Duel to the Death Before Dishonor - Ring of Honor recap for August 20, 2026

We hear from The Dark Order (Evil Uno, Alex Reynolds, Preston Vance). Evil Uno says that their name is across every page, yet their story has been one of loss and heartbreak. He then says it is time to look forward and bury the past, as Preston Vance is once again sporting the colors, and he forgives him. John Silver shows up and says he does not forgive Vance after what he did to Brodie Lee, Jr., then leaves.

Athena beats Gia Scott in an ROH Women's World Championship Proving Ground Match. After the match, Athena keeps attacking Gia Scott to set an example for Hazuki, who she says is too cowardly to appear tonight, before curb stomping Scott into the center plate of the Women's World Championship.

We see a video package for Hazuki vs. Athena for the ROH Women's World Championship at Death Before Dishonor.

Preston Vance beats Danny Grandview.

Action Andretti and Hook beat The Dark Order (Evil Uno and Alex Reynolds).

We see a video package for Lio Rush vs. Action Andretti for the ROH World Television Championship at Death Before Dishonor.

Daniel Garcia beats Alec Price.

Backstage, we hear from Jordan Oliver. He says he and used to be the best tag team on the planet and remembered when they traveled together and had the same goals until he left him on the indies and never thought he would catch up. Oliver says he is here through grit and brainpower, yet he still thinks his goals are more important than his. He says that their match is not a pit stop on the way to becoming ROH World Champion, but a match with the smartest wrestler on the planet, and while Wayne is not thinking about what happens when Oliver wins, Oliver is.

"Blackheart" Lio Rush beats Joe Keys by submission with the cravat. After the match, Lio Rush refuses to let go of the hold, and Action Andretti gets in the ring and attacks Lio before taking the ROH World Television Championship and clobbering Joe Keys with it when Keys gets to his feet. Lio Rush soon gets to his feet, hits Andretti with a Spear, then pulls a barbed wire chair out from underneath the ring and chases Andretti out of the ring while saying "it cuts."

Backstage, Lexy Nair interviews Dalton Castle and The Outrunners (Truth Magnum and Turbo Floyd). Magnum says they have had a hell of a ride, and they get rid of a thorn in their side. Turbo says this is their chance to get their hands on The Lethal Twist (Jay Lethal, "Vanilla Baby" Blake Christian, "Big Shotty" Lee Johnson). Dalton Castle says that he is excited and boiled with rage, and that The Lethal Twist will melt when they get in the ring with them. We then hear from The Lethal Twist outside of the arena. Blake Christian says they will become ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Champions, and Jay Lethal says that The Lethal Twist screams excellence and demands the destiny that is rightfully theirs. Lethal says the next time they are in front of a camera, they will be the new Six-Man Tag Team Champions.

Mina Shirakawa and Queen Aminata beat Erica Leigh and Brittany Blake.

Backstage, we hear from "The Virtuosa" Deonna Purrazzo. She says that Steph de Launder talks too much about how good she is at Pure Rules and how her days as champion are numbered, but at the same time, she has disrespected every rule that they have. She says that everyone who has stepped up to her became students of Pure Rules and have all fallen to the same lesson, then says there is a difference between competing in Pure Rules and mastering them. She tells Steph de Lander to count her rope breaks and her punches, as she will not be able to wrestle her way out of a broken arm. We then see a video package for their match at Death Before Dishonor.

"The Prodigy" Nick Wayne beats Jordan Oliver. After the match, Nick Wayne attacks Jordan Oliver, then grabs two metal folding chairs for a Con-Chair-To. Before Nick Wayne can follow through, Bandido runs to the ring and chases Nick Wayne out.

In backstage footage from last night's All Elite Wrestling Dynamite, we hear from Nigel McGuiness. He says he thought it was his destiny to take the ROH Pure Championship from "Taiga Style" Lee Moriarty at Death Before Dishonor, but fate has a different journey for him, as he is in the Continental Challenge Cup and is not cleared to compete at Death Before Dishonor; therefore, the match will not be happening. Nigel says his goal is now to make it to All In at Wembley Stadium.

"The Wrestler" Katsuyori Shibata beats Wheeler Yuta by submission in a Pure Rules Match with an octopus hold to face "Taiga Style" Lee Moriarty for the ROH Pure Championship at Death Before Dishonor.

Backstage, we hear from "The Prodigy" Nick Wayne. Nick Wayne says that Jordan Oliver used to be his best friend and that they travelled the world together as the tag team known as East-West Express. He says that everyone thought they would both be something special as a tag team, but then he surpassed Oliver as "the better half of the tag team." He says that tonight was not a message to Jordan Oliver or the fans, but to Bandido, saying that if he could do what he did to Oliver, then Bandido can only imagine what he can do to him when he becomes the new ROH World Champion.

Skye Blue and "The Problem" Marina Shafir beat "The Real Deal" Zayda Steel and Red Velvet in a Tornado Tag Team match. After the match, Skye Blue and Shafir continue to attack Zayda and Red Velvet, but they soon argue over the ROH Women's Television Championship before tossing into a downed Red Velvet.