archer crosses the legs and folders Diego over, bleeding on his back, forcing the tap out at 2:08. Post-match, Archer hits the Black Out. No Thumbs.

Hype package for “The Forever ROH Champion” Athena. She returns to ROH Wrestling NEXT WEEK.

ROH Pure Championship Match:
Lee Moriarty (c) (w/ Shawn Dean) vs. Matt Mako:
From the Action Dean~!!2 Tribute Show taped on May 24th from Glendale, AZ and featured earlier in the week on ROH’s YouTube Channel. I’m assuming we’re all familiar with Pure Rules, but you get 3 rope breaks, you are disqualified for a closed fist after the first warning, and in the event of a time limit expired, there are three judges at ringside scoring the match. They jockey for control, with Mako getting a double leg takedown and an arm scissors, forcing Moriarty to waste a rope break 30-seconds into the match. Back-and-forth on the ground with neither man maintaining control. Mako goes for the cross arm bar again, and Moriarty uses his second rope break. Moriarty gets a crossface and now Mako uses a rope break. Moriarty snaps the arm of Mako across the top rope and springboards in with a forearm for a two-count. Moriarty transitions from a crucifix cradle into a head-scissors and that’s two rope breaks for Mako. 3:30 in, and both men only have one rope break in their back pockets. Moriarty with mounted open palm strikes in the corner. Moriarty continues working the arm and takes the time to play to the crowd. Mako with the cut-off, hitting a rolling elbow and spinning uranage. Mako with an offensive flurry and spinning heel kick for two. Moriarty drops Mako face-first across the turnbuckle. Border City Stretch applied and Mako uses his final rope break. Moriarty is caught climbing the ropes and Mako takes him down with a super-plex, followed by a sit-out Powerbomb for two. Moriarty is caught in the cross arm bar and he uses his final rope break. They trade near-falls until Moriarty taps Mako with the Border City Stretch at 10:04. This was a perfectly fine match that didn’t try to be an epic and played the Pure Rules card well. Thumbs Up

10-Man Torneo Cibernetico: Averno, Dr. Cerebro, Euforia, Xelhua, and Volador Jr. vs. Hologram, Virus, Neon, Valiente, and Blue Panther:
Another match taped on May 24th from Glendale. SPOILERS: This is a lot of PBP, so skip to the end if you want my thoughts on the match. It’s Lucha Libre meets Survivor Series, if you’re wondering. The normal rules of lucha libre tag team applies where ring outs means partners can come in and out legally, but eliminations are under the normal method of pin, submission, etc. We’re also told that teammates are not required to stand in their corner and are free to be on the floor, but they enter in a batting order, so… uh…

Blue Panther starts with Xelhua and they go through the basics to get a feel for each other. Xelhua goes for the leg but Blue Panther counters with an arm-scissors. Another ground-based sequence and we stalemate with them shaking hands. Virus and Dr. Cerebro in next, trading leg-locks and neck cranks. They go for the leg sweep and cover, but both men pop right up. Valiente and Euforia in, and Euforia goes right in, popping Valiente across the chest. Valiente returns fire and does some hotdogging on the ropes. I think they messed up, because he does it again to land on Euforia’s shoulders for a takedown. Valiente with a flying head-scissors, sending Euforia out of the ring. Volador Jr is sent to the floor by Neon, who teases a dive and plays to the crowd. Hologram frustrates Averno with his blinding speed, sends him to the outside with a spinning head-scissors and follows with a tope suicida. It’s a brawl on the floor until order is restored.

Back inside, Averno and Euforia try doubling-up on Neon, but he fuses their teamwork against them, sending Euforia to the floor with a head-scissors and springing off the ropes with an arm drag on Averno. Xelhua catches Virus with a tilt-o-whirl back breaker and northern Lights Suplex for a pair of near-falls. Virus sweeps the legs of Xelhua and ties him up, squeezing the neck with one leg and trapping the legs with the other, and Xelhua taps at 9:13. Dr. Cerebro runs in with an elbow for a two count. Virus gets pulled to the floor by Volador Jr and Cerebro hits a tope suicida, mostly hitting a headbutt. Euforia sends Blue Panther out and cuts Virus off at the top rope, hitting an avalanche arm drag for two. POWERBOMB from Euforia with an exclamation point, and Virus is eliminated at 10:58. Blue Panther snaps over Dr. Cerebro with an arm drag, but Volador quickly jumps in for the numbers advantage. Blue Panther fights through the double-team and manages to fend off all four men before hitting a rolling senton from the apron while Neon and Valiente hit a pair of dives. Back inside, Valiente with a rolling school-boy on Volador Jr for two. Volador with a Super-Kick and Back Stabber (Long Blower?) to send Valiente to the showers at 13:21.

The rudos try to use their numbers to pummel Neon and dump him like a sack of garbage. Hologram tries his luck and suffers the same fate. Blue Panther catches Volador off the ropes with a spinning back breaker but Euforia makes the save. Euforia with a big boot sending Blue Panther to the floor. Neon and Hologram are back on their feet and use the power of teamwork to take the big man down. Euforia shrugs it off thanks to some friendly fire and hits a pop-up powerbomb on Hologram for a near-fall. Even the big man can run out of steam, and it comes quick. Super-sized hurricanrana from Hologram, followed by a moonsault and double stomp to eliminate Euforia at 16:33. Heck of a way to make someone look like a tank and look good in defeat. Dr. Cerebro with a springboard dropkick sending Hologram out of the ring. He snaps over Blue Panther and hooks a crucifix cradle for a near-fall. Blue Panther with a takedown escape and he ties Cerebro up for a stack-up three-count at 17:25!

Neon outhustles Averno, planting him in the corner with a fireman’s carry slam. Averno brings up the boots to counter a moonsault and covers for two. Neon straddles Averno across the top rope and takes him down with a springboard arm drag for two. Things take too long getting set up on the turnbuckle and Averno drives Neon face-first with an avalanche Pedigree to even the sides at 19:00. Hologram with a springboard dropkick and Blue Panther hits another rolling senton from the apron. Back inside, Blue Panther takes some heavy strikes from Averno, but fires back with a running lariat. Averno reverses a whip to the corner while Volador takes out Hologram. Rudos with a double super-plex on Blue Panther but Hologram saves at the last moment. Double arm-scissors on Blue Panther is broken up by Hologram cleverly attempting to pin both men. Synchronized shoulder blocks from the technicos to clear the ring. Panther dives off the ropes! That man must be 102 years old! Back inside, Volador with the back stabber and Averno with the avalanche Pedigree, but nothing can keep Blue Panther and Hologram down! Hologram with the Blue Thunder Bomb on Volador Jr while Blue Panther ties up Averno and it’s a double count to finish the match at 23:57, leaving Blue Panther and Hologram the last men standing. Wow, that was a hell of a lot of fun and something I’m glad to have taken my time to enjoy without other distractions. Some spots got a little repetitive like a few too many dives to the floor that felt like repeats from earlier spots, but the number of bodies involved meant stuff remained fresh, and most of the eliminations were well done. 2 Thumbs Up.

ORDER OF ELIMINATION:
1. Xelhua by Virus (Submission – 9:13)
2. Virus by Euforia (Pinfall – 10:58)
3. Valiente by Volador (Pinfall – 13:21)
4. Euforia by Hologram (Pinfall – 16:33)
5. Dr. Cerebro by Blue Panther (Pinfall – 17:25)
6. Neon by Averno (Pinfall – 19:00)
7. And 8. Volador Jr by Hologram and Averno by Blue Panther (Pinfalls – 23:57)

Satnam Singh vs. Facade:
Singh, a.k.a. The One in a Billion is undefeated in ROH, with six victories to his credit. Facade tries using speed to pepper Singh with kicks, but they don’t bother him. Singh with a headbutt and the palm strike across the chest not once, not twice, but THRICE. He was nice enough to ask the crowd if they wanted more. Singh with a pair of throws out of the corner, launching Facade clean across the ring. Caprice quips that he’s lucky the ring posts are there, otherwise he would be in the front row. Facade stuns Singh briefly with a jaw breaker, but he unwisely goes for a pair of shoulder blocks. Singh with a slow charge into the corner meets the boots, but Facade takes too long on the ropes trying some goofy shit and Singh finishes with the chokeslam at 3:32. I live by the phrase “variety is the spice of life.” I don’t ask for much out of Satnam Singh and this delivered a fun few minutes. Thumbs Up.

Hologram and Rhino vs. The Frat House:
The Frat House are represented by Cole Karter and Griff Garrison, but they’re accompanied by Jacked Jameson, Preston Vance (STILL THERE) and the pledges. Vance lays out the two pledges with short-arm clotheslines and tells them they’re out. Cool, bro. I had to double check to make sure this was Hologram and not Harley-gram. Garrison and Hologram start, trading wrist-locks and Hologram snapping off an arm drag. Garrison rushes in with a knee to the midsection and an extended crisscross sequence sees Hologram standing tall. Karter with the tag, attacking from behind, but Hologram slips away and tags in Rhino. Karter wastes no time poking the man-beast by slapping him across the face. Rhino unloads with rights and a shoulder block. The gore is teased, but Karter is pulled to safety. Rhino-Gram continues to dominate until Vance pulls Hologram to the floor and sends him into the guardrail.

Back inside, Karter with a suplex and float-over cover for two. More outside help from the Frat House while Rick Knox plays incontinent referee. Plays? Hologram with the comeback, cut off with a snap German suplex. Karter runs into a Spanish Fly and Rhino with the hot tag, running wild on Garrison with a clothesline and shoulder block. Griff ducks a short-clothesline but is caught off the ropes with a belly-to-belly suplex. Hologram with a pump kick and half-and-half on Karter, followed by a tope con hilo on all the Frat Boys sans Garrison. Griff tries going for Crossing the Desert, but Rhino avoids the paddle blow and the GORRRRRRE~! Finishes Griff at 7:28. Fun match. Hologram got to show off his athleticism, Rhino was allowed to have his shine with short bursts, and I’ve always liked Griff Garrison. I don’t have much to say about Cole Karter prior to this, but he looked good enough for the role he serves. Thumbs Up

Final Thoughts: Running about 80-minutes, this was a mixed bag. Wait… didn’t I enjoy most of it? Yes. Yes I did… but two of these matches were a joint promotion for a tribute show, so is that considered cheating to juice the quality of the show and pad the run time? Eh, whatever. The 5-on-5 is well worth checking out if you’re into the style of work, regardless of being part of an AEW/ROH TV taping or from another source. We’ve got a fun opener with Trish Adora and La Catalina and Main Event with double-dipping Hologram and Rhino taking on the Frat House. Heck, I even liked Satnam Singh! The only negatives were Lance Archer doing the same old shit he’s done for 5 years on AEW TV and that abysmal promo from Taya Valkyrie.