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ROH Episode 56: Thursdays are for the Women
We are two weeks away from ROH’s first pay-per-view of the year and we only have three matches announced. This seems to be the way ROH designs all of its pay-per-views with them announcing matches at the last second, but the card still turns out amazing. Seems as if this show is no different.
Billie Starkz vs Mercedes Martinez:
This match ruled and could have easily been the final match in this tournament. Both women brought their absolute all in this match and had a reason why they should advance to the final round. Starkz advances by pinning Martinez with a backslide to become one step closer to becoming the first-ever Women’s TV Champion.
Winner: Billie Starkz
Queen Aminata vs Red Velvet:
The one thing I love is that both WWE and ROH have mentioned Ramadan and the talent that is fasting during the holiday. Aminata’s gear in this match was in tribute to Ramadan and throughout the match, commentary talked about how she had been fasting throughout the day so the win might be harder to come by because of this. Velvet dominated most of the match, but one shot to the head led Aminata to get the win. The finals will be Queen Aminata vs Billie Starkz in Philadelphia.
Winner: Queen Aminata
Kiera Hogan Promo:
Even though Hogan lost in the tournament, she is hyped because she won the four-corner survival match last week. She also challenges Diamante in a rematch next week as well as becoming the first challenger for the ROH Women’s Television Tournament.
Lee Johnson vs London Lightning:
This was a squash, a good showing by Lightning though as Johnson moves to seven consecutive wins.
Winner: Lee Johnson
Johnny TV and Taya Valkyrie Promo:
Valkyrie says The Boys have been difficult and have not been behaving. Castle comes from behind the set and asks where The Boys are when they reveal that they are lost. Valkyrie says that a bear had taken them and they do not know where they are. Nair says she wants Castle to stop interrupting her interviews as Castle keeps shouting that he is boyless. Nair points out that he has boys over in the corner, but they are just “extra boys” and it is not the same.
Rachael Ellering vs Hikaru Shida:
Before the match started Athena came out to get a closer look at her opponent for the SuperCard of Honor pay-per-view. Throughout the match, Athena was coaching Ellering telling her to finish the job and just to beat Shida already. In my opinion, this was Ellering’s best match in ROH she took Shida to the limit and showed how much of an asset she is to the ROH Women’s Division. Shida gets the win as she and Athena have a stare-down.
Winner: Hikaru Shida
Diamante Promo:
Diamante says Martinez was robbed and Starkz's win was a fluke. She accepts Hogan’s challenge for a match next week as she and Martinez also call dibs on the winner of the ROH Women’s TV Tournament.
Matt Sydal vs TJ Crawford:
Another squash match, sigh.
Winner: Matt Sydal
Eddie Kingston Promo:
Kingston says that he got a call from Homicide after losing to Okada and he asked why did Kingston become such a baby. He wants to see Kingston who would do anything in his power to make sure that he wins his matches. He says that he loves Mark Briscoe, but he has to win this match to get back to the best version of Eddie Kingston of all time.
MIT Promo:
Nair hypes up Athena and Billie with their matches at SuperCard of Honor. Athena says that Shida is known as a three-time loser and this is her show and she will prove that she is the best. Even though Athena lost to Shida in the past this does not mean that Athena can not rewrite history and secure the win this time.
Anna Jay vs Mina Shirakawa:
This match had a lot of hype before it aired on Honor Club and it certainly lived up to it. Although the match was short, Jay shinned and proved how much she has grown since her first match in AEW during the pandemic. Expect more Stardom wrestlers in ROH in the next couple of weeks as Shirakawa gets the win.
Winner: Mina Shirakawa
Overall:
This should have been an all-women’s episode, to be honest. Both men’s matches were squashes and the women had most of the time to shine throughout the episode. There were also two champions on the show and with a pay-per-view that is two weeks away, that is certainly a problem with adding legitimacy to those title matches.
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