Athena and Willow Nightingale make history at ROH Death Before Dishonor. WWE confirms more SummerSlam matchups. Gigi Rey speaks with WrestleZone, and more!
Let’s break it all down in this week’s edition of Women’s Wrestling Wrap-Up!
Athena & Willow Nightingale Headline
History was made at ROH Death Before Dishonor.
Heading into the Death Before Dishonor, ROH announced that the event would be headlined by Athena and Willow Nightingale, marking them the first ever women to ever main event an ROH pay-per-view. In Friday’s closing bout, Athena laid her ROH Women’s Championship on the line against Nightingale.
Nightingale had previously defeated Athena in the semi-finals of the 2023 women’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament. Prior to that, Athena successfully defended her title against Nightingale during the March 9 episode of ROH on HonorClub. Now, it was time for the rubber match.
In the midst of their history-making performances, Athena and Nightingale paid homages to several of the women who inspired them, including Mickie James, Daffney, and Sumie Sakai.
Athena and Nightingale battled back-and-forth for over 20 minutes, but in the end, only one could emerge victorious. Toward the conclusion of the match, Athena locked Nightingale into a crossface. Nightingale managed to roll Athena over into a pinning position, but upon the count of two, Athena reversed her momentum back over to reapply the submission. Nightingale tried her best to escape the hold, but there was no way out. Eventually, Athena secured the win via referee stoppage when Nightingale passed out.
Below is a brief recap of the closing moments of the match, courtesy of our ROH Death Before Dishonor live coverage page.
Willow hits a butterfly suplex for a nearfall. Athena plants Willow face-first, kickout. Willow hits another Cross Rhodes, no luck. Hip attack in the corner, but Athena evades and punches Willow. Athena hits Obliteration from the second rope, Athena hoists Willow up for a powerbomb, kick out. Athena goes up top, but Willow cuts her off. Willow puts Athena on her shoulders and drives her to the mat. Willow puts an arm over, but Athena kicks out.
They spill to the outside where Athena slams her on the floor. Athena connects with O Face in the ring, nearfall. The crowd comes unglued and Athena is in disbelief. Willow powerbombs Athena, kickout. Willow takes Athena to the top rope, attempts a gutwrench. Athena manages to punch Willow off of her and to the mat. Athena connects with O Face again and applies a crossface. Willow rolls back, Athena rolls through. Athena does an STF and Willow struggles. Willow doesn’t recover and the ref calls it.
Winner: Athena (c)
RELATED: Athena Says Tony Khan Approached Her A Couple Of Weeks Ago About Main Eventing Death Before Dishonor
WWE Confirms More SummerSlam Matchups
“The Biggest Party of the Summer” is now less than two weeks away.
On Saturday, August 5, WWE will head to Detroit, Michigan as they host their 36th annual SummerSlam event. As of this writing, seven matches have been confirmed for the event, including a triple threat title bout.
On the women’s side, WWE Women’s Champion Asuka will defend her title against Charlotte Flair and Bianca Belair in a triple-threat match. This match comes after weeks of feuding between the three. Following Asuka’s victory over Belair at Night of Champions, Belair demanded a rematch. Unfortunately for Belair, some obstacles were then put in her path.
Upon WWE’s reveal of the new Women’s Championship (which took the place of the RAW Women’s Championship), Charlotte Flair returned from hiatus, challenging Asuka to a title match. Flair and Asuka then met on the last SmackDown before Money in the Bank, but they weren’t alone, as Bianca Belair sat in the front row.
Shortly after Charlotte accidentally booted Bianca Belair in the face, Belair hopped the barricade to attack Asuka. This move subsequently forced the referee to call for the bell, ruling the match a no-contest. As such, Asuka officially retained her Women’s Championship.
Two weeks later, Belair finally received her rematch against Asuka. Bayley, IYO SKY, and Charlotte Flair later took seats in the front row. On that cue, Belair and Asuka tried to take extra precautions. SKY and Bayley later hopped the barricade, which prompted Flair to do the same. After Flair neutralized Bayley, SKY taunted Belair with her Money in the Bank briefcase. Flair then attempted to surprise SKY with a spear, but as Flair approached, SKY sidestepped, causing Belair to absorb the spear instead. As a result, Asuka was disqualified from the contest.
With their previous encounters ending in chaos, Asuka will now defend her WWE Women’s Championship against both Flair and Belair in a triple-threat match at SummerSlam.
Elsewhere on the card, former friends Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler will collide in a singles match. This contest comes after Baszler’s surprise betrayal at Money in the Bank.
During the July pay-per-view, Baszler and Rousey were slated to defend their Women’s Tag Team Championships against Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez. In the midst of their title defense, though, Baszler blindsided Rousey and locked her in the Kirifuda Clutch. This move allowed Morgan and Rodriguez to subsequently pick up a pinfall on Rousey.
Following Baszler’s betrayal, Rousey challenged “The Queen of Spades” to fight her at SummerSlam. Baszler obliged, but emphasized the contest would be a “fight” in reference to their MMA backgrounds.
RELATED: Bianca Belair Reflects On Her WWE RAW Women’s Title Run
Interviews
Former PWA Women’s Champion Gigi Rey spoke with WrestleZone’s own Ella Jay about being an extra during Asuka’s WrestleMania 39 entrance, her recent tryouts with Marvelous, the formation of the Money Birds, training at Reality of Wrestling (ROW), & much more!
“Majestic” Mystii Marks appeared on the Hot Tag Hooligans Wrestling Podcast to discuss her recent cage match against Lady Bird Monroe, the positive progressions within women’s wrestling, podcasts, training with Jazz, Rodney Mack and more.
ROH Women’s Champion Athena chatted with The Pop Break about her ROH title reign, and her love of minions, facing Willow Nightingale, her impressive winning streak in ROH, and more.
WOW Superhero Ariel Skye (aka Nikii Duke) appeared on Women’s Wrestling Talk to discuss her decision to join Women of Wrestling (WOW), her tag team partnership, her background in gymnastics, and more.
Upcoming Events
Sirens Fury Wrestling: Sirens Come Out To Play – July 27
DOA Pro Wrestling: Queen of Thorns – August 5
Capital Championship Wrestling: Blood in the Sand – August 5
