At least two names connected to WWE in recent years were backstage at this week’s Ring of Honor tapings in Florida, according to Fightful Select’s Sean Ross Sapp.
Carlito was reportedly visiting because his cousins, Epico and Primo, were competing during the tapings. Despite a lengthy wrestling career spanning multiple promotions,
Carlito has never wrestled for AEW or Ring of Honor. He had been part of WWE programming before quietly disappearing from television.
Bobby Steveson was also backstage, though Fightful noted he did not compete at the tapings and was working at the show in some capacity. Steveson previously wrestled in WWE NXT under the Damon Kemp name before his departure from the company, and has only wrestled sporadically in the two years since.
No indication exists that either Carlito or Steveson is signing with AEW or ROH.
Ring of Honor presents Supercard of Honor tonight from the Wicomico Civic Center in Salisbury, Maryland. The pay-per-view event streams live at 8:00 PM ET on HonorClub, with eight title matches scheduled across the card.
Key Points
Main Event: Bandido defends the ROH World Championship against Blake Christian.
First-Ever Women’s Survival of the Fittest: Athena faces five challengers in an elimination match for the ROH Women’s World Title.
How to Watch:Friday, May 15 at 8:00 PM ET on HonorClub (US, Canada, Mexico, India) or MyAEW (international).
ROH’s Marquee Annual Event
Supercard of Honor has been Ring of Honor’s flagship show since 2006, traditionally tied to WrestleMania weekend before shifting later into the calendar. The 2026 edition stacks eight title matches onto a single card, including the AEW National Championship being defended on a Ring of Honor PPV.
Full Match Card
Match
Stipulation
Bandido (c) vs. Blake Christian
ROH World Championship
Athena (c) vs. Maya World vs. Trish Adora vs. Yuka Sakazaki vs. Billie Starkz vs. Zayda Steel
ROH Women’s World Championship, Survival of the Fittest
Lee Moriarty (c) vs. Ace Austin
ROH Pure Championship
Deonna Purrazzo (c) vs. Diamante
ROH Women’s Pure Championship
AR Fox (c) vs. Lio Rush
ROH World Television Championship
Red Velvet (c) vs. Viva Van
ROH Women’s World Television Championship
Mark Davis (c) vs. Xelhua
AEW National Championship
Nigel McGuinness vs. Josh Woods
Pure Wrestling Rules Match
Match Previews
ROH World Championship: Bandido (c) vs. Blake Christian
Bandido enters Salisbury on a reign that has run more than a year, with the most recent retention coming at Final Battle 2025 in December. His title run has been built on technical exchanges and high-flying spots that translate cleanly to the ROH style, and the Maryland defense is one of the most hyped of his championship reign to date.
Blake Christian arrives with momentum after months of climbing the AEW and ROH ranks, his profile rising further when he was tapped to face Will Ospreay in Ospreay’s in-ring return on AEW Dynamite in March. ROH has framed the build as months of turmoil between the two, positioning Christian as the most credible challenger Bandido has faced this calendar year.
A title change here would reshape ROH’s main-event scene heading into the summer and open the door for fresh matchups against the company’s mid-card contenders.
ROH Women’s World Championship, Survival of the Fittest: Athena (c) vs. Maya World vs. Trish Adora vs. Yuka Sakazaki vs. Billie Starkz vs. Zayda Steel
Tony Khan announced the first-ever women’s Survival of the Fittest tournament at the April 6 ROH TV taping, with five qualifying matches producing the challengers for Athena. Persephone was originally one of the five but was pulled in early May after an injury, with Zayda Steel taking her place by defeating Hyan in a replacement qualifier.
Athena’s reign as ROH Women’s World Champion stretches back to October 2022, making her the longest-reigning singles champion in the company. The six-way elimination format presents the most realistic threat to that run since it began.
Yuka Sakazaki, Billie Starkz, and Trish Adora all enter with international and indie credentials deep enough to win on a different night, which makes the field as deep as any women’s match ROH has put together.
ROH World Television Championship: AR Fox (c) vs. Lio Rush
AR Fox won the ROH World Television Championship from Nick Wayne in the run-up to the event, making Supercard of Honor his first defense. Lio Rush is the right kind of first-defense opponent: a former champion in multiple promotions whose pace and style match Fox’s step for step.
This is the kind of match that lives or dies on workrate, and both wrestlers have spent the last two years specifically building reputations for delivering it.
ROH Pure Championship: Lee Moriarty (c) vs. Ace Austin
Ace Austin’s TNA background and pace make him a stylistic match for the Pure Rules format, where rope breaks and closed-fist limits change how every exchange plays out.
ROH Women’s Pure Championship: Deonna Purrazzo (c) vs. Diamante
Deonna Purrazzo has used the ROH Women’s Pure Championship as a platform to highlight her technical wrestling, picking matchups that lean into mat work over storyline-driven feuds. Diamante challenges with a more aggressive offensive approach that should force Purrazzo out of her usual rhythm.
ROH Women’s World Television Championship: Red Velvet (c) vs. Viva Van
Red Velvet has held the ROH Women’s TV title since winning it back from Mercedes Moné at Final Battle 2025. The Salisbury defense is her fourth since regaining the title and her first since March, with Viva Van entering after losing in the Survival of the Fittest qualifying round to Yuka Sakazaki.
AEW National Championship: Mark Davis (c) vs. Xelhua
Mark Davis brings the AEW National Championship onto a Ring of Honor PPV, the kind of cross-promotional booking Tony Khan has used regularly since acquiring ROH in 2022. Xelhua’s lucha background sets up a stylistic clash against Davis’s heavy hard-hitting offense.
Pure Wrestling Rules Match: Nigel McGuinness vs. Josh Woods
Nigel McGuinness returning to in-ring action under Pure Rules is the curio of the card. The former ROH World Champion has spent most of the past decade in a commentary role, with occasional matches over recent years carefully chosen and Pure Rules giving him a stylistic framework that suits his current pace.
Josh Woods is a former ROH Pure Champion and one of the most accomplished Pure Rules wrestlers on the current roster, making him the right opponent to test what McGuinness still has left.
How to Watch
Date/Time: Friday, May 15, 2026, 8:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM PT
Ring of Honor officially has a permanent home for the first time since Tony Khan purchased the promotion in March 2022. Khan confirmed on March 1, 2026 that Jacksonville, Florida will serve as ROH\’s official home base going forward, following the promotion\’s inaugural studio tapings at WJCT Studios.
The announcement ends years of makeshift taping arrangements that saw ROH record content before and after AEW Dynamite and Collision events. Per Fightful Select, the March 1 event was framed as an experiment — with the understanding that a successful taping would lock in WJCT Studios as ROH\’s long-term home. Khan confirmed it went well enough to make it official.
About the Venue
WJCT Studios is a PBS affiliate studio located at 100 Festival Park Ave in downtown Jacksonville — conveniently situated near the Jacksonville Jaguars offices where Khan operates. Dave Meltzer described the location as essentially a TV studio steps away from Khan\’s own workplace, making it a logistically practical choice for regular productions.
The next ROH taping at WJCT Studios is already confirmed for March 22. Meltzer previously noted that if the studio model took hold, ROH would likely run one to two tapings per month, banking three to four episodes per session.
Daily\’s Place Was the Original Plan
WJCT Studios was not ROH\’s first choice for a permanent venue. That distinction belongs to Daily\’s Place, the amphitheater that served as AEW\’s home during the COVID-19 pandemic. Speculation about Daily\’s Place as an eventual ROH home had circulated for years, but the venue is currently undergoing renovations projected to last until at least 2027, removing it from consideration for now.
What It Means for ROH\’s Future
The venue confirmation arrives amid an aggressive 2026 signing push by Khan, who has added talents including Tommaso Ciampa, The Rascalz, The IInspiration, Clark Connors, and others to the ROH and AEW rosters.
A dedicated studio environment gives the promotion a distinct visual identity separate from AEW\’s touring model — a key step if Khan continues pursuing a traditional TV deal for the brand.
ROH TV continues to air every Thursday at 7 PM ET, exclusively on HonorClub. With a permanent home now confirmed and a growing roster, ROH appears to be positioning itself for the most structured chapter of the Khan era.
Deonna Purrazzo has opened up about her frustrations in AEW.
The ROH Women\’s Pure Champion recently made some headlines with a social media post. She took to X to invite bookings, noting that she\’s only had one match in 2026. This attracted a lot of criticism for AEW, with people questioning the company over their treatment of the female stars.
I’ve only had ONE match in 2026…
Let’s change that ASAP. Who wants to be FLUENT IN PURRAZZO? ?
In a new interview with BCP+, the former TNA Knockouts Champion detailed her frustrations. Deonna Purrazzo mentioned that she is constantly racking her brain to figure out what more she can do to get booked. Her efforts not being reciprocated by the management, however, is really defeating for her:
\”I think a lot of my self-worth comes from my work, and my body of work, and being able to participate actively, and feel like I am making a difference in women’s wrestling.
And I think that it’s been a really rough, I wouldn’t even say just 2026. I’d say it was a really rough year, 2025 into right now, that I’ve not really been able to do that at the level I’ve previously done it at. And I don’t know what else I can do to change that.\”
Deonna Purrazzo became the inaugural ROH Women\’s Pure Champion by defeating Billie Starkz at the Final Battle event this past December. Though as mentioned in her tweet, she has had only one match in 2026 after her title victory and the reigning champion is yet to be booked in a title defence.
Explaining why she made the post for bookings going against the AEW management, The Virtuosa said that she needs to stay ready for when an opportunity does come her way. Purrazzo explained that she is just trying to control what she can even if it hurts her relationship with her current employers:
\”So for me it was saying, okay if I’m not going to get these opportunities here, I need to stay ready. I need to stay crisp for when they do come. So I’m gonna put out a tweet, and I’m gonna take independent bookings, and I’m gonna try to stay ahead of that ring rust that I might get, if this year continues on this path.
And that way, I’m trying to control everything I can control. Like I said, it’s really defeating. It’s really upsetting. But at the end of the day, this is business, and I have to continue to run my own, at whatever stakes that costs.”
Deonna Purrazzo is not the only female star facing this kind of treatment in AEW. Names such as Britt Baker and Kamille have also been missing from the company for a long time, without any explanation. Most recently, Mercedes Martinez opened up about similar struggles during her time in the company. You can check out what she said here.
Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling and Ring of Honor have announced a two-day mega event weekend in Windsor, Ontario, featuring international wrestling talent from multiple promotions.
Big news is coming Thursday, Jan 29th as #ROH President @TonyKhan and #ROH Women’s World Champion @AthenaPalmer_FG make it official!
GLOBAL WARS takes place Friday, March 27 at St. Clair College, headlined by current AEW National Champion Ricochet in his first GLOBAL WARS main event appearance in Canada. The event showcases competitors from MLP and ROH alongside international stars from AEW, New Japan Pro-Wrestling, Pro Wrestling NOAH, DDT Pro-Wrestling, and Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre.
The weekend continues Saturday, March 28 with MLP UPRISING, headlined by The Good Brothers—Karl Anderson and Doc Gallows—fresh off their return to Pro Wrestling NOAH.
Additional confirmed talent includes Kaito Kiyomiya (Pro Wrestling NOAH), Daisuke Sasaki (DDT Pro), Máscara Dorada (CMLL), Bárbaro Cavernario (CMLL), and Bishop Dyer (formerly Baron Corbin).
Both events will stream live worldwide on TrillerTV, with on-demand access available exclusively on ROH Honor Club following the broadcasts.
\”We are thrilled to partner Ring of Honor with MAPLE LEAF PRO Wrestling for GLOBAL WARS and MLP UPRISING on March 27 and 28,\” said AEW CEO Tony Khan. \”Both events will spotlight incredible stars from around the world and deliver amazing wrestling action to fans over the course of two exciting nights.\”
MAPLE LEAF PRO President Scott D\’Amore added, \”This Mega Event weekend showcases MAPLE LEAF PRO on the world stage while celebrating the global partnerships that define professional wrestling today.\”
Tickets start at $30 and go on sale Monday, January 26 at 10:00 AM EST at MLPWRESTLING.COM.
AEW and Ring of Honor star Leila Grey has announced she suffered a torn ACL during her recent match with Mercedes Moné at ROH Final Battle 2025, but that didn\’t stop her from achieving a major milestone in her fitness career.
FIRST PLACE BABY! ?
I just won, went Pro, and become the new WBFF Pro Fitness Diva!!….. with a freakin’ torn ACL!
For those that may not know, I tore my ACL last week in my match with Mercedes. I’ll be going into surgery and will be out of commission for a while. This… pic.twitter.com/8ZttSmzsIW
Grey revealed on social media that despite the devastating injury occurring just one week before her debut WBFF competition, she refused to withdraw. The determined competitor strapped up her knee brace and took the stage anyway, ultimately winning first place and earning her WBFF Pro status as a Fitness Diva.
\”For those that may not know, I tore my ACL last week in my match with Mercedes,\” Grey wrote. \”I\’ll be going into surgery and will be out of commission for a while. This couldn\’t have happened at a worse time.\”
Grey explained that the injury affected her championship match opportunity while also threatening to derail the fitness competition she had spent the past year preparing for. When others expected her to drop out, she chose a different path.
\”People expected me to drop out, but honey, there\’s no quit in me,\” she declared. \”I\’m a boss ass baddie, and I always get the job done.\”
At ROH Final Battle 2025, Grey competed on the pre-show against Mercedes Moné for the ROH Women\’s Television Championship, where the injury occurred. Despite the setback, Grey remained focused on her fitness competition debut, which she called one of the most significant investments of her life over the past year.
The injury occurs at around the 40-second mark of this video clip:
Expected Time Away from Wrestling
Grey will now require ACL surgery and faces a lengthy recovery period that will keep her away from in-ring competition. ACL injuries typically require 6-9 months of rehabilitation before athletes can return to full activity.
The 27-year-old has been with AEW and ROH since 2022 and recently made headlines in March 2025 when she married fellow professional wrestler Luke Kurtis.
SEScoops wishes Leila Grey a quick and speedy recovery.
AEW star Dralistico underwent surgery on Wednesday, sharing a clip on social media from the hospital. The La Facción Ingobernable member posted the update with the caption \”The day has arrived,\” accompanied by ambulance and hospital emojis.
The surgery comes after reports emerged that the 31-year-old luchador suffered injuries to his ear in two separate matches. According to the Wrestling Observer\’s Bryan Alvarez, Dralistico continued working through the pain in hopes of securing more opportunities on AEW\’s main roster shows, but eventually the injury became too severe and medical professionals advised surgery was necessary.
\”Dralistico suffered injuries to his ear in two different matches. He also worked through it since he was hoping to get regular work on the main roster, but eventually it became too painful and he was told he\’d need surgery to fix it,\” Alvarez reported in late November.
Dralistico hasn\’t appeared on AEW television since the October 30 taping of AEW Rampage, where he teamed with Rush and The Beast Mortos to defeat BEEF, JD Drake, and The Butcher. During the December 7 episode of AEW Collision, the broadcast team addressed his absence by noting that both Dralistico and his brother Rush were \”at home with family matters.\”
The timing is particularly challenging for La Facción Ingobernable, as Rush is also dealing with a serious knee injury that forced him to vacate the ROH World Tag Team Championship he held with Sammy Guevara. Rush\’s injury also caused changes to the ROH Final Battle card, converting his scheduled world title match against Bandido into a Survival of the Fittest elimination bout.
There is no official timeline for Dralistico\’s return to AEW programming. The Mexican star signed a four-year contract with AEW in November 2023 after previously being passed over by WWE. He is the son of legendary luchador Toro Blanco and the brother of Rush.
Red Velvet reclaimed the ROH Women\’s World Television Championship on Friday night at ROH Final Battle 2025, defeating Mercedes Moné in a rematch that saw her hand the multi-time champion her first title loss.
The match at GalaxyCon in Columbus, Ohio served as a rematch from their November 19 title unification bout on AEW Collision, where Moné had unified the interim and lineal championships by defeating Velvet.
How the Match Unfolded
Velvet set the tone early by attacking Moné during ring introductions, establishing an aggressive approach that would define the contest. The champion attempted to use her TBS Championship belt as a weapon, but the referee intervened before she could strike.
The back-and-forth encounter saw both competitors exhaust their arsenals. Velvet connected with her signature \”Straight Out of Momma\’s Kitchen\” finisher but only managed a near-fall. Moné weathered the storm and eventually locked in her \”Statement Maker\” submission, a hold that has forced numerous opponents to tap out.
In the match\’s decisive moment, Velvet used her positioning near the ropes to her advantage. She pushed off with her legs while trapped in the submission, rolling through to catch Moné in a deep pin. The referee counted three, and the title changed hands.
A Historic Loss for Mercedes Moné
The defeat marks the first time Moné has lost a championship since arriving in AEW. She had accumulated an impressive collection of 13 titles across her tenure, maintaining an unblemished record in title matches until Friday night.
Moné won the interim ROH Women\’s World Television Championship in October 2025 at AEW WrestleDream, defeating Mina Shirakawa. The interim title was created after Velvet suffered a neck injury and shoulder dislocation in July 2025 during a match in Mexico City, sidelining her and preventing title defenses.
Red Velvet\’s Road Back to Gold
For Velvet, the victory represents both vindication and the continuation of a historic reign. The Colombian-American wrestler originally won the ROH Women\’s World Television Championship in July 2024 by defeating Billie Starkz at Death Before Dishonor. Her 481-day reign remains the longest in the title\’s brief history.
Born Stephanie Cardona, Velvet comes from a combat sports family—her father Prudencio Cardona and uncle Ricardo Cardona are both world champion boxers. She trained in Miami before joining AEW in 2020, where she became a breakout star during the pandemic era, highlighted by her mixed tag team match alongside Cody Rhodes against Shaquille O\’Neal and Jade Cargill.
With her championship reclaimed, Velvet\’s next challenger remains to be seen as ROH heads into 2026.
Ring of Honor\’s Final Battle 2025 streamed live from the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio. The event delivered multiple title changes and an incredible Iron Man Match.
ROH Final Battle 2025 Results
ROH Women\’s Pure Championship Tournament Final: Deonna Purrazzo vs. Billie Starkz Result: Deonna Purrazzo def. Billie Starkz via Venus Di Milo submission to become the inaugural ROH Women\’s Pure Champion. After the match, Queen Aminata made her presence known, eyeing the new title.
30-Minute Iron Man Match: Lee Moriarty vs. Nigel McGuinness Result: Lee Moriarty def. Nigel McGuinness 5-4 in a classic. The match ended regulation 4-4 after Shane Taylor interfered, but sudden death overtime settled it. Post-match, McGuinness placed his old Pure Championship belt on Moriarty\’s shoulder as a show of respect.
ROH Women\’s World Television Championship: Mercedes Moné (c) vs. Red Velvet Result: Red Velvet def. Mercedes Moné via roll-up to become the NEW ROH Women\’s World Television Champion! Velvet countered the Statement Maker into a pin with rope assistance. Mercedes is no longer \”13 Belts Moné.\”
ROH World Tag Team Championship: Tommy Billington & Adam Priest vs. La Facción Ingobernable (Sammy Guevara & Beast Mortos) Result: Sammy Guevara & Beast Mortos def. Tommy Billington & Adam Priest to become the NEW ROH World Tag Team Champions. Hechicero interfered by tripping Adam Priest, Guevara hit a low blow on Billington followed by a discus lariat, and Beast Mortos finished with a corkscrew splash.
Singles Match: Eddie Kingston vs. Josh Woods Result: Eddie Kingston def. Josh Woods via DDT. Post-match, both men showed respect. Kingston has his eyes on Samoa Joe\’s AEW World Championship at Winter Is Coming.
ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Championship: Shane Taylor Promotions (c) vs. SkyFlight Result: Shane Taylor Promotions (Shane Taylor, Shawn Dean & Carlie Bravo) def. SkyFlight (Scorpio Sky, Dante Martin & Darius Martin) to retain. Trish Adora tripped Dante, and Shane Taylor decked him on the outside, allowing Dean to get the pin.
AEW National Championship: Ricochet (c) vs. Dalton Castle Result: Ricochet def. Dalton Castle via Spirit Gun to retain. Ricochet sent one of The Boys into Castle to create the opening for his finisher.
Survival of the Fittest – ROH World Championship: Bandido (c) vs. Blake Christian vs. Sammy Guevara vs. Beast Mortos vs. Hechicero vs. Komander Result: Bandido def. Hechicero (final two) to retain the ROH World Championship. Elimination order: Guevara (by Komander), Mortos (by Hechicero), Komander (by Christian), Christian (by Bandido). Blake Christian attacked Bandido\’s injured shoulder before being eliminated. Brody King and Komander celebrated with Bandido post-match.
ROH Women\’s World Championship: Athena (c) vs. Persephone Result: Athena def. Persephone via O-Face to retain. A hard-fought match with Diamante assisting at ringside. Athena celebrated with Billie Starkz and Diamante to close the show.
Zero Hour Pre-Show Results
The Outrunners (Turbo Floyd & Truth Magnum) def. Premier Athletes (Tony Nese & Ariya Daivari)
Ring of Honor\’s flagship event returns tonight as Final Battle 2025 streams live from the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio, as part of GalaxyCon.
The 24th edition of ROH\’s premier pay-per-view features seven championship matches, a historic first, and one of the most anticipated technical showcases of the year.
The ROH World Championship will be decided in a chaotic Survival of the Fittest match after Rush\’s injury forced a change to the main event. Champion Bandido defends against five hungry challengers in Blake Christian, Sammy Guevara, Beast Mortos, Hechicero, and Komander.
Ricochet also defends the AEW National Championship against Dalton Castle, marking the first time an AEW title has been defended on an ROH pay-per-view.
How to Watch ROH Final Battle 2025
Date: Friday, December 5, 2025
Zero Hour Start Time: 7 PM ET / 4 PM PT
Main Card Start Time: 8 PM ET / 5 PM PT
Location: Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio (GalaxyCon)
Streaming: HonorClub at WatchROH.com
ROH Final Battle 2025 Match Card
ROH World Championship: Survival of the Fittest: Bandido (c) vs. Blake Christian vs. Sammy Guevara vs. Beast Mortos vs. Hechicero vs. Komander
ROH Women\’s World Championship: Athena (c) vs. Persephone
ROH Women\’s World Television Championship: Mercedes Moné (c) vs. Red Velvet
AEW National Championship: Ricochet (c) vs. Dalton Castle
ROH Women\’s Pure Championship Tournament Final: Deonna Purrazzo vs. Billie Starkz (inaugural champion crowned)
Vacant ROH World Tag Team Championship: Sammy Guevara & Beast Mortos vs. Tommy Billington & Adam Priest
ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Championship: Shane Taylor Promotions (c) vs. SkyFlight (Scorpio Sky, Dante Martin & Darius Martin)
30-Minute Iron Man Match: Nigel McGuinness vs. Lee Moriarty
The Iron Man match between Nigel McGuinness and Lee Moriarty serves as a rubber match between two ROH Pure wrestling icons. McGuinness, uncertain how many matches he has left in his career, issued the challenge after they split previous encounters.
Athena continues her legendary reign past 1,000 days, while Mercedes Moné looks to successfully defend her newly unified Women\’s TV title.
Stay tuned to SEScoops for live coverage and results from ROH Final Battle.
Former WWE ID talent Zayda Steel made her Ring of Honor debut on Tuesday\’s special episode of ROH TV, immediately challenging established star Leila Grey to a match.
Steel interrupted a backstage interview with Grey and Lexy Nair, confidently stating that while she may be new to the promotion, many already know her as \”the real deal.\” She challenged Grey directly, saying \”From one baddy to another, what do you say?\”
Grey accepted the challenge, responding \”I respect it. You want it? You got it. But I\’m warning you. I can be a real baddie when I want to.\” While no official date has been set for the match, both competitors made it clear they\’re ready to face each other soon.
Background on Steel\’s WWE Departure
Steel, 21, was one of the first talents announced for WWE\’s ID program when it launched in October 2024. The developmental initiative provides independent wrestlers with financial support and training opportunities while creating a potential pathway to NXT.
In October 2025, Steel announced she would not renew her WWE ID contract. \”I\’m incredibly grateful for all the knowledge, experience, and opportunities I\’ve gained along the way, but at the end of the day, I have to do what\’s best for me,\” she said at the time.
During her WWE ID tenure, Steel competed on WWE EVOLVE and challenged for the inaugural WWE Women\’s ID Championship in August at GCW\’s ID Showcase, where Kylie Rae defeated Steel and Zara Zakher in a triple threat match.
Post-WWE Activity
Since becoming a free agent, Steel has remained active on the independent circuit. She challenged former NXT Women\’s Champion Indi Hartwell for the House of Glory Women\’s Championship in October and has competed for promotions including Dream Star Fighting Marigold in Japan and Major League Wrestling.
Reports from Fightful Select indicated that AEW showed interest in Steel following her WWE departure, though she had not signed with the promotion as of late November.
Her Ring of Honor debut marks her first major televised appearance since leaving WWE\’s developmental system less than two months ago, adding another chapter to what\’s been a busy schedule for the young prospect.
Jersey Championship Wrestling has announced Jonathan Gresham as an entrant in the 2026 Jersey J-Cup tournament, set to take place February 6-7 at White Eagle Hall in Jersey City, New Jersey.
The announcement marks a significant milestone for “The Octopus,” who suffered two strokes on August 5, 2025. In a harrowing account shared on social media at the time, Gresham described waking up unable to walk or move the left side of his body, with impaired vision and difficulty speaking. It took him 30 minutes to dial 911.
Doctors were unable to determine a definitive cause but suggested the strokes could have been a possible complication from a severe COVID-19 case Gresham had contracted weeks earlier. His last match before the medical emergency was at GCW Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport XIV on August 2, 2025, against Pete Dunne.
Jonathan Gresham’s Return to Pro Wrestling
In an August interview on Unlikely with Adrian Hernandez, Gresham’s wife Jordynne Grace revealed he had made a remarkably fast recovery, attributing it to his age and overall health. She confirmed he was back to 100 percent and expected to be cleared for in-ring competition within weeks.
More recently, Grace hinted at big plans for her husband in 2026, responding to a fan’s comment about Gresham deserving a major promotion contract with simply “2026.”
Gresham, 37, is no stranger to the Jersey J-Cup, having competed in previous editions. The 20-year veteran is a former ROH World Champion, ROH Pure Champion, ROH World Tag Team Champion, and CZW World Heavyweight Champion. His most recent contracted stint was with TNA Wrestling between December 2022 and January 2025, when his contract expired.
Other confirmed entrants for the 2026 Jersey J-Cup include Jordan Oliver (2023 winner and 2024 finalist), Alec Price, Erick Stevens, Sinner And Saint (Judas Icarus and Travis Williams), and PROGRESS World Champion Man Like DeReiss. Six additional entrants will be determined at JCW’s December 14 event.
Both nights of the Jersey J-Cup will stream live on TrillerTV+.
Former ROH World and Pure Champion Nigel McGuinness will face current ROH Pure Champion Lee Moriarty in a 30-minute Iron Man Match at Final Battle on December 5.
The non-title bout serves as the rubber match between the two competitors, with each man holding one victory over the other. The Iron Man format will determine who scores the most falls within the 30-minute time limit, settling their rivalry definitively.
McGuinness, who held the ROH Pure Championship during his storied career with the promotion, issued the challenge during Friday\’s episode of ROH programming.
Moriarty, who captured the Pure Championship at Death Before Dishonor 2024 by defeating Wheeler Yuta, accepted the challenge from the decorated veteran.
The Iron Man stipulation adds significant stakes to the encounter, as both men will need to balance aggression with endurance over the half-hour time frame. The format has historically produced some of Ring of Honor\’s most memorable matches and will test both competitors\’ technical prowess and conditioning.
Final Battle takes place Friday, December 5 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio, streaming live on HonorClub at 8 p.m. ET.
The announcement came during Friday’s episode of ROH on HonorClub, revealing that Rush and his La Facción Ingobernable partner Sammy Guevara had to relinquish the titles after a 92-day reign. The duo won the vacant championship at August’s Death Before Dishonor, successfully defending them just once during their tenure.
AEW President Tony Khan addressed Rush’s injury during AEW Collision, stating that medical exams confirmed the knee injury and that Rush would need time to heal. The injury also forced Rush out of his scheduled ROH World Championship challenge against Bandido at Final Battle, with that match now converted to a six-way Survival of the Fittest elimination bout.
Guevara will team with Beast Mortos at Final Battle to face Tommy Billington and Adam Priest for the vacant championship. Billington and Priest have never competed in ROH as a traditional tag team, holding an 0-2 record on AEW Collision against FTR, though they’ve recently gone 2-0 in trios action with Jay Lethal.
Both Guevara and Mortos will pull double duty at Final Battle, also competing in the six-way Survival of the Fittest match for Bandido’s ROH World Championship alongside Hechicero, Komander, and Blake Christian.
Final Battle streams live on HonorClub on December 5 from the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio.
Tony Khan has confirmed that RUSH is dealing with an injury.
The AEW President went live on X to reveal that the expected ROH World Title match between Bandido and RUSH at Final Battle has been called off due to the later dealing with a knee injury.
The wrestling executive announced that the title will now be defended in a Survival of The Fittest match with the champion squaring off against Sammy Guevara, Komander, Hechicero, Blake Christian, and The Beast Mortos.
RUSH holds the ROH Tag Team Championship with Sammy, and Khan noted that a decision will be made about the titles on Friday.
The injured star last wrestled during the November 15 Collision. He teamed with Sammy and FTR in a match against Bandido, JetSpeed, and Juice Robinson. It\’s unknown how serious RUSH\’s injury is, and we should get a better idea on Friday.
ROH Final Battle will be taking place from Greater Columbus Convention Center from Columbus, Ohio on December 5, 2025. You can check out the updated match card for the show below:
ROH Pure Championship Match: Lee Moriarty (c) vs. Komander (with Alex Abrahantes)
ROH Women\’s World Championship Match: Athena (c) vs. Persephone
ROH Six Men Tag Team Championship: Shane Taylor Promotions (Shane Taylor, Carlie Bravo, and Capt. Shawn Dean) (c) vs. SkyFlight (Scorpio Sky, Dante Martin, and Darius Martin)
ROH Women\’s World TV Championship: Mercedes Moné (c) vs. Red Velvet
Survival of The Fittest ROH World Championship Match: Bandido (c) vs. Blake Christian vs. The Beast Mortos vs. Sammy Guevara vs. Komander vs. Hechicero
ROH is also set to crown the Inaugural ROH Women\’s Pure Champion at the show with the finals of a tournament that started on August 29.
Mercedes Mone is the one, true ROH Women\’s World Television Champion after the events of the latest episode of AEW Collision. During the show, Mone defeated Red Velvet to unify the lineal and interim ROH Women\’s World Television Championships.
Red Velvet walked into Collision as the lineal champion after winning the gold in July 2024. An injury forced ROH to crown an interim champion in July 2025, rather than strip Velvet of her gold. Mina Shirakawa was the first interim champion, but she lost the title to Mone at WrestleDream in October 2025.
We are about to crown the Undisputed ROH Women's World TV Champion, RIGHT NOW!
Now, Mone is the undisputed ROH Women\’s World Television Champion. Given that this Undisputed title reign replaces her role as Interim champion, this victory has not added to Mone\’s number of championships she currently holds. The CEO recently won her 13th title by defeating Nor \’Phoenix\’ Diana for Malaysia\’s APAC Women\’s Championship.
Kris Statlander was at ringside for Mone Vs. Velvet as The CEO has been keeping a close eye on the AEW Women\’s World Champion. The two will collide for the AEW Women\’s World Championship this weekend at AEW Full Gear.
Will this be the scene at #AEWFullGear, THIS SATURDAY?!
Japanese wrestling star Sareee made her Ring of Honor debut on Wednesday at the promotion\’s TV tapings, which took place just before AEW Dynamite\’s 6th Anniversary show went live.
The 29-year-old veteran brings significant international experience to ROH\’s women\’s division. Sareee began her career at age 15 in Japan, working primarily with World Woman Pro-Wrestling Diana from 2011 to 2020, where she became a two-time Diana World Champion.
In 2020, WWE signed Sareee, and she performed on the NXT brand under the ring name Sarray from 2021 to 2023. Her WWE tenure ended due to creative differences, and she departed in March 2023.
Since returning to Japan, Sareee has worked across multiple promotions including Seadlinnng, Stardom, and Dream Star Fighting Marigold, where she became the inaugural Marigold World Champion. She currently holds both the IWGP Women\’s Championship and the Sukeban World Championship (as Sareee Bomb), making her one of the most decorated active wrestlers on the independent scene.
Her ROH appearance marks a potential expansion into AEW-affiliated programming and could signal additional U.S. bookings for the multi-time champion.
Former WWE Women\’s Tag Team Champion Lacey Lane, known to WWE fans as Kayden Carter, has made her debut for Ring of Honor. The talented star appeared at the recent ROH television tapings, which took place at the historic 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, ahead of the live broadcast of AEW Dynamite. Her debut marks her first appearance for a major promotion since her release from WWE earlier this year.
The news of her appearance was first reported by Bodyslam.net on social media. While the details of her match, including her opponent, have not yet been revealed, it is expected to air on an upcoming episode of ROH TV.
Lane was a part of the WWE system from 2018 until her release in May 2025. She is best known for her successful tag team partnership with Katana Chance (formerly Kacy Catanzaro). The duo was a cornerstone of the NXT and main roster women\’s tag team divisions, holding both the NXT and WWE Women\’s Tag Team Championships during their time with the company. Their exciting, high-energy style made them a fan-favorite team.
Her release from WWE in May was a surprise to many, as she and her partner were consistently featured on television. After her 90-day non-compete clause expired in August, she became one of the top free agents on the market. Her decision to appear in Ring of Honor is a significant one for the promotion\’s growing women\’s division if she signs with them.
Lacey Lane is working tonight’s Ring of Honor taping ahead of #AEWDynamite
ROH Women\’s World Champion Athena has lived up to her moniker as the \’Forever Champion\’ by reaching 1,000 days with the gold. Athena captured the title at ROH Final Battle 2022 on December 10, 2022 by defeating Mercedes Martinez and has been able to hold on ever since.
Along her title reign, Athena has dispatched of Billie Starkz, Mina Shirakawa, Nyla Rose, Thekla, Alex Windsor, Thunder Rosa, and Willow Nightingale, to name just a few. Her most recent title defence, her 31st overall, came at ROH Death Before Dishonor in August 2025, where she defeated Shirakawa.
It\’s not just Ring of Honor that has been home to Athena\’s dominant reign. She has also put her title on the line at AEW events, as well as in STARDOM, Maple Leaf Pro, and other promotions. Her reign is the longer than all other ROH Women\’s World Title reigns combined, and the longest reign of any champion in ROH history, regardless of sex.
Athena has shown no sign of her title reign coming to an end anytime soon. As the War Goddess continues to thrive in this post-WWE chapter of her career, it remains to be seen who, if anyone, can topple the champ.
Ring of Honor and Tony Khan took action for the fans after streaming issues plagued the Death Before Dishonor 2025 event. These issues left fans using Chrome and Firefox unable to watch the show. On X, Ring of Honor shared a statement on the matter.
We are aware that there is an issue with viewing on the browsers CHROME + FIREFOX, our service provider Brightcove is working on a solution now.
You can view on Safari + the ROH App, without service disruption.
— ROH – Ring of Honor Wrestling (@ringofhonor) August 30, 2025
These issues would persist, prompting ROH to take action. Now, the remainder of the show fans weren\’t able to watch due to these issues has been shared for free on YouTube.
It\’s not just Death Before Dishonor 2025 that fans can now watch on the Ring of Honor. In a separate post, Tony Khan shared that all ROH subscribers will receive a free one-month credit as an apology for the inconvenience.
Due to issues with service provider Brightcove, who haven’t yet given a timeframe for stream repair, I’ve put #ROHDBD streaming FREE on the ROH YouTube live NOW.
For this inconvenience of tonight's stream issue, we’ll offer a free one-month credit to all current ROH subscribers
Khan\’s efforts to make good with fans didn\’t stop there. Khan made sure that not only can fans watch Death Before Dishonor 2025 for free, but all preceeding Death Before Dishonor events.
Tonight’s entire #ROHDBD ppv is now available for free on the ROH You Tube Channel!
I thought that it was a tremendous show tonight! Thank you all who watched @ringofhonor Death Before Dishonor!
Khan\’s decisions demonstrate his dedication to maing sure fans get a great experience, a goal that won\’t be deterred by technical issues. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest from Khan and Ring of Honor.
Popular Scottish wrestler Grado made his Ring of Honor debut this week, and was able to use his popular Like A Prayer theme song. At the OVO Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland, Grado had the fans on their feet for his entrance.
The song has been synonymous with Grado, though he was unable to use it during his time with TNA Wrestling. As seen here, and with Bryan Danielson\’s use of The Final Countdown, Tony Khan has been willing to use licenced songs for key entrances.
Grado has competed in several notable promotions within the UK, including RevPro, PROGRESS and World of Sport. Outside the UK, Grado has competed for Germany\’s wXw, as well as U.S. based companies including GCW and TNA.
It remains to be seen if Grado\’s appearance for ROH was a one-off in Scotland, or the start of bigger things to come. One thing for certain, is that the popular star had a hero\’s welcome in Glasgow.
Oro Mensah, the former WWE NXT star, has made his first appearance since his WWE departure earlier this year. Now going by the single name \”Oro,\” he competed at tonight\’s Ring of Honor television tapings in Chicago.
During the tapings on July 30, Oro made his surprise debut for the promotion. He faced off against NJPW legend Tomohiro Ishii in a hard-hitting singles match. Although Oro came up short in the contest, his quick return to a major promotion has sparked speculation about his future. It is currently unclear if he has signed a contract with ROH or if this was a one-time appearance.
Oro confirmed his exit from WWE back in May. His departure came shortly after his on-screen faction in NXT, Meta-Four, was officially split up on television. Originally signing with WWE in 2019 as Oliver Carter, he found success in NXT UK before being rebranded as Oro Mensah in the U.S. developmental system. Upon his release, he posted a heartfelt message, saying, \”Thank you for all the support! love y‘all.”
Oro\’s appearance in Ring of Honor continues the trend of recently released WWE talent quickly finding new homes. Karl Fredericks, formerly Eddy Thorpe, who was released in the same round of cuts in May, also recently made his return to the independent circuit. It remains to be seen if Oro\’s appearance was a one-off or if he has officially signed a contract with Tony Khan\’s promotion.
A new report has shed light on the ongoing situation regarding a potential television deal for Ring of Honor. The report from Fightful Select reveals that past discussions for an ROH TV slot led to an unexpected deal for its sister promotion, AEW, instead.
According to sources close to Warner Bros. Discovery, discussions were held about finding a television slot for Ring of Honor programming. While the terms for a deal were not met, the talks led to a different agreement. The negotiations pivoted, and instead, a deal was struck for TruTV to begin airing weekly replays of AEW Dynamite on Friday nights.
The report notes that AEW President Tony Khan has a \”specific goal and amount he thought such a deal was worth,\” which has so far not been met by any potential suitors. While there has been interest from a number of networks over the last few years, a deal to bring ROH to traditional television has reportedly never been \”particularly close.\”
While a television deal remains elusive, Ring of Honor programming continues to air weekly on the Honor Club streaming service. The brand recently held its Supercard of Honor pay-per-view on July 11th, which was headlined by Bandido successfully defending the ROH World Championship against Konosuke Takeshita. The show also saw Athena retain her ROH Women\’s World Championship against Thunder Rosa.
Damien Priest recently opened up about his challenging time in Ring of Honor, revealing that despite his best efforts, he struggled to connect with the fans. Priest explained on Busted Open Radio that his focus was on developing a strong character, but he found himself in a company that prioritized high-impact moves over character work.
\”I was trying to be a character in a non-character company. They just wanted to see cool moves, and I was trying to give them something different.\”
Bully Ray, who witnessed Priest\’s journey firsthand, recounted how Priest\’s attempts to stand out were often overlooked by the ROH audience, who were more interested in the in-ring action than the personalities behind the performers. Despite this, Priest would spend much of 2018 as Ring of Honor World Television Champion before later signing with WWE.
In WWE, Priest has been given ample opportunity to showcase his character, from being the \’Archer of Infamy\’ to a dark figure during his Judgment Day tenure. While ROH may not have been the right fit for Priest, he has proven that succeeding in wrestling relies on much more than moves in the ring.
Brodie Lee Jr. is learning all about the grind of the wrestling business after making multiple appearances on Friday, July 11. The young wrestling prodigy pulled double duty with surprise appearances at both ROH Supercard of Honor and GCW Boss of All Bosses.
Brodie Jr. first appeared during the Zero Hour portion of Supercard of Honor, aligning himself with the Dark Order (Evil Uno, John Silver, and Alex Reynolds). During the Dark Order\’s match with the Frat House (Preston Vance, Griff Garrison, and Cole Karter), Brodie provided a crucial distraction that helped the Dark Order pick up the win.
Later, Brodie Jr. turned up at GCW’s Boss of All Bosses, walking out alongside Man Like Dereiss. During the show, Brodie got physical with Joey Janela. The young star delivered a series of crowd-popping moves, including a satellite DDT, a superkick, and a Canadian Destroyer. He also delivered a discus lariat, a touching nod to his late father.
Earlier this year, Brodie Jr. officially made his in-ring debut at Joey Janela’s Spring Break, where he won the Clusterf***k Battle Royal. Between this win and these apprearances for ROH and GCW, its clear that Brodie Jr. is just getting started.
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