ROH YouTube Special Review – 08.15.25

Welcome back to a special edition Ring of Honor on YouTube. I would say it’s a WWE move to counterprogram another company, but honestly, ROH vs. TNA is like watching Round 31 of Spike Dudley vs Steven Richards. Does anyone really pay attention to ROH besides the same 6 or 7 jabronis? I was anticipating a quick 3-4 match “special”, but oh foolish me, we’re getting way more than that, so time to settle down and say my prayers.

Ian Riccaboni and Caprice Coleman are calling the action unless otherwise noted.

ROH TV Championship Match:
Nick Wayne (c) (w/ Mother Wayne & Kip Sabian) vs. Willie Mack:
If you missed last night’s episode of ROH TV (and judging by the numbers, you did), Willie Mack defeated Gringo Loco and was riding a high, announcing his quest for some gold, which rubbed Wayne the wrong way. Wayne plays it up, telling the crowd at Casa Bonita to give it up for Mack, then slaps away the handshake after telling Mack to bring it in. Wayne immediately goes for the Killswitch, but Mack shrugs it off and knocks him to the outside with a shoulder block. Wayne’s next strategy of utilizing strikes has no effect and he’s sent to the floor following a dropkick. This time Mack brings the fight with him, slapping the taste out of Wayne’s mouth. Sabian’s Lexis King cosplay distracts Mack, allowing Wayne to send him into the post.

Back inside, Wayne works on the damaged shoulder and Mother Wayne gets a shot in with the referee’s back turned. Wayne catches his spit and throws a chop, and Mack responds with another slap across the face. The comeback doesn’t gain traction, with Wayne aggressively targeting the eyes. Whip to the ropes and Mack counters a knee lift with a rolling school-boy for two. Mack with the pop-up right hand of doom and they’re both down, struggling to regain verticality. Mack runs wild with a clothesline and elbow. He plants Wayne with a slam and hits the standing moonsault for two. Wayne counters a Stunner with the back-slide for two. Mack gets a taste of the turnbuckle, but counters another Killswitch attempt with the Stunner for a near-fall on a delayed cover. Sabian runs interference, allowing Wayne to recover and scoot away from a frog splash. Killswitch finishes at 7:27. Fun little match. I enjoyed a heel working like a heel and cutting out the crowd-pleasing dives, and Mack worked a smart match that highlighted his strength and occasional bit of athletic showmanship.

The Outrunners & AR Fox vs. Shane Taylor & The Infantry (w/ Trish Adora & Anthony Ogogo):
I don’t know if I want to insult Shane Taylor Promotions by calling them something along the lines of QT Marshall’s stable from a few years ago, but there’s little excitement in seeing this group unless it’s Moriarty in singles action. STP attacks before the bell, knocking the Outrunners to the floor. Fox fights off Carlie Bravo and hits him with a sling-blade. Magnum in and he’s immediately in trouble from getting his foot stomped. Whip to the ropes, Magnum avoids a double back body-drop and runs wild with right hands and dropkicks. Wow, the lights are so low, you could probably estimate maybe 150 people in the building. The Outrunners keep the party going, working over the Captain. Taylor in to be the clean-up hitter for his squad. He stuns Floyd with a left jab and drops him with a right hook. Magnum gets the blind tag and a double dropkick knocks Taylor through the ropes. Taylor cuts off Magnum by going to the eyes and STP run the train on him on the apron to regain control.

Back in the ring, Magnum unwisely tries to trade blows with Taylor. Bravo’s strikes don’t have the same sting to them, but the comeback is quickly cut off. Dean with the Bronco Buster… if there’s a move that should be retired forever, that’s one of them. Back suplex and jumping neck breaker combo for a near-fall. Magnum fights out of the corner and hits a clothesline for a double-down. Turbo is knocked off the apron and Taylor sweeps Fox to the floor to prevent the tag. Magnum keeps fighting and eventually gets the tag to Fox, who comes in with a swanton to both members of the Infantry. Fox with a leg sweep of Bravo followed by a flip-over double stomp on the apron, and the sequence is complete with a somersault to Taylor at ringside. Back inside, a Swanton Bomb to Bravo for a near-fall. The Carlie Crossover and Falcon Arrow gets a two-count. Fox fights off the Boot Camp and finally tags in Turbo. He runs wild on everyone, including a slam to Taylor! We get synchronized avalanches from the Outrunners and a combo bulldog/clothesline. Taylor interrupts the handshake, but the Fox-Runners clean house. The double elbow connects on the second try and Total Recall finishes at 10:55. This ended up being a solid tag team match, but the crowd (as small as it was) barely reacted to anything from Shane Taylor Promotions. AR Fox continues to be wasted on ROH TV.

Alex Zayne vs. Jay Lethal:
I don’t have any smart-ass comments for this one. Zayne feels like a flip-a-dip spot guy and I’m not sure I’m looking forward to this match. Lethal is getting a semi-push as the old veteran who knows all the tricks, but that would mean something if there were any consistency to the booking of ROH.

Lethal and Zayne adhere to the CODE OF HONOR. Lockup, Lethal grabs a side headlock and comes off the ropes with a shoulder block. Zayne blocks the Lethal Injection and powders, but Lethal is on him immediately with a tope suicida. Zayne cuts off a second dive with a dropkick. Lethal avoids a tope con hilo and hits the second tope afterall. He calls for a third that Zayne easily avoids and surprises Lethal with a springboard corkscrew moonsault. Back inside and Zayne is cut off with the Lethal Combination. Zayne avoids the Macho Man tribute and a double clothesline staggers both men. Lethal Injection is blocked again and Zayne connects with a guillotine heel kick. They trade blows, with Lethal removing his wrist tape to show he means business. Lethal leg sweep but a Figure-Four is countered with a small package for two. Zayne snatches Lethal off the top turnbuckle with a hurricanrana. Lethal blocks a back breaker and hits a Cutter. He drops Zayne face first and hits the Lethal Injection for three at 5:41. This was fine if you’re into Zayne’s style, but a match that really didn’t need to pad the run time other than to pad the run time.

QT Marshall (w/ Aaron Solo) vs. The OXP:
I knew this was coming. With Paul Walker Hauser cutting promos on QT based on an incident taped way back in March, I knew we were getting QT Marshall sooner than later. Coleman and Riccaboni talk about Solo having no friends, she he’s going back to being at Marshall’s side. Marshall grabs the microphone to taunt his opponent and play to the crowd. OXP says Marshall might remember him from such shows as Cobra Kai. OH, IT’S A PAUL WALTER HAUSER reference. Marshall says he isn’t paid to pretend to beat people up and tells OXP to leave the wrestling to professionals. OXP responds with a right hand and the match is official! Marshall gives OXP some shine before catching a jumping heel kick and planting him with a slam. OXP surprises Marshall with a tornado kick and comes off the ropes with a DDT for a near-fall. Marshall counters another springboard with a forearm and hits the Diamond Cutter for three at 2:46.

Post-match, Marshall has a message for Hauser, but before he can deliver, the Oscar and Emmy Award-winning Paul Walker Hauser makes his way out. Marshall sends Solo and he’s laid out like the geek he is. Marshall goes for a sucker punch, but Hauser hits a Russian leg sweep and a headbutt. Marshall pops Hauser on the chin and signals for the Diamond Cutter, but Hauser blocks, hits Marshall with a back suplex, and sends him over the top rope with a clothesline. Well, that was a much better segment than I expected it to be.

Allysin Kay vs. Billie Starkz (w/ Athena):
They keep slipping in at least one person I have zero interest in, and if there’s any mystery for this match, that person is Starkz. Kay and Starkz adhere to the code of honor! I’m surprised too. Lockup and Kay targets the arm. Starkz rolls through and they fight for control on the ground before finding themselves back on their feet and Starkz grabbing a side headlock. Kay shrugs off several shoulder blocks and flexes, turning her back on Starkz and getting snatched by the hair. They trade slaps and Kay catches Starkz off the ropes with the fallaway slam. Starkz avoids an avalanche and rakes… uh… Kay’s hairline across the top rope? Was that meant to be eye raking? Starkz with a snap mare out of the corner and a running basement dropkick. Kay doesn’t appreciate the disrespect of getting a boot brush repeatedly across the face. She takes Starkz over with a release German suplex. Starkz puts together a strike combination, hits a German suplex of her own, and a modified Chicken Wing gets a tap out from Kay at 4:24. Mentions of the ROH Pure Title Tournament: None.

The Dark Order’s Evil Uno, Alex Reynolds, and John Silver talk about getting up every time they fall down. The Dark Order is FOREVER.

Vanilla Shotty vs. Beef & Tom La Ruffa:
OK, so that isn’t the official name of Blake Christian and Lee Johnson, but screw it, I’m running with it myself. Beef is a very beefy man, though the traditional trunks is a TERRIBLE look for a man with his build. I guess Blake Christian suggested to Johnson they be known as “Swirl.” Christian gives Beef a pie-face instead of a handshake. They go through an extended International until Beef connects with a dropkick. Christian with a double chop to the throat to cut him off. Johnson with a step-up enzuigiri from the apron and Christian with a snap German suplex. Whip to the corner and Vanilly Shotty string together some tandem offense, wiping La Ruffa off the apron in the process. Beef continues to be tenderized in the corner. Beef fights out of a chin-lock and unloads with right hands. La Ruffa tags in for the first time, hitting Johnson with a standing leg lariat. He does some unnecessary flip-a-dip sh*t and connects with a swinging neck breaker. Johnson cuts him off and time to take this baby home. Beef is laid out on the floor and they finish La Ruffa with the double-stomp/Spicolli Driver combo at 4:11. I’m not sure about Beef’s choice in attire, but he worked hard, and I enjoy the team of Vanilla Swirl.

Marti Belle vs. Marina Shafir (w/ Jon Moxley):
HOLY CRAP, WHO BOOKED THIS?! AND WHY IS MOXLEY SLUMMING AROUND ROH?! Put that man in a match if you’re going to send him out there for the leftover tapings. Shafir with no interest in adhering to the Code of Honor. She offers a left hand to Belle and quickly takes her over with a Judo throw. Shafir leans in with her head but Belle hesitates with the offer. Another takedown and Shafir goes into a mount. Belle stacks up Shafir to block a cross arm breaker. Shafir with a pair of waist-lock takedowns and a series of kicks in the corner. Whip across the ring, Shafir slips out of the corner and goes for a Full Nelson. Belle with the escape and throws forearms to little effect. “DO BETTER.” I guess I’ll take no-selling and killing an opponent’s offense instead of the boo/yay sequence? Another takedown into a mount and Shafir finishes with Mother’s Milk at 4:09. This was a match that happened, now let’s never speak of it again.

Adam Priest, JD Drake, and Anthony Henry vs. Ryan Zukko, Joe Keys, and Josh Fuller:
IT’S A GEEK BATTLE. You know you’re putting a bunch of crap out there for the sake of it when you’re giving shine to the MOTHERF*CKING WORKHORSEMEN. Henry and Keys start. Not even an effort to adhere to the Code of Honor from either side. Keys puts Henry on the canvas with a shoulder block, but Henry quickly retaliates and takes him to the friendly corner. Keys carries Priest to the corner and tags in Zukko. Priest cuts him off with a dropkick. We’re told that Priest and the Workhorsemen will meet CMLL’s trios Champions in Non-Title action at a later date. Same episode that we start the Women’s Pure Title Tournament. Zukko gets worked over and nobody cares. It’s geeks beating up on geeks. Priest with a snap suplex and Drake with a somersault senton. I miss when Drake wore the Big Bubba gear. Drake and Henry with quick tags, keeping Zukko away from his corner. Fuller with the tag, and he gets 5-seconds of shine before Henry drops him on his face. Shining Wizard from Drake. Priest with a piledriver and the Workmen put Fuller away with a combo face-buster at 4:02. They winning geeks keep attacking until THE DARK ORDER saves. Wow, we’re jobbing Evil Uno to JD Drake now?

Hechicero vs. Jordan Oliver:
At least we’re giving some shine to talent that matters! If you missed the news, Hechicero will challenge Bandido for the ROH Title on August 29th. Oliver is making his ROH debut and gets the respect of a ring entrance. Hechicero wants no part of adhering to the Code of Honor, which is normal for him. Feeling out process to start. Hechicero grabs the ankle, but Oliver scrambles to his feet. They go nose-to-nose, with Hechicero patting him on the cheek like an arrogant sh*thead. They trade chops in that boo/yay sequence I absolutely hate. Hechicero pulls down the straps, daring Oliver to bring the heat, and catches him off guard with a dropkick. OK, I remove the bitching about the spot since they paid it off well. Oliver catches Hechicero in mid-air with an elbow and lands on top for a two-count. That looked like a blown spot, but they covered it well. Hechicero intercepts Oliver in the ropes and hangs up the leg. Oliver with more strikes. Hechicero picks the leg sliding under a leap-frog, dropping Oliver face-first. Hechicero misses a dive into the corner and Oliver with a small package for two. BREAKING NEWS: Blake Christian vs BEEF next week on ROH! Hechicero with a spinning back breaker and the crucifix lock gets the tap out at 5:31. Hechicero refuses to release the hold until Bandido runs out to make the save.

Neon & Mascara Dorada vs. The Premier Athletes (w/ Mark Sterling):
The Premier Athletes have a clean slate due to technicalities and have thrown their names in the hat for contention to the Tag Team Titles. Nese and Neon start and they adhere to the CODE OF HONOR! Nese grabs a side headlock but Neon quickly counters with a head-scissors. Nese with the escape, only to get caught in a front face-lock. Neon uses the ropes to his advantage, flipping over into a wrist-lock. Nese goes for the mask to disrupt Neon’s momentum and pops him in the corner. Neon takes Nese over with a jumping head-scissors then has similar success with an interfering Daivari. Nese with a shot to the throat to regain control, but he’s surprised by Dorada getting involved in the action and the Premier Athletes are sent to the outside. Nese pulls Dorada to the floor and Daivari attacks Neon from behind.

Nese plays to the crowd a bit and connects with a dropkick for a two-count. Daivari and Nese take turns punishing Neon on their half of the ring. Neon fails getting to his corner and is repeatedly clubbed across the face. Dorada offers assistance from the apron and tags in, running wild on both men. Spinning head-scissors and dropkick sends Nese to the floor and a rolling Cutter on Daivari gets a two-count. Sterling hops on the apron for the distraction, allowing Nese and Daivari to reclaim control. All four men continue to fight in the ring while the referee does his best Rick Knox impression. Synchronized Super Kicks take out the Premier Athletes. Sterling eats a double Super Kick, and they finish Nese and Daivari at 6:54, with Neon hitting an inverted senton and Dorada a 450 splash. Seemed like some styles clashing here. It felt like Neon and Dorada were working Lucha rules, but the referee was enforcing the standard tag team rules.

Final Thoughts: This would have been a much more entertaining “special” if we trimmed out 4 or 5 matches. You know what you keep? Wayne vs Mack, the Hechicero showcase, Billie Starkz vs Allysin Kay, the Outrunners/Fox vs. STP trios match, and the QT Marshall match with the Paul Walter Hauser gaga. Everything else was mostly a waste of time.