‘ROH: Death Before Dishonor 2022’ PPV Review
Ring of Honor is back again for another pay-per-view, this time Death Before Dishonor, which sees all but one match on the main card be a title match! Talk about putting it all on the line… Let’s get to it.
ROH: ZERO HOUR PRE-SHOW
Match #1: Colt Cabana def. Anthony Henry
The following is courtesy of ringofhonorwrestling.com:
Anthony Henry was making his Ring of Honor debut tonight. Henry ignored Colt’s attempt at a handshake and recognizing the Code of Honor. Henry and Cabana displayed beautiful chain wrestling. Henry clubbed Cabana with forearms. Anthony Henry blocked a sunset flip from Colt and then wrenched Colt’s neck. Henry mounted Colt and ground and pounded him. Henry took Colt off his feet with a thrust kick to the midsection. Henry locked Colt in the bow-and-arrow but Colt escaped. Cabana was riled up after Henry kicked “Boom Boom” in the chest. Henry spiked Cabana with a piledriver for a near fall. Colt connected with a whirly bird into a suplex on Henry. Cabana employed Larry Holmes-style jabs and then the “Boom Boom” elbow. After the Flying Apple, Colt nearly decapitated Henry with a huge lariat. Outside the ring, JD Drake sucker punched Cabana. Henry tried to capitalize with a frog splash but Colt kicked out before the three-count! Henry grabbed a front choke but Cabana countered with the Billy Goat’s Curse in the center of the ring. JD Drake jumped on the ring apron but Cabana shoved Henry into Drake. After a moonsault, Colt pinned Henry!
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #2: Trustbusters (Ari Daivari & Slim J) def. Shinobi Shadow Squad (Cheeseburger & Eli Isom)
The following is courtesy of ringofhonorwrestling.com:
The fans came alive for Cheeseburger, chanting his name in unison. Slim J taunted Cheeseburger and then knocked him down with a running clothesline. Ari tagged in and smacked Cheeseburger with a chop. Cheeseburger delivered a forearm and then made the tag to Eli. Eli used a Mexican Arm Drag on Ari. Slim J tagged back in while Cheeseburger grabbed a blind tag. Cheeseburger stretched Slim J in a submission. Ari kicked Cheeseburger in the back as Burger hit the ropes. The Trustbusters used a wheelbarrow flatline on Cheeseburger for a near fall. Eli delivered forearms to the Trustbusters. Eli splashed Ari in the corner and then used a Blue Thunder Bomb. Cheeseburger came in but Slim J sent Burger flying with a butterfly suplex. Eli unloaded with strikes on Slim J but Slim J planted Eli and then used a high crossbody. Ari jumped off the top rope with a frog splash and pinned Eli Isom!
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #3: The Embassy (Brian Cage & The Gates of Agony – Kaun & Toa Liona) def. Alex Zayne, Blake Christian & Tony Deppen
The following is courtesy of ringofhonorwrestling.com:
Deppen slapped Brian Cage. Deppen slid under Cage’s legs and nailed him with a knee strike. Brian Cage grabbed Tony Deppen and began mauling him, whipping Deppen into the turnbuckles. Kaun tagged in and Tony hit double foot stomps on Kaun. Zayne tagged in and smashed Kaun with a guillotine flipping leg drop. Liona tagged in and rammed Zayne with a running shoulder tackle. Brian Cage rocked Zayne with a deadlift suplex off the ropes! Zayne cracked Cage with a risking knee strike. Cage fired back with a wheelbarrow suplex. Blake Christian tagged in and planted Cage with a DDT! Christian flipped over the ropes outside the ring onto the Gates of Agony—but they caught him! Tony Deppen evened up the odds with a cannonball senton onto the Gates of Agony. Cage waffled Deppen with a discus clothesline. Brian Cage powerbombed Tony Deppen. The Gates of Agony and Cage triple teamed Deppen and then pinned Tony Deppen!
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #4: Willow Nightingale def. Allysin Kay
The following is courtesy of ringofhonorwrestling.com:
Allysin and Willow locked up and it was a stalemate. Willow bodyslammed Kay. Willow clipped Kay with an enziguri. Willow charged in but ate a big boot from Kay. The crowd rallied behind Willow. Allysin Kay clocked Nightingale with a high kick but Willow Nightingale fired back with a lariat. Kay locked a triangle choke on Willow but Willow managed to escape. Allison Kay was looking for the AK-47 finisher but Willow fought back with the pounce! Willow doctor bombed Allison Kay and pinned her!
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
THE MAIN PPV
Match #1: Claudio Castagnoli def. Jonathan Gresham
The following is courtesy of ringofhonorwrestling.com:
This match kicked off the show as there was a coin toss earlier to determine which of the two co-main events would conclude the show. The Code of Honor was observed. William Regal joined the commentary team for this match. The crowd was split, with dueling chants for Claudio and Gresham. Claudio grabbed Gresham with the Giant Swing! Claudio went for the cover but Gresham bridged out. Gresham dropkicked Claudio’s knee. Gresham put pressure on the ankle with a drop toe hold. Claudio created space by pushing Gresham away with his boot. “The Octopus” dropkicked Claudio in the legs again, doing his best to neutralize the “Swiss Superman”. Claudio rallied back with a big back breaker and then a European Uppercut for a near fall. Claudio hit the double foot stomp on Gresham for a two-count. Gresham blasted Claudio with a shotgun dropkick. Gresham grabbed an ankle lock on Claudio, but Claudio managed to get the rope break. Gresham chopped at Claudio but Claudio delivered an uppercut. The champ started chopping at Claudio’s legs. Claudio hoisted up Gresham, looking for the UFO, but Claudio’s legs gave out. Jonathan Gresham went into high octane mode with a German Suplex. Claudio planted the champion with a big-time lariat. Claudio employed the hammer and anvil elbow strikes on Gresham. Claudio spike Gresham with the Ricola Bomb and pinned Gresham! And new Ring of Honor World Champion…Claudio Castagnoli! After the match, Gresham and Claudio adhered to the Code of Honor.
My Score: 4 out of 5
Match #2: ROH World Six Man Title Match – Dalton Castle & The Boys (Brent & Brandon) def. The Righteous (Bateman, Dutch, & Vincent)
The following is courtesy of ringofhonorwrestling.com:
Dalton grabbed Bateman with a T-Bone exploder suplex. Dalton and the Boys used triple offense on Bateman. Dutch snuck in a blind tag and decimated the Boys with a double lariat. Vincent tagged in, cutting the ring in half, hitting Brent with a running knee strike. Bateman tagged in and headbutted Brent. Bateman blasted Brent with a spinning back elbow. Dalton Castle caught a tag and sent Bateman down with a basement DDT! Castle cleaned house on the Righteous with gut wrench suplexes! Dalton dished out the Boys, throwing them over the top rope onto the Righteous. Vita Von Star jumped on the ring apron and distracted the Boys and Castle. Dutch dove over the top rope with a flipping senton onto the Boys outside the ring. Vincent jumped off the top rope with Death From Above but Castle broke up the pin for his team! Vincent came back with Orange Sunshine on Brent. Dalton cleared the ring and planted Dutch with a German Suplex! Castle nailed Bateman with the Bang-A-Rang and pinned him! And new Ring Of Honor Six-Man Champions… Dalton Castle & The Boys!
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #3: ROH Pure Title Match – Wheeler Yuta def. Daniel Garcia
The following is courtesy of ringofhonorwrestling.com:
William Regal joined the commentary team again. Josh Woods, John Walters, and Ace Steel were the judges for this match. Yuta and Garcia chain wrestled and then Garcia slapped Yuta in the face. Yuta applied pressure with a straight jacket hold on Daniel Garcia. Wheeler Yuta transitioned to a single leg crab. Yuta planted Garcia on the neck with a German Suplex, and then another. Garcia smacked Yuta in the ear with open palm strikes. Yuta jumped off the top rope with a dropkick, right on target! Yuta used an inverted atomic drop. Garcia and Yuta traded strikes, and Yuta knocked Garcia to the mat. Yuta went right to a German Suplex on Garcia for a near fall. Garcia rolled away from Yuta and began smashing Yuta with hammer and anvil elbows. Yuta caught Garcia’s arm and suplexed him. Garcia cranked back into a sharpshooter but Yuta escaped. Garcia grapevine the legs and put Yuta in the Regal Stretch. Yuta put Garcia in the Walls of Jericho but Garcia grabbed a rope break, the first rope break of the match. Garcia spiked Wheeler Yuta with a piledriver for a two-count. Garcia grabbed Yuta’s arms, ready to stomp on him. However, Yuta trapped Garcia’s arms, pulled him down and pinned him! After the match, Garcia flipped off retaining champion Wheeler Yuta.
My Score: 4.5 out of 5
Match #4: Battle Of The Brothers – Rush def. Dragon Lee
The following is courtesy of ringofhonorwrestling.com:
Rush pie-faced Dragon Lee, but Dragon Lee fired back with heel kicks. Rush rocked Dragon Lee with a forearm to the jaw and then taunted his younger brother. Rush hit the shotgun dropkick to Dragon Lee and then followed up with a tope con hiro. Rush whipped Dragon Lee into the steel guardrails. Rush used a Buzz Sawyer slam on Dragon Lee for a near fall. The momentum shifted as Dragon Lee rocketed over the top rope onto Rush! He set Rush on the time keeper’s table and then harpooned Rush through it! Dragon Lee double stomped Rush off the top rope for a two-count! Dragon Lee and Rush traded forearms in the center of the ring. Dragon Lee staggered Rush with a ripcord suplex! Rush hurled Dragon Lee off the ring apron onto the arena floor with a belly-to-belly suplex! Dragon Lee rallied back with an inside-out Frankensteiner, and Rush crashed on the arena floor. Rush used Dragon Lee’s momentum and suplexed him into the turnbuckles. Rush smashed Dragon Lee in the face with the Bull’s Horns but Dragon Lee found the resolve to kick out! Dragon Lee double stomped Rush, but Rush kicked out at one! Dragon Lee followed up with the Liger Bomb for a near fall! He hit the Incinerator knee strike on Rush for a two-count! Rush lured Dragon Lee in and pinned his brother after crushing him with the Bull’s Horns.
My Score: 4.5 out of 5
Match #5: ROH Women’s World Title Match – Mercedes Martinez def. Serena Deeb
The following is courtesy of ringofhonorwrestling.com:
Martinez grabbed a side headlock, trying to wear down Deeb. Serena Deeb used an arm drag takeover, in control of the early goings of the match. Mercedes pulled out the spinebuster early on Deeb. Mercedes kicked Deeb in the face. Outside the ring, Mercedes chopped at Deeb, but Deeb speared Mercedes on the apron! Deeb connected with a Dragon Sleeper and then planted Martinez for a near fall. Serena Deeb delivered uppercuts to the champion. Martinez fought back with a half and half suplex on Serena. Mercedes perched Serena on the top turnbuckle. Mercedes tried to suplex Deeb off the top but Deeb fought out with back elbows. Serena had Mercedes in the Tree of Woe position and then jumped at her with a running strike. Deeb wrenched the neck of Mercedes. Deeb rolled up Mercedes for a near fall, but Mercedes escaped and tried to transition into an arm breaker. Mercedes had an inside grapevine choke on Deeb but Deeb escaped. Mercedes sent Deeb to the mat hard with a spider German Suplex. Mercedes wanted the execution forearm but Deeb was dead weight and fell down to the mat. Mercedes put Deeb in a surfboard lock but Deeb bit the arm of Mercedes to escape. Deeb trapped the arm and put Mercedes in the Serenity Lock. Mercedes rolled through to escape. Deeb wrenched the ankle of the champ but Mercedes powered through and sent Deeb headfirst into the turnbuckles. Mercedes planted Deeb with the OG Drop for a two-count! Mercedes locked Deeb into the Brass City Sleeper submission and made Deeb tap out!
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #6: ROH World TV Title Match – Samoa Joe def. Jay Lethal
The following is courtesy of ringofhonorwrestling.com:
Samoa Joe and Jay Lethal wasted no time and began to brawl in the aisle, as Joe was making his entrance. Lethal fired back with a dropkick to Samoa Joe. Samoa Joe used his educated feet and rocked Jay Lethal with stiff kicks to the chest! Samoa Joe was about to powerbomb Lethal through the timekeeper’s table but Satnam Singh ambushed Joe from behind. Jay Lethal placed Joe’s arm in between a steel chair while Satnam shoved Joe into the steel ring post! The match hadn’t started yet so the ref could not disqualify Jay Lethal. The ref finally began the match and ejected Satnam Singh from the ringside area. Lethal dropkicked Samoa Joe off the top turnbuckle, hitting Joe right in the shoulder. Samoa Joe staggered Lethal with a forearm. Samoa Joe surprised Jay Lethal with a tope suicida. Samoa Joe steamrolled Jay Lethal with a running lariat! Samoa Joe grabbed Jay Lethal with a scoop slam for a near fall. Lethal fought back with the Lethal Combination on Samoa Joe. Jay Lethal was positioning Samoa Joe for the figure four but Samoa Joe kicked Lethal in the face. Jay Lethal hoisted Joe up on the turnbuckles, looking for the Muscle Buster. Joe shoved Lethal off the turnbuckles and followed up with a leg lariat from the top. Samoa Joe was looking for the Muscle Buster but Lethal countered with the Lethal Injection for a near fall on the champion! Samoa Joe employed a Judo throw on Jay Lethal. Joe was looking for the Muscle Buster but Sonjay ran out and distracted the ref. While the ref had his back turned, Lethal smashed the championship belt into Samoa Joe. Lethal tried to pin Samoa Joe but Joe kicked out at two! Lethal tried to roll up Samoa Joe but Samoa Joe countered with a chokehold and forced Jay Lethal to tap out!
My Score: 4 out of 5
Match #7: ROH World Tag Title 2 of 3 Falls Match – FTR (Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood) def. Jay & Mark Briscoe
The following is courtesy of ringofhonorwrestling.com:
Dax and Mark began for their respective teams with a collar and elbow tie up. Mark send Harwood to the mat with a shoulder tackle. Cash tagged in and Mark utilized the Redneck Kung Fu. Harwood tagged back in, and Jay Briscoe tagged in for the Briscoes. Jay Briscoe got Dax with a hurracanrana. Jay Briscoe planted Dax down with a side suplex. FTR regrouped outside of the ring. The ringside doctor checked on Dax’s shoulder. Wheeler pie faced Jay and then Jay unloaded chops on Cash Wheeler! Wheeler shoulder tackled Jay in the midsection and then back suplexed Jay. This time the Briscoes rolled outside the ring to gather themselves. FTR used tandem offense on Jay Briscoe for a near fall. FTR picked up the pace with quick tags to one another. Mark dished out forearms to Cash Wheeler. The Briscoes ran into Cash with a double shoulder tackle. Jay sent Wheeler down again with a European Uppercut. The Briscoes cut off the ring on Cash, and Mark suplexed Cash. Cash caught Mark midflight and scoop slammed him. Cash made the tag to Harwood and Harwood cleaned house on the Briscoes! Harwood planted Jay with two German Suplexes. Harwood hit Mark with a right hand. Mark was about to go for the Cactus elbow drop but Cash caught Mark by surprise on the apron with a strike. Dax DDT’ed Jay for a near fall. Jay catapulted Dax into the ring post! The Briscoes nailed the Doomsday Device on Dax and pinned him for the first fall of the match!
Outside the ring, Mark Briscoe chopped away at Dax’s chest. Harwood’s chest was bleeding from the chops. The Briscoes viciously attacked Wheeler outside the ring. Jay headbutted Dax Harwood. The Briscoes hit the Redneck Boogie on Dax but Dax managed to kick out at the two-count! Harwood got back to his feet and exchanged chops with Mark Briscoe. Dax got the tag to a fresh Wheeler and Wheeler came in like a freight train! Wheeler was on a roll with a perfect brainbuster on Mark for a near fall. Mark was looking for the Redneck Boogie again but Dax grabbed Jay out of the ring. Dax and Jay brawled in the crowd. Jay smacked Cash with the time keeper’s ring bell! Mark tried to pin Cash but Cash kicked out! The blood began to pour out of the skull of Cash Wheeler. FTR came back with the Big Rig on Jay and Dax pinned Jay. FTR took the second fall of the match! Mark and Dax traded strikes on the ring apron! Mark smashed Dax Harwood with the blockbuster on the outside! Jay grabbed Dax for the Jay Driller but Dax fought out of it and stuck Jay with a piledriver. FTR blocked a Doomsday Device from the Briscoes. FTR were looking for the Big Rig on Jay but Dax accidentally struck ref Paul Turner with a punch. Jay spiked Dax with the Jay Driller but there was no ref to count the pin. FTR caught Jay with the Big Rig but Jay kicked out! The Briscoes took down Dax with the Doomsday Device but Cash broke up the pin attempt on his partner. Dax and Jay duked it out in the middle of the ring. Jay put Harwood into the clutch. Mark put Cash into a clutch of his own. Dax grabbed the rope to force the ref to break the hold. Mark climbed to the top turnbuckle but Wheeler jumped up there and suplexed Mark through the timekeeper’s table on the arena floor! Jay crushed Harwood with the Jay Driller but Harwood kicked out! Jay was on the top rope when Dax met him up there and nailed Jay with a piledriver off the ropes! Dax Harwood pinned Jay Briscoe and FTR scored the third and final fall of the match!
My Score: 5 out of 5
News of the Night:
- Prince Nana has apparently “bought” Tully Blanchard Enterprises, thus ending Blanchard’s short ROH run.
Final Verdict: 4.5/5
I’m gonna say it now. This PPV outclassed some of AEW’s recent pay-per-views… And that’s even with the predictability of a number of the matches. And by predictability I mean you knew who was going to win a number of the matches on the card – they’d hyped Claudio up has having NEVER won a World Championship, Vincent has been a regular on Impact and Daniel Garcia was (and is) never going to win the Pure Championship when he’s a “sports entertainer” and not a professional wrestler! The main show started strong and kept up the pace right till the main event… And what a main event! Talk about outstanding. I honestly have no idea where FTR go after this as everything else will seem like a comedown after their recent run. The only big no-no for this entire PPV was the weird news that Tully Blanchard is no longer managing Brian Cage, Gates of Agony and Jonathan Gresham. Odd.