Ring of Honor Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and ROH Highlights from May 18

May 05, 2023

Welcome to Bleacher Report's coverage and recap of Ring of Honor Wrestling on May 18.

It was another packed show this week, with 10-plus matches on the card. We saw a bit of everything on Thursday, but the Fight Without Honor tag team bout was the main attraction.

After several weeks of building tension, The Kingdom fought Darius Martin and Action Andretti in an attempt to settle their feud once and for all.

We also saw some international gold defended on the show when Zack Sabre Jr. put the NJPW TV title on the line against AR Fox.

Let's take a look at what happened on this week's episode of ROH TV.

The first match of the night was a high-flying affair with one half of the ROH tag team champions, Rey Fenix, taking on Gringo Loco.

Loco observed the Code of Honor, but he also used it as an opportunity to take the first shot at his opponent. That immediately kickstarted a fast-paced exchange.

While he didn't necessarily break a bunch of rules, Loco definitely fell into the role of heel right away. The crowd got behind Fenix and started to chant for him whenever he built a little momentum.

Starting the show with a match like this is always risky. On the one hand, it gets the crowd into the show right away; on the other, it's going to be hard for anyone to top it.

You can't blame Loco and Fenix for doing what they do best and trying to steal the show. The latter scored the win, but the former put on another impressive performance.

If Loco isn't signed to a deal, it would be shocking if he wasn't offered one soon.

Winner: Rey Fenix

Grade: A-

Notable Moments and Observations

The women's division was highlighted in the second match of the night when Willow Nightingale took on Madi Wrenkowski.

Even though Wrenkowski got in some offense early on, the outcome of this match was never in question. Nightingale picked up the win with her signature powerbomb.

This bout was on the short side, but it made WIllow look like a dangerous competitor.

Winner: Willow Nightingale

Grade: C

Notable Moments and Observations

The former Bear Country were accompanied to the ring by someone named Jack Jameson. He gave a promo to hype up Iron Savages, as they are now known.

Peter Avalon and Ryan Nemeth were making their ROH debuts in this match, so they wanted to make a good impression and establish themselves in the tag team division.

Unfortunately, that was easier said than done. Bronson and Boulder didn't completely squash them, but it was close to being that way. Iron Savages got the win while The Wingmen continue their quest for a win.

This was quick but had some fun moments sprinkled throughout. Iron Savages can be a great tag team if management invests some time into them.

Winners: Iron Savages

Grade: C

Notable Moments and Observations

The former ROH tag team champions were back in action when Christopher Daniels and Matt Sydal teamed up to take on Cole Karter and Zack Clayton.

Even though Sydal is a veteran of the business, he still has just as much speed and agility as his younger opponents, so he made sure to let them know that whenever he had the chance to hit a high-flying move.

You could see the chemistry between Sydal and Daniels returning as if they had never been apart for years, but Karter and Clayton didn't just lay down for them.

This was a competitive fight between two teams that like to step on the gas pedal and never let up. Daniels and Sydal picked up the win.

Winners: Daniels and Sydal

Grade: B

Notable Moments and Observations

Lady Frost was less worried about obeying the Code of Honor and more concerned with putting Miranda Alize in a headlock to start the match.

Alize was able to take control for a bit, but Frost fought back and scored a quick win with a corkscrew moonsault. Alize slapped her hand away when she offered it for the Code of Honor.

We didn't get much here, but what we did get was entertaining. It's great that ROH features multiple women's matches every week, but the competitors need a little more time.

Winner: Lady Frost

Grade: C

Notable Moments and Observations

Cheeseburger and Eli Isom were looking to climb the ranks of the ROH tag team division this week, but Angelico and Serpentico stood in their way.

Luther was at ringside to support his Spanish Announce Project stablemates, who had control until CB made the tag to a fresh Isom.

With a little interference from Luther, though, Angelico and Serpentico scored the win. The Code of Honor was obeyed, but Isom and CB did not look happy.

This is one of those matches that had the potential to be really good but was hampered by not having enough time.

Winners: Angelico and Serpentico

Grade: C-

Notable Moments and Observations

The NJPW TV Championship was on the line when Zack Sabre Jr. defended the belt against AR Fox. The announcers stated the winner would take the title to NJPW Dominion on June 4.

This was a battle between one of the best technical wrestlers on the planet and one of the world's best high-flyers, so both guys were trying to make the other fight their style of match.

Sabre worked on grounding Fox to combat his aerial skills, and Fox tried to take to the skies whenever possible. While their styles are different, both men are versatile enough to make each other look good.

When you have two performers of this caliber, everything they do looks good. This is one of those matches you really need to take the time to watch for yourself.

After a highly competitive bout, Fox was forced to tap out to give Sabre the victory.

Winner: Zack Sabre Jr.

Grade: A-

Notable Moments and Observations

Only one of The Boys was by Dalton Castle's side this week as they took on Bishop Kaun and Toa Liona. As usual, Prince Nana was there with his clients.

Tensions were high from the moment they shook hands. Castle was going to start the match but the healthy Boy, Brandon Tate, wanted to take on Kaun instead.

That was probably a mistake as Liona and Kaun proceeded to dominate Tate with their superior size and strength. The Boy spent much of the match being decimated.

Castle tried but was unable to make a difference in the end, and Gates of Agony scored the victory.

This was a solid match and another good exhibition for the ROH tag team division.

The announcers pointed out that Tate might not have been the legal man, but he was the one who took the pin.

Winners: The Gates of Agony

Grade: B-

Notable Moments and Observations

Schaff, Ricky Gibson and Eddie Pearl made their debut as a trio in this six-man tag team match against JD Drake, Anthony Henry and Shane Taylor.

This wasn't necessarily a squash match, but it was pretty close. Taylor and The Workhorsemen predictably scored the win.

Winners: Taylor and The Workhorsemen

Grade: C-

The third women's match of the night saw Mercedes Martinez return to Ring of Honor to take on someone who has been impressive in recent outings, Ashley D'Amboise.

The bout started out respectfully, with both women focusing more on technical wrestling than trying to knock each other's heads off. That changed as soon as Martinez nailed a kick to the face.

This wasn't too long, but they managed to pack a lot into the minutes they were given. Both women looked good at different times, but when it came time to finish, it was Martinez who scored the victory with a brutal dragon sleeper.

Winner: Mercedes Martinez

Grade: B-

Notable Moments and Observations

For only the 13th time in ROH history, a Fight Without Honor took place. This is basically the promotion's version of a No Disqualification match.

Action Andretti distracted Matt Taven and Mike Bennett during his entrance so Darius Martin could attack them from behind to get the upper hand right away.

With no rules or limitations, this was pure chaos from start to finish. They didn't wait long to start using weapons such as trash cans, chairs and ladders.

Even though most of this match was just them moving from spot to spot, it felt like there was some level of logic to everything that was happening. It somehow managed to feel clunky in places while having a nice flow to it, which is the exact balance you want in a bout like this.

While The Kingdom had the edge in experience, Andretti and Martin's high-flying offense was too much to overcome. Martin pinned Bennett after they hit a Doomsday Device off the ladder.

This was a great main event to end a decent episode of ROH.

Winners: Action Andretti and Darius Martin

Grade: B+

Notable Moments and Observations