Ring of Honor (ROH) taped future episodes of its television programming on Monday, May 18, at WJCT Studios in Jacksonville, Florida, with a packed card featuring several high-profile matches and a surprise main event announcement. The event, which began at 5:00 PM local time and concluded at 11:00 PM, showcased the promotion’s commitment to diverse storytelling and high-octane action, with AEW CEO Tony Khan making a special appearance to address fans and promote the hybrid production model blending elements of ROH’s previous taping locations.
Khan, who greeted the crowd before the taping started, emphasized the significance of the event, calling Jacksonville “the greatest sports town in America” and highlighting wrestling’s unique 52-week calendar. He praised the production crew and acknowledged the challenges of filming at WJCT Studios, which he described as a “hybrid” of ROH’s past efforts at Daily’s Place and AEW’s Dark taping at Universal Studios. The night’s main event, an ROH TV Title match between AR Fox and Dezmond Xavier, was announced early, setting the tone for a high-stakes lineup of matches that spanned multiple weight classes and styles.
Among the standout matches, the ROH Women’s World Title Proving Ground Match saw Athena dominate Hyan, with the victor immediately attacking her opponent after the bell rang—a move that teased future tension in the division. Meanwhile, the Pure Rules Match between Viva Van and Rachael Ellering highlighted the physicality of ROH’s women’s division, while the Women’s Pure Title Proving Ground Match saw Deonna Purrazzo submit Isla Dawn, further cementing her status as a rising star in the women’s hardcore division.
The event also featured a mix of emerging talent and established stars. The Von Erichs, Marshall and Ross, delivered a thrilling performance against The Dark Order, using their signature stereo Iron Claws to overcome Alex Reynolds and Evil Uno. The match’s dramatic climax, marked by sudden power outages, added an unexpected layer of intensity. Similarly, the Rascalz (Myron Reed and Zachary Wentz) secured a decisive victory over the Grizzled Young Veterans, with Reed’s pinfall signaling his growing influence in the tag team division.
One of the most controversial moments came when Lethal Twist (Blake Christian, Jay Lethal, and Lee Johnson) attacked Dalton Castle and The Outrunners following a Six-Man Tag Team Title Proving Ground Match. The group’s post-match interview with Ian Riccaboni hinted at a potential storyline of rivalry and creative dominance, with Blake declaring, “One day, I’ll be ROH Champion,” and demanding three opponents to “show everyone we’re the most creative trio.” The threat of further aggression added a layer of unpredictability to the card.
Notable undercard
