SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
WOH TV REPORT
DECEMBER 30, 2018
AIRED ON SINCLAIR AFFILIATES & ROHWRESTLING.COM
REPORT BY HARLEY R. PAGEOT, PWTORCH CONTRIBUTOR
Commentary: Ian Riccaboni, Colt Cabana, BJ Whitmer
Opening theme.
-In a voiceover Ian Riccaboni welcomed us to a year in review edition of Women Of Honor. He mentioned Sumie Sakai defeating Kelly Klein in the finals of the tournament to crown the first world champion and the wide range of international competitors that have competed in the division this year.
Our first match was Tenille Dashwood’s debut at Honor Reigns Supreme on February 9. Brandi Rhodes was on commentary with Riccaboni and Cabana. My original coverage of that match live from when it happened is presented here.
(1) STACY SHADOWS & “THE GATEKEEPER” KELLY KLEIN vs. “THE EXOTIC GODDESS” MANDY LEON & TENILLE DASHWOOD
All five women are competing in the tournament to crown the first Women Of Honor Champion. Shadows obeyed the Code of Honor but Klein declined. Leon and Shadows started. Shadows requested Dashwood. Dashwood hit a neckbreaker across a middle rope. Klein tagged in and held Dashwood in a chinlock. Dashwood with a headscissors into a Russian leg sweep. [C]
Leon tagged in but quickly fell to Klein. Shadows hit a blind tag, which annoyed Klein. Brandi talked about how nobody likes Klein. Shadows stomped away on Leon and mocked Dashwood. Leon finally made the hot tag to Dashwood. She knocked Klein off the apron and unloaded with forearms on Shadows. She hit the f/k/a “Emma sandwich” in the corner. Klein broke up a pin attempt but Dashwood tossed her from the ring. Leon took out Klein on the floor. Dashwood pinned Shadows.
WINNERS: Dashwood & Leon in 7:31. [C]
(Pageot’s Perspective: Dashwood’s surprise appearance at Honor Reigns Supreme in February as the sixteenth and final entrant in the Women Of Honor championship tournament was definitely one of the most exciting moments from the division this year. Unfortunately they were never able to fully capitalize on Dashwood’s cachet, whether it was due to travel issues or injuries. It’s unclear when either she or Mandy Leon will be back in the ring post-injury but hopefully 2019 is a big rebound year for them.)
-A clip aired of Sumie Sakai pinning Kelly Klein with a DDT in the finals of the championship tournament at Supercard Of Honor on April 7. Sakai, the first woman to win a match in ROH way back in 2002, became the inaugural women’s champion.
-Our second match was Sakai’s first championship defense from May 27 TV. My original coverage is as follows.
(2) SUMIE SAKAI vs. JENNY ROSE – WOMEN OF HONOR CHAMPIONSHIP
Rose looked for a cheap shot before the bell but Sakai avoided it. She took down Rose in the corner and stomped her. Crossbody from the top rope to the floor on Rose. [C]
Missile dropkick from the top rope to Rose in the ring for a two-count. Rose caught Sakai with a sidewalk slam. Rose kicked away at Sakai’s head. Single-leg crab. Referee Todd Sinclair asked Sakai if she gave up and Sakai said “Never.” Jumping forearms from Sakai. Swinging fisherwoman’s neckbreaker. With Sakai on the apron Rose speared her through the ropes and Sakai went flying to the floor. Rose with a drop toehold that sent Sakai face-first into a security guard’s chair. Rose with a clothesline off the top rope and a fisherwoman’s suplex for two. Rose lifted Sakai in an electric chair but Sakai managed a victory roll for two. Sakai caught Rose in the corner and hit a hurricanrana from the second rope. Rose with a release German suplex and a spear for another two. Sakai went for another roll-through and transitioned into Smash Mouth.
WINNER: Sumie Sakai in 8:45 to retain the Women Of Honor title. [C]
(Pageot’s Perspective: Arguably the best match in Women Of Honor this year. Just a straight-forward, fast-paced, one-on-one competition for the title. More of those in 2019, please.)
-Our third match came from Honor United on May 27 in Doncaster, England. Sakai’s defense of the Women Of Honor Championship overseas officially turned the title into a world title. Original live coverage follows.
(3) SUMIE SAKAI vs. CHARDONNAY – WOH WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Chardonnay has probably half a foot on Sakai and teased her with a test of strength but Sakai was able to reach her hands and made Chardonnay pay for it. Sakai wrapped Chardonnay’s ankles in the ring apron and spanked her. Chardonnay grabbed her by the hair to take control. Sakai with a roll-up for two. Chardonnay sent her to the floor and dropkicked Sakai into the guardrail. Sakai came back with chops but missed a crossbody off the guardrail. Chardonnay locked in a Boston crab in the center of the ring. [C]
Sakai made it to the ropes but Chardonnay saw the chance to target her back. Sakai hit a fisherwoman’s neckbreaker for two. Saito suplex with a bridge for another two on Chardonnay. Spinebuster from Chardonnay. Butterfly suplex but Sakai kicked out at two. Chardonnay went for The Tower Of London but Sakai countered into a rear naked choke. Sakai missed a top rope moonsault. Chardonnay hit a flying knee. Sakai kicked out at 2.8. Smash Mouth sealed it.
WINNER: Sumie Sakai in 8:20 to retain the WOH world title.
(Pageot’s Perspective: Another “landmark” match with the championship becoming a world champion. The next big landmark would likely be a women’s match main eventing an episode of regular weekly television.)
-Our main event was an eight-woman tag from Best In The World on June 29 featuring four guest stars from Japan’s World Wonder Ring Stardom promotion.
(4) WOH WORLD CHAMPION SUMIE SAKAI, TENILLE DASHWOOD, JENNY ROSE, & MAYU IWATANI vs. “THE GATEKEEPER” KELLY KLEIN & OEDO TAI (Kagetsu, Hazuki, & Hana Kimura)
Oedo Tai did a choreographed dance entrance. Sakai held up the WOH title while Kagetsu held up her World Of Stardom Championship. They both insisted on starting for their teams. Kagetsu hit some hard kicks but Sakai came back with her own that sent Kagetsu scrambling to Kimura for a tag. Kimura asked for Dashwood. Kimura put her down and said it was all about her. Dashwood tackled her and hit a tilt-a-whirl Russian leg sweep. Tag to Rose. Clothesline on Kimura in the corner and fisherwoman’s suplex. Kimura hit a dropkick and tagged to Klein. Klein put down Rose with a clothesline. Rose got a couple roll-ups that sent Klein tagging in Hazuki. Iwatani and Sakai took down the 20 year-old Hazuki. Everything broke down. Kagetsu and Hazuki double-teamed Sakai. Klein used Dashwood to distract the ref while Oedo Tai triple-teamed Sakai behind his back. Klein isolated Sakai. Hot tag to Dashwood. She cleared house and dropped Klein with a neckbreaker across the middle rope. [C]
Dashwood hit The Taste Of Tenille on both Kimura and Kagetsu. Tarantula to Klein and a cameraman went down. High crossbody from Dashwood to Klein for two. The heels came back but Dashwood tagged to Iwatani. Split-leg dropkick on Kagetsu and Kimura. Rose speared Hazuki. Dashwood with a butterfly suplex to Kimura. Iwatani with a top rope frog-splash but the rest of the heels broke up the pin. Bodies went everywhere and Kagetsu nailed Iwatani with a wooden placard to the back. Iwatani with a dragon sleeper to Iwatani but Kimura powered out into an impressive delayed vertical suplex. Iwatani kicked out at two and a half. The first “this is awesome” chant of the night. Kagetsu hit Kimura with the placard by accident. Dashwood brawled with Klein on the floor. Sakai with a top rope crossbody on a crowd on the floor. Iwatani caught Kimura with a kick in the ring and followed with her signature bridging dragon suplex.
WINNERS: Sakai, Iwatani, Dashwod, & Rose in 10:27.
(Pageot’s Perspective: Another terrific one and just as much an ad for Stardom as it was ROH. Hopefully we can see more crossover between the two next year like we do with New Japan because the talent Stardom has would be a great boon to the smaller Women Of Honor division.)
-Next week: it’s our first episode of new content from the post-Final Battle tapings in Philadelphia.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.