This week starts down in Arena Mexico with the CMLL Women’s Grand Prix. It was Team Mexico (India Sioux, La Catalina, La Jarochita, Lluvia, Olympia, Persephone, Reyna Isis, Skadi & Zeuxis) vs Team International (Diamante, Hazuki, Julia Hart, Kanji, Koguma, Mina Shirakawa, Shoko Nakajima, Skye Blue & Thekla). I have to be honest, with a match time of over an hour, I was not exactly looking forward to this, but it ended up being a lot of fun. The crowd was hot for the whole thing, and Thekla, in particular, looked great in this match. If I had the pencil, she would be next in line to win the AEW Women’s World Title, and then Willow. Or Willow first and then Thekla, either way Thekla needs to be in the conversation. I could see CMLL diehard’s being upset with some of the booking in this match, but it would be impossible to please everyone in a match like this. As far as ROH talent goes, Olympia eliminated Diamante with a “Sit-Out Powerbomb,” to get the pin. They got down to the right finalists and winner as Team Mexico won when Persephone eliminated Thekla. On a side note, Stardom President Taro Okada was at ringside and was at one point taunted by Thekla, continuing their issues. I love stuff like that.
The following night was AEW Collision from San Antonio, TX. We were “treated” to another MxM TV “Casting Call,” Open Challenge Match. This time, it was answered by Olympia, who challenged Taya Valkyrie one-on-one. Olympia made quick work of Taya, scoring the pinfall easily. Then we had Tony Khan’s ROH “Whipping Boy” of the week, Griff Garrison, taking another loss, this time to Hook via the “Red Rum.”
Sunday afternoon was Jersey Championship Wrestling’s Possession from Ridgefield Park, NJ where ROH’s Billie Starkz took part in the Luna Vachon Invitational. The layout of this Invitational was 3 Four-Way Matches in the 1st round, with the 3 winners advancing to a 3-way elimination Final. Billie advanced to the finals winning the opener with a “Tombstone Piledriver” on Maya World. I don’t know what to say. I’m tired of Four-Way Matches. Why do Indie promoters want to pay every wrestler they can when they don’t have to? Besides the fact that the matches are sloppy and hard to follow and there is way too much obvious coordination, it’s all just unnecessary. Billie ended up the winner of the Invitational, beating Emersyn Jayne and Lena Kross in the Finals. I don’t know what to say? I’m tired of 3 Way Matches. It was better than the opener, though. Lena Kross has the look and the size to move up. One thing I will say is that she needs to not be so timid with her striking. It really stands out when the powerhouse in a match delivers weak strikes, but I wouldn’t be surprised if I saw her on ROH or NXT soon.
Next up ROH’s Lee Moriarty, Adam Priest & Darian Bengston took on Jordan Oliver, Alec Price & Marcus Mathers in a 6 Man Tag Team Match. This was exactly what you would picture with the participants involved. A fast-paced & high-flying fun six-man as Oliver, Price & Mathers got the win when Mathers hit Bengston with a 450 from the top. I’m just glad nobody banged their head on the ceiling of the Knights of Columbus this evening coming off the top rope. And the night ends with Billie Starkz in her impromptu third match of the night. Charles Mason came to the ring as the show was ending and was awarded the JCW Title Belt, which had been vacated by Masha Slamovich, by Bryan Keith. Apparently, Keith was told to do so by somebody calling themselves “Fawkescatcher.” I apologize for not being “locked in” on JCW, but that is what happened as far as I can tell. Billie Starkz, the #1 contender for the JCW Title after winning a #1 Contender Scramble at JCW Knockout, then came out and challenged Charles Mason to a match to determine who the Champion would be. Commentators said they were both top contenders for the title. I’m trying here, promise. I always appreciate it when Indie promotions run angles but coming into this cold made it a little confusing and I’m really not a big fan of Intergender matches, but this was fine. Starkz beat Mason with a roll-up to win the vacant JCW Title.
Ring of Honor
ROH on HonorClub #139
October 30, 2025
Edinburg, Texas + Jacksonville, FL
It was announced on Dynamite that the Bandido vs Mascara Dorada match for the ROH World Title will be taking place on Collision. I’m pretty sure that it was happening on Honor Club originally, but I should have known. Why would you want to put matches on a subscription service that people want to see and maybe get subscribers? I understand that Collision is running head-to-head with Saturday Night’s Main Event but isn’t the roster big enough to put this match on Honor Club and come up with something else for Collision?
The show opens with a promo from The Swirl addressing their opponents on Honor Club this week, Mascarada Dorada & Komander. Christian is not happy that Dorada is getting a shot at Bandido before him, since he has remained undefeated all year, and Johnson intends on making sure Dorada doesn’t make it to Collision for that shot.
DALTON CASTLE & THE OUTRUNNERS (TRUTH MAGNUM & TURBO FLOYD) DEF. THE GIFTED (LEROY SHOGUN, LOGAN CRUZ & TYSHAUN PEREZ)
We have seen all the members of The Gifted before on ROH but never as “The Gifted,” the name they have gone by on the Indie scene since 2021. So, there is “Sports Entertainment” I like, and “Sports Entertainment” I don’t like. I like Dalton Castle & The Outrunners. Dalton Castle’s offense always looks great, the suplexes especially. And I think The Outrunners could whoop some ass if it came down to it. They made quick work of The Gifted as Dalton Castle got the win after “Bang-a-Rang” on Perez.
BILLIE STARKZ DEF. ALEAH JAMES
Last week, Starkz & James tagged together and Starkz walked out on James. This week, James looks to get some payback on “Space Jesus” in singles action. This was clearly a try out for James and I think there could be something there. I would like to hear her speak, but she could be a good underdog Babyface for ROH. James got a lot in here, but Starkz stole the pin with a “Roll Up” with her feet on the ropes.
A recap was then shown of The Don Callis attacking QT & Solo on the set of QTV. I am never going to complain about having Don Callis on ROH. Don Callis is one of the best things in modern Pro Wrestling, in my opinion. His “Family” may be a little large but it’s something different and I am not against it, for the time being.
THE DON CALLIS FAMILY (LANCE ARCHER & ROCKY ROMERO) DEF. QT MARSHALL & AARON SOLO (W/ TRENT BERETTA)
Don Callis cut a promo before the match running down QT for associating himself with Big Boom AJ & Big Justice. Callus then joined Ian & Caprice at the commentary desk, but Ian & Caprice weren’t there. It looks like they dubbed their commentary over Callis. They did a pretty good job but there was a lot of Ian trying to get a word in over Callis. This was an ok match building to The Tailgate Brawl for Full Gear. Rocky got the pin on QT after Trent nailed Marshall with his arm cast, followed by a “Top Rope Double Stomp,” from Romero. After the match The Don Callis Family continued the assault when Big Boom AJ ran down to make the save.
Backstage cameras caught up with The Outrunners & Dalton Castle who were feeling great after their victory and looking for gold.
Next week, it’s Shane Taylor Promotions defending their ROH World 6-Man Tag Team Titles against The Workhorsemen & BEEF.
ROH PURE TITLE PROVING GROUND MATCH
LEE MORIARTY [C] DEF. ALEX ZAYNE
I was so happy to see a “serious” match that I’m not going to complain that Alex Zayne hasn’t won a match in ROH and is getting a Proving Ground Match while Komander just went to a time limit draw with Moriarty a few weeks ago and hasn’t received a rematch. Maybe they are saving that match for Final Battle, which is understandable. And I promise that I am also not going to complain that both wrestlers were wearing necklaces. I really like both these guys, and this is the kind of stuff I want to see on Honor Club. Good match and Moriarty got the submission victory with a “Border City Stretch.”
A recap was then shown of Isla Dawn’s debut and the attack by The Premier Athletes after the match.
THE PREMIER ATHLETES (ARIYA DAIVARI, TONY NESE & STORI DENALI) (W/ MARK STERLING) DEF. GRIZZLED YOUNG VETERANS (JAMES DRAKE & ZACK GIBSON) & ISLA DAWN
Mark Sterling made his return to ROH wearing an arm brace after his surgery. Ok match, GYV always looks great when they pick up the pace. I hope someday soon we get to hear Gibson cutting promos. Denali gets the pin for her team with a “Chokeslam” to Dawn.
KOMANDER & MASCARA DORADA (W/ ALEX ABRAHANTES) DEF. THE SWIRL (BLAKE CHRISTIAN & LEE JOHNSON)
This was a great, fast-paced, Lucha-Style Main Event and was easily the Highlight of the Week for me. These two teams worked well together and got the crowd going. There was some really good heel work from Christian as he gets better and better as an overall performer. Dorada gets the pin on Johnson after “Shooting Star Press.”
This was the best thing I’ve seen on Honor Club since Death Before Dishonor, great stuff!
So, this is what I will be checking out for next week’s Honor System #11:
- Bandido defending the ROH World Title against Mascara Dorada on Collision
- And of course, Dynamite & ROH on HonorClub #140
Highlights of the week:
- Bandido promo from the parking lot of the 2300 Arena [9.4.2025]
- Hologram & Tomohiro Ishii def. Aariya Daivari & Tony Nese [9.4.2025]
- Aariya Daivari & Tony Nese def. Angelico & Serpentico (The Debut of Stori Denalli) [9.5.2025]
- Mark Sterling introduces Stori Denali as an official member of the Premier Athletes with Lexi Nair in the parking lot [9.5.2025]
- Recap video of Athena’s 1000 days as ROH Women’s World Champion [9.5.2025]
- Bandido & Mistico def. Hechicero & Angel de Oro from Arena Mexico [9.5.2025]
- Vignette of The Outrunners & Dalton Castle seemingly joining forces on Collision [9.6.2025]
- Maestros Contra Maestros Trios Match featuring Blue Panter, Xelhua & Hechicero [9.11.2025]
- Katsuyori Shibata def. Matt Mako in a Pure Rules Match [9.18.2025]
- Billie Starkz def. Olympia in Women’s Pure Title Tournament Quarterfinal Match [9.25.2025]
- Saree makes her ROH debut teaming with Alex Windsor defeating Diamante & Billie Starkz [10.2.2025]
- Bandido def. Hechicero to retain the ROH World Title from Arena Mexico [10.3.2025]
- Sareee retained her IWGP Women’s Title against Alex Windsor [10.9.2025]
- Sydney Akeem makes his ROH debut beating Alex Zayne [10.16.2025]
- Mascara Dorada def. Angelico [10.23.2025]
- Mascara Dorada & Komander def. The Swirl [10.30.2025]
