This week's ROH weekly episode is focused solely on Women of Honor, recapping the matches up to and into the finals to WOH Championship Tournament. While I'm sure most of us have seen it, let's nevertheless recap it.
First Match: Mayu Iwatani vs. Kelly Klein
Iwatani, one of the top stars of famed Japanese wretling promotion Stardom, takes on Klein, a WOH mainstay who's been undefeated for almost two years. The match starts out with Klein gaining the upper hand Iwatani tries to counter. Klein controls the match throughout, using her strength and power to dominate Iwatani. After hitting Klein with a top-rope hurricanrana, it seems like Iwatani finally has the advantage.
It seems like Iwatani might actually win this one, but it's all for naught as Klein blocks numerous finishing attempts and submits Iwatani for the victory, advancing to the finals.
Thoughts: Since I already covered this on my Supercard post, I don't have much to add else add here. A quick, decent match that highlighted both performers' great talent. It was a good idea to have Klein win, as she's an established figure in WOH, and it only boosts her credibility defeating a top international star like Iwatani. Since ROH just started their partnership with Stardom, I venture to guess this won't be the last you'll see of Iwatani in WOH (or any other Stardom talent, for that matter).
Sumie Sakai vs. Tenille Dashwood
Sakai, another WOH mainstay, takes on Dashwood (formerly WWE'S Emma) a WOH newcomer. The two start the match off numerous strikes and offensive exchanges. Following a crossbody to the outside, Dashwood takes control. However, the tides soon shift to Sakai's favor thanks to various chops and submission attempts.
Sakai maintains control while Dashwood kicks out of numerous pin attempts. Getting a brief respite, Dashwood attempts to finish the match, but Sakai counters with a pin and picks up the W.
Thoughts: Not much to say here, either. Both are decent performers and put on a solid match. Another good idea to have the WOH mainstay pick up the W on this one. Sakai's been one of the longer-tenured females on the roster and has been incredibly loyal to the brand, so it's definitely well-deserved. Also, Dashwood doesn't lose any of her momentum taking the L. Her time here is far from over here, and I'm excited to see what it brings.
Final's Match: Sumie Sakai vs. Kelly Klein
Sakai starts out the match with a flurry of strikes, seemingly getting the early advantage over Klein. This was short-lived, however, as Klein uses her power to shift tides to her favor and she begins dominating Sakai. Sakai tries her best to fight out of it, but Klein blocks every attempt Sakai throws at her.
The match continues like this for a while, with Sakai getting in some offense and absorbing Klein's punishment. Sakai gets an opening following a fisherman's buster. After a missed moonsault and a weird and seemingly botchy finish, Sakai drops Klein with a DDT, getting the victory and securing her spot as the inaugural WOH Champion.
Thoughts: I had mixed feelings on this match when watching Supercard, and I still have those very same mixed feelings today. While it wasn't technically a "bad match" from an in-ring standpoint (Klein putting her power moves on full display, Sakai showing off her babyface fighting spirit well enough), it just felt rushed, especially the ending. I'm not entirely sure it was supposed to go down in such an awkward fashion. Then again, given that it was on the main show, I'm sure it was done to make room for the higher-profile matches, so it's not really either performer's fault.
Overall, it was not a bad episode. While just a replay of what happened at Supercard, it was nevertheless a good refresher for those who'd already seen it, plus a nice introduction to the Women of Ring of Honor for those who haven't. Let's hope they continue expanding on WOH and making them a more integral part of ROH as a whole in the future.
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