The Ring of Honor (ROH) Death Before Dishonor pay-per-view made its return to Philadelphia's historic 2300 Arena on Friday evening, treating professional wrestling enthusiasts to an array of what many are calling some of the year's most compelling matches. While the number of championship changes was limited, the intensity and effort displayed by the competitors were undeniable.
World Championship Defenses
The ROH World Championship was fiercely contested as Bandido, known as "The Most Wanted" man, defended his title against the rising star Nick Wayne. Their encounter quickly escalated into one of the standout matches of the entire year. The physicality was evident when Wayne sustained a facial injury after being scraped against the unforgiving steel steps, leaving him visibly bloodied.
Both competitors, hailed as "The Most Wanted" and "The Prodigy" respectively, built towards a spectacular conclusion. The exchange featured a series of powerful German suplexes from each man, followed by Wayne connecting with a sharp cutter on Bandido. The rapid-fire action continued with Bandido executing a poisonrana, which Wayne remarkably absorbed before countering with a crucifix driver. Believing victory was within his grasp, Wayne delivered his signature Prodigy Plex. However, Bandido seized a critical opening, surprising Wayne with a crucifix pin to retain his championship. This thrilling contest served as a potent precursor to the evening's main event.
In the main event, Athena, the "Fallen Goddess," aimed to extend her impressive Ring of Honor Women’s Championship reign against Stardom’s Hazuki. The bout featured two of the premier female professional wrestlers today, with Hazuki consistently countering Athena's offense. Athena's resilience proved crucial, allowing her to withstand a significant splash from Hazuki through the announce table and a suplex delivered on the entrance ramp aisle.
While Billie Starkz and Diamanté were present at ringside in support of Athena, their presence was within the expected bounds of such a high-stakes match. Ultimately, Athena capitalized on an opportunity, landing her devastating O-Face maneuver to secure the pinfall victory. Her dominant championship reign now stands at an extraordinary 1,350 days.
New Champions Crowned
The event also saw a pair of ROH championships change hands. Action Andretti, aided by Hook and Anthony Bowens, successfully challenged Lio Rush for the ROH TV Championship. This victory marks Andretti’s inaugural singles title as part of the Ring of Honor roster. Their "Fight Without Honor" stipulation allowed for extreme measures, with Andretti employing brutal tactics to inflict damage upon Rush, including a devastating 450 splash that sent Rush crashing through a table.
Earlier on the card, the ROH Six-Man Tag Team Championship was contested between the defending champions, The Outrunners (Truth Magnum and Turbo Floyd) alongside Dalton Castle, and the formidable trio known as Lethal Twist, comprising Jay Lethal, Blake Christian, and Lee Johnson. Blake Christian ultimately secured the pinfall, assisted by Jay Lethal's leverage from outside the ring.
The atmosphere within the arena was electric, with continuous chants of "this is awesome" echoing from the engaged Philadelphia crowd, a familiar sign of a truly memorable wrestling event. As the promotion transitions into the autumn months, Ring of Honor is poised for a strong conclusion to the year, particularly for its prominent athletes.