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00:00Athena defends 950 days of championship reign against La Mara Mara.
00:06Thunder Rosa, Ring of Honor Women's World Title on the line.
00:14Hey!
00:16Hey!
00:17Hey!
00:18Let's go.
00:20I am the Falling Goddess, the forever champion, the American Joshi, the main event.
00:27She's the most dominant champion.
00:29Ring of Honor has never seen so many ways that Athena can defeat you.
00:33We've seen this too many times.
00:35Athena will drive her opponent's heads into the championship belt after victory.
00:40The cruelty is the point right now.
00:42No, no, no.
00:46You, Athena, have something that I've been wanting for a long time.
00:49And that's the Ring of Honor Women's Championship.
00:51I need to solidify the most epic reign in all of pro wrestling.
00:57This is my home.
00:59This is my burial.
01:02Well, you're wrong.
01:03You're absolutely wrong.
01:04You and I and Super Guard of Honor.
01:07I'm going to make an example out of you and anyone else that decides to skip the line.
01:13The time is up because it's Thunder Time.
01:16The extensive history between these two great athletes has led us to Arlington, Texas.
01:32Two Texans who claim the state their own are fighting not only for pride in their state, but for the richest prize in the Ring of Honor Women's Division.
01:43The woman you see here is a former AEW Women's World Champion.
01:49But Thunder Rosa has deep ties to Ring of Honor's past.
01:53Thunder Rosa was a competitor who was seeking the challenge for Ring of Honor gold.
01:59She took an opportunity with AEW, captured the title here, but in her heart, in her mind, she knew that she would be back one day, not only at home here in Texas, but in Ring of Honor competing for the title, Caprice.
02:14Repeating for the title, continuing to make history, the first mentally-informed woman to hold U.S. major, U.S. world titles, and now trying to be the first woman to hold the AEW's World Championship and the Ring of Honor Women's World Championship.
02:31Always trying to make history, always trying to make a statement for women in wrestling is the La Mara Mara Thunder Rosa.
02:39Trying to elevate the game as a whole, a rising tide lifts all shifts, and Thunder Rosa, who can make history here tonight by ending a near 950-day title reign, looks to do that in front of hundreds of friends and family in the sold-out eSports Stadium here in Arlington.
03:00But to do that, perhaps the tallest mountain to climb in the history of Ring of Honor, may be the history of professional wrestling, because this woman carries the weight of Ring of Honor in her shoulders in Arlington.
03:22She is not alone tonight either, Caprice.
03:25Wow.
03:27But it looks happy to be there as well.
03:30Athena, who captured the championship, that she so proudly wears around her waist, that she has taken to Japan, Australia, Mexico, all the way back in Final Battle 2022.
03:47Since then, she has had 28 title defenses, 24 different challengers.
03:53She has the most appearances on Honor Club, the most victories on Honor Club, the most defenses on Honor Club, the most wins on Honor Club, and tonight, looking to make an exclamation mark in one of Ring of Honor's biggest events on the calendar year.
04:10Uh-huh.
04:11There is no better man to introduce this huge title bouton than the voice of Ring of Honor, Bobby Cruz.
04:18The following contest is scheduled for one fall with a 60-minute time limit, and it is for the Ring of Honor Women's World Championship.
04:32Introducing first, to my right, the challenger, wrestling out of the graveyards of Tijuana, Mexico,
04:41La Meta Meta Funda Rosa.
04:48Her opponent, to my left, is accompanied by Billie Starks, wrestling out of Dallas, Texas.
05:03She is the Ring of Honor Women's World Championship, the full-end goddess of Xena!
05:20It is a battle not only for the Ring of Honor Women's World Championship, for the heart and soul of the great state of Texas, but also...
05:30The heart and soul of women's professional wrestling, Caprice.
05:34So much on the line here.
05:36This might be the match of the night.
05:39One of the greatest anticipated matches.
05:41Look at the women's Ring of Honor World Championship right there.
05:45That's what's on the line.
05:48The Neurosa here to make history.
05:51Athena here to continue the history she is making as the longest reigning defending defenses champion of all of the world.
06:00All-time in Ring of Honor.
06:02Code of Honor here to a stare-off to start.
06:07To this crowd, torn in between both Texas wrestlers, Athena closer to home.
06:16Oh, but they turned out for Thunder Rosa.
06:17Yeah, Thunder Rosa, Mexican-born, U.S. raised.
06:20And let's talk about the role both women have played in elevating the Ring of Honor Women's World Championship.
06:29It was when the original version of the title was created that Thunder Rosa legitimized it by joining the original division.
06:34It was then Athena who captured the revitalized titles and made it must-see television, must-see violence week after week after week, dispensing both title challengers and proving ground competitors left and right.
06:49There's a lot in that lock-up, man.
06:52Showing that there's no games, plants a lot of animosity inside this match-up as well.
06:57Both wrestlers that hate each other and respect each other at the same time.
07:00Nothing to be said.
07:01Another thing to be said about the days that Athena's been championed.
07:05Thunder Rosa was champion for 495 days and she never lost that title with the body.
07:10She had to relinquish that title due to injury.
07:13Excellent point.
07:13Off the rope, shoulder tackle.
07:15Nobody moves.
07:16Still makes so far in this match.
07:20Back to the lock-up again.
07:22And Caprice, I think this is what we anticipated out of the gate.
07:25Both women are too smart to go at it.
07:27They're at a fast pace.
07:28Both women know they've got to feel each other out to see where the other woman is in this huge half of our double-man event.
07:34Absolutely.
07:34It's a filling-out process that takes a little bit of time, especially when you're a champion or you have championship experience.
07:40You don't want to rush into anything and make any mistakes early because you can lose the match at any time.
07:46You can be locked into a submission or you can be pinned.
07:49And both wrestlers know that.
07:50Look at that.
07:51Cover.
07:53Great wrestling right here, man.
07:54Great wrestling.
07:55Double wrist lock countered into the half crowd.
07:57Fix the ankle.
07:58Does Athena look for an ankle lock instead?
08:01Holding on today.
08:02Pushing out.
08:03No.
08:03Holding on.
08:03Holding on.
08:04Yep.
08:05It's great wrestling, man.
08:06Inside of all the wrestling, inside this ring, all the hatred, all the animosity.
08:11There are two great wrestlers inside there that's playing a great chess match.
08:14And that's what wrestling's about.
08:16And a double wrist lock.
08:17Athena relieving some of the pressure by locking her own hands, preventing the hyperextension, preventing that left-to-right movement as best she can.
08:25Big lock inside.
08:26That's a lot.
08:27Keeping that lace in.
08:28Not trying to rush anything.
08:29Hold it on as much as she can.
08:31Athena with the arms lace there.
08:32Trying to keep that pressure off.
08:34Wow.
08:34Thunder Rosa's trying to bring in an arm bar.
08:36Athena back to her feet.
08:37Takes that shoulder block from Thunder Rosa.
08:39Rethinking plans here.
08:41Frustrated.
08:42But Athena's some person that could change game plans on a whim.
08:45Absolutely.
08:46There's often a Jekyll and a Hyde to Athena.
08:48We've seen it in her matches.
08:50She has that flip.
08:51She can switch.
08:51But the danger against a competitor like Thunder Rosa of her pedigree, of her experience, is you might want to flip that switch a little bit quicker, a little bit faster before you miss the opportunity to flip the switch.
09:01I'll tell you what.
09:02That Mr. Jive, Mr. Hyde mentality can also cost you if you pull it out too early because you're not worth thinking.
09:09Thinking straight.
09:10And I think at this time of the match with the body, Athena needs all the things she can to get ahead in the match against Thunder Rosa.
09:17Wow.
09:18Great roll through there.
09:20And it's Thunder Rosa.
09:21Strength forward.
09:22Oh, the knee.
09:23Driving down.
09:24Right into that shoulder.
09:25Already a focus for Thunder Rosa.
09:27Watch your head, Thunder.
09:28Watch your head.
09:29Watch your head, Thunder.
09:30Watch your head.
09:31Watch your head.
09:31Watch your head.
09:33Watch your head.
09:35Thunder Rosa taking the time right there, right back to that lace.
09:38And the arm isolated, pulling at the shoulder, pulling at the elbow, trying to dislocate that shoulder.
09:45Athena in trouble trying to get to the ropes as fast as possible.
09:47Let's go!
09:48Let's go!
09:48Let's go!
09:48Let's go!
09:49That's a great call, Caprice, because this could have lasting damage throughout the bow.
09:53Yeah.
09:53And part of me wonders if Thunder Rosa, wait a minute, oh, nice stack.
09:59She's gotten Athena to wrestle.
10:01Wait a minute.
10:02Athena is usually a little bit more high impact right out of the gate.
10:05And it's almost, the mental, the mental game that's happening is almost more impressive to me than the physical game.
10:13And we're seeing manifestations of it.
10:14You're right.
10:15It's definitely mental right there, and Thunder Rosa is going right back to the middle of the ring,
10:19but being bathed to the outside by Athena to the outside of the ring.
10:23I think this is where Athena tries things.
10:25This is where Athena gains the advantage at, man.
10:27She's so vindictive, always playing, and always thinking ahead.
10:31Yep.
10:31Oh!
10:32I knew it, man.
10:33And I'm telling you, this is the way that this champion thinks it's the champion for a long time.
10:37Thunder Rosa's hit head first into that corner post.
10:40And Athena willingly giving up her own body.
10:43Oh!
10:45Risking it again, but delivers on that slam to the apron.
10:51The minion overlord is getting ready to take over and inflict the damage that she's intended to do on Thunder Rosa.
10:59On the outside of the ring, there's nobody as dangerous.
11:03As Athena.
11:04But it's Thunder Rosa who knows that, who now is picking up the pace, but it's Athena sending Thunder Rosa to the barricade.
11:10Caught, and it's survival, man.
11:13Thunder Rosa knows it, but she's trying to survive as much as she can, but Athena knows she's on the outside.
11:19All these weapons she can use and not get disqualified.
11:22I know she's gonna use them.
11:23Now that's a spine-shivering chug that slammed into that upper part of the barricade.
11:30For anybody that's had herniated discs, for anybody that's woken up with their back injured, you feel the pins and needles caprice, that's gotta be what Thunder Rosa's doing right now.
11:40Absolutely.
11:41You can see right there the crowds.
11:42Feels good.
11:43But Athena knowing that she's in control, grabbing into the center of the ring.
11:47Now Athena puts Thunder Rosa in the middle of the ring and starts back wrestling.
11:52There's nobody like the champion that we have here in Athena.
11:59Well, this is the two sides of the coin we were talking about.
12:03Just when it looked like Athena was gonna amp up the pace, going back to the wrestling, back to the hair of the challenger.
12:10It's almost like she has that Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde that she could turn on and off when she wants to as well.
12:17And now the lateral press, right out of it, Thunder Rosa.
12:22Not even a one cow, man.
12:25Soaring the heart that the challenger has.
12:29Fighting from underneath, trying to break free from the champion.
12:33Thunder Rosa has it locked in.
12:35Front face lock here.
12:37Athena, who has elevated the Ring of Honor Women's World title to main event status.
12:42Headline status, cover one.
12:45Ooh.
12:46Tell you right, even right there, man, Athena was getting ready kicked.
12:49Thunder Rosa in the back.
12:50Thunder Rosa fell.
12:51Athena went right to the press.
12:53Capitalizing on the opportunity.
12:55Able to change what you're thinking.
12:57But whatever's going on, that knee right to the rear.
12:59You see, the back is already laced up.
13:02You see the tape on the back of Thunder Rosa.
13:04Athena knows what she's doing.
13:06I see a two genius, ooh.
13:08That early game plan from Thunder Rosa.
13:10I loved what Thunder was doing to that arm, that shoulder of Athena.
13:15But it's Athena who's found the target on the back of Thunder Rosa.
13:18And making her pay!
13:19It's nasty!
13:20Go!
13:21Come on!
13:22Come on!
13:23Come on!
13:24Come on!
13:25Come on!
13:26Come on!
13:27Come on!
13:28Come on!
13:29Come on!
13:30Come on!
13:31Come on!
13:32Come on!
13:33Oh my goodness!
13:34Athena!
13:35Referee Mike Posey trying to get things out of the ropes.
13:36Unfortunately, that works against Thunder Rosa as Athena doing even more damage in the
13:40center of the ring.
13:41But Athena has bad intentions, man, with everything that she does.
13:45And now!
13:46Oh my goodness!
13:47Capitalizing with that back splash!
13:49Two!
13:50Like Hulk gets a two!
13:51To the eyes of Athena.
13:53They're already evil, but being red makes it even worse.
13:57And we saw Thunder Rosa almost going into self-defense style mode there.
14:02To try and block those shots.
14:04Too many of them from the world champion.
14:06And the match will end very quickly.
14:08Yeah.
14:09And I think Athena knows this, man.
14:11Athena's trying to pour it on as much as she can.
14:13You can't get Thunder Rosa down very, very often.
14:16So when you have her down, you have to do as much as you can while she's down.
14:19It inflict as much damage as possible.
14:21Going home.
14:22Yep.
14:23Thunder Rosa out of the way.
14:24It's Athena falling back in.
14:26The four arcano!
14:27Right back to that shoulder that Thunder Rosa has already put investment in.
14:32Went right back to it.
14:34Very smart move by the challenger.
14:36Thunder Rosa!
14:37Thunder Rosa!
14:38Thunder Rosa!
14:39Thunder Rosa!
14:40Thunder Rosa!
14:41Thunder Rosa!
14:42And the crowd here sold out Esports Stadium.
14:45Firmly split between these two great athletes competing for the Ring of Honor Women's World title.
14:50Both back to the feet at the same time.
14:53Now Athena saying, come on, give me what you got.
14:56Thunder Rosa willing to do so.
14:58Sucking up everything to deliver the blows to the outside.
15:01Athena throws again.
15:02Throwing at the hips.
15:03Wow!
15:04Now the shoulder is trying to cover up, but nothing being done here but damage.
15:08Wow!
15:09Athena fires up with that running super kick.
15:14Donor Rosa out on her feet.
15:15Anytime you see somebody collapse like that, it's involuntary.
15:16Your legs give out protecting your body.
15:17Ooh!
15:18Driving the skull of Athena.
15:19And that shoulder, too.
15:20Into that second turnbuckle.
15:21Billy Starks, Athena's minion or protege on the outside.
15:23That momentum, it looked like Athena was going to hit the top turnbuckle.
15:30Shifted it to the bottom turnbuckle.
15:32Knocking the balance off the champion.
15:33Shoulder first into that turnbuckle.
15:34Our champion's in trouble.
15:35Our champion's in trouble, Riccoboni.
15:36Certainly is, but the challenger, unfortunately, couldn't capitalize right away, Caprice.
15:46The damage has been done on the lower back of Thunder Rosa.
15:47Ooh!
15:48In the shoulder of Athena.
15:49Now both of the champions and the shoulder of Athena.
15:52Go!
15:53Go!
15:54Go!
15:55Go!
15:56Go!
15:57Go!
15:58Go!
15:59Go!
16:00Go!
16:01Go!
16:02Go!
16:03Go!
16:04Go!
16:05Now both women know the other's kryptonite here
16:09Everything that Thunder Rosa has done so far is trying to create space to recover from the injuries that she has
16:16She's had enough time away now. She's in control
16:19I could tell because she's standing close to Athena after her attacks now charging in the challenger delivers a back elbow on the champion
16:27The champion down in the corner
16:30And that lower back is going down Thunder Rosa here
16:33Yes, Thunder Rosa charge again delivers the drop kick in the corner
16:38Beautiful drop kick gonna try to finish it off
16:46A smart shot there from Athena looking at I don't know if Athena showed us how to join out of soccer
16:52And I've been a mess before man. I've had to pop my shoulder right back in and keep it fighting
16:56But you still lose that numbness inside man, and I can't tell by the way that Athena's using that shoulder
17:02But Thunder Rosa's man on that back is the only reason why Athena's still in this match looking at the back of Thunder Rosa
17:08I saw that northern lights again. Oh goodness
17:14Took absolute full advantage of that lower back cramping up giving out
17:20We've all been there Caprice. Yeah, something relatable to our fans at home. Yeah
17:25Just cramping up
17:27It's a great match man great championship match
17:34Dominion overlord continuing to think on her feet changing positions from one corner of the ring to the other
17:41Maybe you're looking for that low face doesn't matter
17:43Now she is trapped by the challenger Thunder Rosa making her way up
17:48And second rope on the inside is Athena trying to get her footing. It's Thunder Rosa delivering shots to that shoulder
17:55The challenger with control of the champion. Where is she going to take the champion?
18:05Athena the smart leap going to the outside and we go out of titles don't change hands on count outs Caprice
18:10Yeah, you can see the frustration of Thunder Rosa. What do I do now? She's gonna take a risk with Gabon and pays off
18:18In the eyes of La Maramara
18:20Sensing that the champion is wounded. Look at the way that shoulder's curling Caprice. That's what I was talking about. It might be
18:26Out of socket there La Maramara up top getting ready to take another risk
18:31And got it!
18:32Diving to the outside!
18:35Definitely I think it's out of socket man. I'm looking at the way she's progressing it
18:38The way she's keeping it close to her body. It's just hanging maybe a rotator cuff as we take a look at her. Oh goodness!
18:44Into the stairs to replay
18:46The cross body
18:48Just gonna have to find something to pull it back in. This is gonna be fighting literally handicapped the rest of the match
18:53It's just hanging right now. But Caprice is someone who's covered in major league baseball is somebody who has torn his own rotator cuff
18:59If it's a rotator cuff, there's nothing you can do
19:02If it's the socket you might be able to pop it back in but
19:05Hanging on just hanging right there
19:08Yep
19:10Yep, you see she comes through. She's over now. I've done the damage I need to do
19:14It's dropped! She had dropped!
19:15I got right on that shoulder
19:17Thunder Rosa knows exactly what she's doing
19:20She is taking the investment the payoffs on the damage that she has made
19:25And getting ready to close in to become the new ring of honor women's champion if she executes this move
19:31It could be over! Double stomp!
19:34Goodness! Make the cover!
19:36On the champion! Wow!
19:37On the champion! That was nasty!
19:39That lower back locked up but the cover here
19:41One, two! Can we have a new champion? No!
19:44Oh, hard!
19:45The champion is crying!
19:47I gotta see this again! Look at this drop right here on the shoulder! Watch the shoulder of Athena right there!
19:51Great angle there and then
19:53the double stomp
19:55And Thunder Rosa didn't get the height she normally gets
19:58Didn't get the landing she normally gets that lower back locked up
20:01She went right back to it Caprice
20:03I think if it was earlier in the match
20:04She might have had a victory there
20:06But she landed on the shoulder
20:08The target was hit
20:09The target was hit so much that the champion just pushed the same space and went to the other side of the ring
20:16Retreating from the challenge
20:18How many times have you seen Athena retreat Caprice?
20:21Almost now I can't recall a single time
20:23She is retreating hiding trying to buy time
20:26Moving out wants to leave
20:28No she yeah, I mean if she leaves she retains
20:30Oh no!
20:31Now Billy Starks!
20:34Whoa Thunder Rosa!
20:36The counter! Billy into the steps!
20:39I didn't think Billy Starks was gonna be interfering but what was I thinking?
20:44Athena a ploy to decoy the referee
20:48Running interference Billy Starks
20:52Even though Thunder Rosa came out better in line of change
20:55It still takes energy out of Thunder Rosa
20:57Yeah, but he bought the time that Athena needed to regain control
21:01And now she has baited the challenger to the outside of the ring
21:04And Athena's gonna do what Athena does best
21:06Oh!
21:07Yep!
21:09Weaving through the chokeslam!
21:12Off the ramp through the table!
21:14That eagle smile from the minion overlord that we have seen over and over again
21:21We take a look!
21:23Oh God!
21:24That lower back went first!
21:26Compets the lower back landed first!
21:28That canuzic tape on the outside of the ring you can see the doctors on the outside checking to make sure
21:33That Thunder Rosa can go on look at that evil smile the vindictive diabolical smile by the champion
21:39That's a great angle for sink just how far just how high and just what a cacophony of violence sounds like
21:51Like a wounded villain
21:55The champion goes right back into the inside of the ring
21:57Our medical staff is pleading with Thunder Rosa saying you do not have to continue
22:01Giving her a choice
22:03You know what Athena said you get the count quicker!
22:06She'll take the count out
22:09And Mike Posey saying no! Mike Posey saying no!
22:18She said don't you dare try to don't you dare
22:20Don't you dare
22:20Oh!
22:21Posey was gonna throw the X's up
22:23She puts herself back inside
22:24That's heart
22:26May not be the smartest move
22:28Heart and soul from the challenger
22:30Backbreaker Athena
22:32With blood in the water
22:34And one arm
22:34Cover!
22:35Two!
22:37It's not just the arm it's that shoulder it's it's stabilizing it's the movement it's everything
22:42But Athena was able to put all that office on using one arm against the challenger
22:49Both women fighting with everything they have
22:51Oh trap caught caught
22:52Shoulder ain't question again
22:54Hammer lock look at that
22:56The hammer lock into the half crab
22:58Athena rolls two
22:58Two!
22:59Two!
23:00Both women now back up
23:01The champion with the knockout!
23:03Oh!
23:04Hooks the leg
23:06To a goal!
23:07Oh!
23:08Vemi have fallen to that forearm out of nowhere
23:12That low level forearm that
23:14Athena throws
23:16Knocking opponents out she's won victories in less than 10 seconds because of that
23:20Certainly has that shoulder hanging on by bone and sinew right now
23:29As the champion
23:31Makes her ascent
23:33She's gonna try to hit the o-face
23:34Trying to climb her tallest mountain in Thunder Rosa
23:37Oh!
23:39My goodness
23:41Thunder Rosa this right here is a mat look attacking the arms
23:45Smart move
23:46She is moving that
23:47Yep
23:49Is she gonna oh wait a minute
23:52Triangle choke
23:54She has a test yet to let it go though
23:55She's gonna have to let it go
23:58And Thunder Rosa
24:01Great call by Mike Posey she was unable to to dismount
24:04She was stuck
24:05Yeah
24:06But i tell you what
24:07If her arm was not out of socket before
24:10It is definitely out of socket now
24:12And Thunder Rosa knows it
24:14And Thunder Rosa
24:16Doing all she can that lower back
24:18Giving her fits and spurts
24:20It's Athena with one arm
24:22And this time
24:24This time
24:25Plants the challenger to
24:28Capitalizing on the timing
24:31Thunder Rosa was going for that Rana again
24:33Athena knew it
24:34Capitalized on the timing
24:36Wrapping up
24:37Side surfboard
24:39Side surfboard here
24:41Pulling at the chin
24:43Wow
24:44Thunder Rosa in trouble
24:46Thunder Rosa's fading
24:47She's got to make a choice
24:48She's thinking about tapping
24:49Oh that's it
24:50She's tapping
24:51She's tapping
24:54The winner of this match
24:56By submission
24:58And still
25:00Ring of Honor
25:01Women's World Champion
25:05Hosena
25:08Half of the room is excited
25:10Half of the room
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