Honor Roll - Ring of Honor recap for August 17, 2023

Gravity beats Gringo Loco.

"The Technical Beast" Josh Woods beats "The Last Real Man" Silas Young in a Pure Rules Match after hitting Silas with a closed fist to the face prior to hitting the Twist-a-Woods for the win.

Backstage, we hear from Maria Kanellis-Bennett. She says one must not have real power to have real power, and that sometimes, power in name is not as powerful as power in influence. She says she has been in the business for fifteen years and has been through a lot, but the business continues to ask for more. She says that she has built a kingdom in Ring of Honor, and now, she is scouting for an army to protect that kingdom and her legacy. "Legit" Leyla Hirsch shows up and says she has done her a favor and that since then, she has breezed through the women's division. Leyla then asks Maria what she can do for her, and Maria says that if Leyla wants more competition, then she will get it tonight against Rachael Ellering. Maria leaves, and Leyla says it is "about damn time" that she got some real competition.

Athena beats Brittany J in an ROH Women's World Championship Proving Ground Match. After the match, The Renegades (Charlette and Robyn Renegade) gang up on Athena. All of a sudden, Billie Starkz runs to the ring, and The Renegades retreat. When Billie helps Atehna up, Athena shoves her away and leaves.

Before the next match, Stokely Hathaway calls Samoa Joe one of the greatest Ring of Honor champions of all time, then says that while Joe does not team with anyone else, he chose "the big dog of Ring of Honor." Stokely then tells Joe that since Joe is the greatest of all time, he will be on the apron if he needs him.

Samoa Joe and Stokely Hathaway beat The Boys (Brandon and Brent Tate). Near the end of the match, Joe allows Stokely to hit one of The Boys from the top rope, but turns around at the last second to put said Boy in the Coaquina Clutch to get the win while Stokely Hathaway is laid out on the mat.

Backstage, Lexy Nair interviews Billie Starkz, who admits that she has no idea what is going on between her and Athena. The Renegades (Charlette and Robyn Renegade) show up and brag about laying Athena out before threatening to do the same to her. Starkz is not intimidated.

Gates of Agony (Bishop Kaun and Toa Liona) beat Matt Sydal and "The Fallen Angel" Christopher Daniels.

Madison Rayne beats Dani Mo.

The Dark Order (Evil Uno, Alex Reynolds, John Silver) beats Lord Crewe, Cory Calhoun and Isaiah Broner in a six-man tag match. During the match, Stu Grayson shows up to watch from the stage and distracts The Dark Order. After the match, Silver boots a downed Broner in the face, much to Stu Grayson's satisfaction.

Backstage, we hear from Claudio Castagnoli. He says that he hears the whispers and sees the writing. He says that he does care and that he is here, and even if he is not on the show, it does not mean he is not watching, scouting, training and taking things seriously. Claudio says that when he won the ROH World Championship, it was his first world championship, and it was an achievement after over twenty years of wrestling. He says he wanted to be the best wrestler possible, but then he lost the title to Chris Jericho, who did not even care about Ring of Honor. When he beat him to become World Champion, he was not as naive as he was before and he came in knowing that he had a simple job, and just because it was simple did not mean it was easy, as he had to let go of what he loved. He tells the viewers to imagine letting what they love go in order to take the next step, and says that he had to realize that as much love and passion as he had for wrestling, it was a burden, for it was his job to be ROH World Champion and keep people like Eddie Kingston and CM Punk away from his title. He says not many people can do what he does at the level that he does it, and he says not to brag or to get a pat on his shoulder, but because he knows what he is capable of and what he is asked of, which he admits frightens him, for he knows what he has to do to stay ROH World Champion. Claudio warns anyone who steps into the ring that he only respects competition and that at the end of the day, he has no personal attachment to his job and he is really good at it. He then warns anyone who wants to take the title from him that they will have to be better than him to do it.

Cole Karter beats Griff Garrison. After the match, Maria Kanellis-Bennett shows up and whispers something to Cole Karter, who then shakes Garrison's hand before leaving with Maria.

Billie Starkz beats Charlette Renegade. After the match, Robyn Renegade attacks Billie, then Athena gets in the ring and evens the numbers game. After a staredown between Billie and Athena, both of them take The Renegades down with a tope suicida. Athena then wants to fight Billie, but Billie wants to shake Athena's hand instead. Athena then says "Come on, minion, let's go," much to the confusion of Billie, who ends up leaving with Athena.

Backstage, Lexy Nair interviews "The Premier Athlete" Tony Nese and Ari Daivari. Nese says everyone cares about making wrestling better, yet he cares about making the fans better, and every time he tries to do group training, he is interrupted. He says that ROH officials ensure that he has the floor every time, and that "Smart" Mark Sterling has ensured that he finally has the floor in a place where people are not that healthy. He then says that tonight, there will be a full-length group training session, because the fans here really need it.

"Big Shotty" Lee Johnson, Action Andretti and Darius Martin beat Lee Moriarty and The Workhorsemen (JD Drake and Anthony Henry) in a six-man tag match.

Backstage, Lexy Nair interviews Athena, who brings out Billie Starkz. Athena says today is a very special occasion, as she is with her "bestie" and Billie Starkz gets her very own "minion number" of "400,237 and 3/4" for her "service" to her. Billie Starkz brings up The Renegades (Charlette and Robyn Renegade) attacking them and challenges them to a tag team match, but Athena tells Billie that she is the one who does the thinking because she is the champion before ordering her to drive her to the mall.

Lady Frost beats Trish Adora.

Backstage, Lexy Nair interviews Kiera Hogan. Kiera says she has had an impressive run in Ring of Honor, then tells Lady Frost that when fire is up against ice, fire always wins, and she plans to melt Lady Frost in her place.

"Legit" Leyla Hirsch beats Rachael Ellering with the cross arm breaker.

Dalton Castle beats "Pretty" Peter Avalon.

Backstage, Lexy Nair interviews Shane Taylor. Shane says that for six years, he was the man in Ring of Honor and the most dominant Television and Six-Man Tag Team Champion of all time and part of the most dominant group of all time, but no matter what he did to establish his legacy, people only wanted to talk about the old guard and there was nothing he could do, as he could not fight them at the time. Now that he is fighting Samoa Joe for the World Television Championship, the fans are hyped up and even the pros are talking about it. He tells Samoa Joe not to worry, as he is not going to pin or submit him, but he is going to beat him down and put him to sleep before he takes the World Television Championship and get back to building his legacy.

Before the next match, "The Premier Athlete" Tony Nese says he usually opens up with a joke, but after seeing the health of the local fans, he finds nothing funny about it, and says everyone would rather eat their cook-out or drink their "terrible" Cheerwine than put a veggie burger in their mouths. Nese then says he has gotten "Smart" Mark Sterling to take care of a few things and that he has ROH's assurance that he will have an uninterrupted group training session, starting with some stretching. All of a sudden, Jerry Lynn tells Tony Nese that he cannot just start cancelling matches for group training and that even Tony Khan is tired of it, then introduces an opponent who is "a blast from [Tony's] past" in the form of Metalik.

Metalik beats "The Premier Athlete" Tony Nese.

Here is the recap for tonight's show!