- 3 days ago
- #roh
#ROH
Promotion: Ring Of Honor
WON rating: ***3/4
Match type: Pure Rules
Event: ROH Death Before Dishonor 2026
Promotion: Ring Of Honor
WON rating: ***3/4
Match type: Pure Rules
Event: ROH Death Before Dishonor 2026
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00Katsuyori Shibata, two-time former ROH Peer Champion, looks to add his name to the rare three-time champion club.
00:06But to do so, he will have to defeat the longest-reigning Peer Champion ever, Lee Moriarty.
00:14You never know how life's gonna turn out.
00:17Nigel kicked the ankle!
00:18That was my destiny, to go to death before dishonor.
00:20But fate had a different journey for me.
00:23Nigel McGuinness somehow!
00:25Oh!
00:25Because I'm in the Continental Cup, and I haven't been cleared to compete a death before dishonor.
00:30By order of Tony Khan, Katsuyori Shibata, Wheeler Iyuda, the winner, has the death before dishonor tomorrow night.
00:37Shibata's going to Philly to earn himself a shot at Lee Moriarty tomorrow night.
00:41You are choosing to step in the ring with the best Peer Wrestling of Grand Rapids.
00:46Oh, this gonna be good.
00:47Just when we thought death before dishonor couldn't get any bigger.
00:51I'm the best, not because I say it, because I prove it.
00:54And I will prove it every time, no matter how high the stakes are.
01:05The Peer Championship will be decided here tonight, and one man enters with an advantage.
01:14This match is set for one fall with a 60-minute time limit.
01:17And it is for the Ring of Honor!
01:20Peer Wrestling Championship!
01:22Approaching the ring is the challenger.
01:25Let's go, Tokyo, Japan.
01:27Weighing 209 pounds, the wrestler, Katsuyori Shibata!
01:34And let's take a look at how we got here, Caprice, as Katsuyori Shibata, just last night on Honor Club,
01:41defeated one of the smaller proteges, the only three-time year champion, Wheeler Iyuda, to earn his title shot.
01:49It was a back-and-forth affair, but ultimately, Katsuyori forcing the tap out as the Cobra twist down to
01:58the ground earned Katsuyori Shibata a title shot and an opportunity to join Yuda as the only two three-time
02:05champions.
02:06Absolutely, and right now, it's a big match-up.
02:08It feels like a substitution, but it's not, because this is a former Peer Champion that has two wins over
02:14the current Peer Champion.
02:17His opponent, being accompanied by other members of Shane Taylor Promotions, let's go to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, weighing 199 pounds.
02:27He is representing Shane Taylor Promotions, and he's the Ring of Honor, Peer Wrestling Champion, Tagestai, Lee Moriarty!
02:42Listen to the ovation for Tagestai Lee Moriarty, who in over two years as Peer Champion, Caprice, has defeated almost
02:51everyone.
02:52But I want to zero in on something that you said, as you see every fan that is able on
02:57their feet.
02:58There's been one man, one butt, that Tagestai has not defeated.
03:04Where's he at?
03:05Well, he is standing in the ring right now, one of the greatest never-openweight champions in New Japan history.
03:12A man that has been tailor-made since the beginning of his career to be in this Peer division.
03:17Already two times over a Peer Champion, Katsuyori Shibata.
03:20Shibata's nickname is The Wrestler.
03:23He doesn't get any more Peer than that.
03:26Well, fans, just a quick reminder.
03:27Coming off the Women's Peer Championship bout, the code of honor adhered to on the men's side.
03:32Each athlete gets three rope breaks.
03:34If you exhaust the rope breaks, you can be pinned submitted on underneath between the ropes.
03:39Each athlete gets one close fist to the face.
03:40A second result in a disqualification.
03:43Countouts are 20 on the outside.
03:44Title can change hands on a countout, Caprice.
03:47And we will go to the judges should we go all the way to the 60-minute time limit.
03:50And if there's any two athletes that can, it's these two.
03:52Absolutely.
03:53And if there's any two athletes that are going to follow the Peer rules and know them well, it is
03:57these two.
03:57Unlike the Peer match that we saw earlier, this right here is going to be excellent in technical wrestling.
04:04And look at that.
04:07It is Moriarty now looking for the grip.
04:10You know, I would normally say that Moriarty is the greater wrestler, but I can't say that right now.
04:16Shibata is cerebral in everything that he does.
04:20Look how comfortable Shibata is.
04:22And looking for the counter here.
04:23A lateral press into a bridge, but Shibata grabbing a hold of the arm and a high wrist lock on
04:28Moriarty.
04:29Shibata is winning this grapple right here, and Moriarty knows it.
04:33I mean, nobody has the upper hand, but it is in the favor of Shibata.
04:37Shibata has an answer for everything that Moriarty has thrown at him.
04:40And a wrist lock here.
04:41And it is rare for either man to use the rope break.
04:44Shibata very rarely use them as champion.
04:47And hold it at arm is Shibata.
04:50Now the frustration is setting in with Moriarty.
04:52Certainly is in this arm bar.
04:55Into a, looking for the side rushing.
04:57No, downstairs.
04:59Picks the legs into a grapevine here.
05:01Moriarty in trouble.
05:03It's a great bounce.
05:04Oh, how rare is that?
05:07That is rope break number one used by Lee Moriarty.
05:10And I'm not certain I'll have our stats and information department there.
05:14I'm wishing.
05:15It's one of the quickest rope breaks Lee Moriarty has ever taken.
05:18I'm absolutely wishing.
05:20That's what I'm saying.
05:21This right here is a huge test right here.
05:23May be a perfect opportunity for Shibata because Lee Moriarty trained for Nigel McGuinness.
05:30Oh, he certainly did.
05:32And a rear waist lock here.
05:33Standing switch.
05:34And down to one knee.
05:36It's a standing switch here.
05:38But a wrist lock takeover.
05:39And now into a double wrist lock in the front for Shibata.
05:42Shibata used that hip lock just to throw Moriarty over.
05:45Moriarty's trying to hit him to the butt.
05:47Shibata was right out of it.
05:49And look at the scrappling here.
05:51And a sign of respect for both men.
05:55Knowing that the other could have countered from that position.
05:57You have to respect Shibata.
06:00But Shibata is respecting Moriarty.
06:02And that says a lot from all sides.
06:05Says a lot about the pure championship.
06:07Whose lineage includes some of the all-time greats here in Ring of Honor.
06:12Including Nigel McGuinness.
06:13Including Shane Lee who made history earlier tonight.
06:15He's the first man to win five men's Munich championships.
06:18Nice drop down now.
06:19Some historic night already.
06:21Now the pace is picketing up.
06:24That's going to go into favor of Lee Moriarty.
06:26Certainly is.
06:27Shibata a little bit more deliberate.
06:28A little bit more sudden.
06:30Moriarty.
06:31And one.
06:32Two.
06:33Look at that.
06:34Tiger style.
06:39That's the way Moriarty taunts Riccoboni.
06:41Yeah.
06:43Tell you what.
06:44He's going to stretch out too.
06:46Yeah.
06:48I've been working on my neck bridge too, man.
06:50Here's Shibata.
06:52Oh.
06:53Wait a minute.
06:55Uncharacteristically familiar in the recent Shibata.
06:59And to me, Shibata in the ops.
07:02I wouldn't say takes shortcuts.
07:05But willing to maybe cover corner here.
07:07He has some dirt on his fingernails.
07:10Look at that.
07:11That's a lot of dirt.
07:12Yeah.
07:12That's a shortcut, man.
07:13A mare into the ropes.
07:15And Shibata.
07:17Okay.
07:17And right there, those mares is snapping him.
07:20There's no safe place to land.
07:22But you see that Moriarty is grabbing that ankle, grabbing that leg, because they're flopping
07:26against that still turn, the still ropes.
07:29And just landing on the neck as well.
07:32Now, Shibata's going to hone in on the legs.
07:35This is cerebral offense, man.
07:38Shibata.
07:40And Moriarty trying to hang on with a headlock instead.
07:43He gets that knee to the shin, in to the figure four, in the center of the ring here.
07:49That's because Shibata was holding on to the leg.
07:52And right now, Moriarty has a choice to make.
07:54Do I try to break out of this, or do I grab a rope break and keep the strength that
07:58I have
07:58in my legs currently?
08:00Oh, and look at this.
08:01It's Shibata.
08:02He's telling Moriarty, you got yourself into this.
08:05But it's Shibata who won his way into this just last night.
08:11And Shibata looking to press.
08:13And every time he leads back, Caprice, walk the fans through what's going on.
08:16Every time, Shibata bridges up or presses up.
08:18When he bridges up, presses down, you see the right leg of Moriarty that is put in that
08:24position.
08:25Now, Moriarty's trying to break it with the ankle, trying to put the ankle off of it.
08:28But that pressure right there is all on the right leg of Moriarty.
08:32And Moriarty now scooting to the ropes.
08:37Moriarty right now trying to use hard, trying to scoop to the ropes.
08:40This would be the second rope break that Moriarty has.
08:43And you see that he's thinking about it.
08:44He's looking for the closest rope near.
08:47And fighting to get to it.
08:49Oh, it gets to the ropes here.
08:50That is rope break number two used by Lee Moriarty.
08:54The damage is done, Riccoboni.
08:55It certainly is.
08:56And we talked about it with SDL.
08:58Sometimes the best defense is prevention.
09:01Yeah.
09:02But Moriarty was locked in that for a long time.
09:04He was locked in and had to fight his way out of it.
09:07And right now you can see that Moriarty slowed down.
09:09He won't see it on fast pace for a long time.
09:11And Moriarty's not even feeling the pits because he can't ground himself.
09:15Moriarty can't ground himself for those chops.
09:18The sweat popping off the chest.
09:19Oh, the rustler Moriarty driving the chest in as you see it blistering.
09:24Turning red to purple Moriarty.
09:27Oh, finally.
09:28Oh.
09:30Oh, this trick in the book and then high up on the hamstring.
09:35When Shibata was pure champion, this was not the Shibata that we had.
09:39This Shibata's a little more aggressive, a little more dirty.
09:43And I would say a little more dangerous because of that.
09:45And driving those forearms, driving Moriarty down into the corner.
09:52Big shot kick as Shibata tries to close the gap.
09:55But Moriarty giving up his knees on that.
09:58Well, that was called a default offense.
10:00Moriarty did what he would normally do.
10:02And it cost him because of the pressure that has been put on the leg of Moriarty.
10:10And you hear the fans loud and clear trying to rally.
10:14The longest reigning pure champion.
10:16Sweeping the leg on the back sweep there.
10:19Some familiarity right here that Moriarty has with Shibata.
10:23He's been studying Shibata right there with a distance clothesline to the corner.
10:26Holds on, breaks the grip.
10:28And a smart move there.
10:30Running Bulldog.
10:35And that's Moriarty for the first time in a long time.
10:37Capri's with the advantage now.
10:40So much happening right now.
10:41Grasp for that belly-to-belly.
10:42Suplex successful.
10:44Holding on to it for a bridge and a pin two.
10:47Oh.
10:48And his...
10:49That was the only way out of that pinfall.
10:52And looking for the border city stretch here.
10:53Got it.
10:54Talk to him personally.
10:55Perse that.
10:57Handed down from Alex Shelley.
10:59Locked in.
11:01Shibata's got to grab a rope.
11:02And Shibata has all his rope rolls.
11:04Wraith's left.
11:04Rolls through.
11:05Oh, and now crap on.
11:06Two.
11:07Defense into offense there.
11:08The pin gets a two.
11:10Back up to their feet.
11:11It's Moriarty with the open hand.
11:13Today, Shibata has a great game play.
11:14He hasn't used that one rope break yet.
11:16And I thought he was going to use it again.
11:18Oh, damn.
11:23And it is Shibata now with Moriarty dazed and confused on the apron.
11:29Front face lock.
11:30Oh, my goodness.
11:32I was going to say the hardest part of the ring.
11:34But Moriarty's head landed on the corner of the hardest part of the ring.
11:38And the shoulder may have been separated on the way down.
11:42The crowd here that are close to it.
11:44They're on their feet and they're silent.
11:45It's a dead silence of concern, Riccoboni.
11:49Everyone here in Philadelphia in the 2300 arena began to gasp when that occurred.
11:55And Shibata, you see Moriarty riding in pain the cover.
11:59Two.
12:00And Moriarty able to kick out of that caprice.
12:02But does he have his faculties with him?
12:04Will that shoulder become a problem?
12:05Will that head become a problem?
12:07And he's trying.
12:08And Shibata's going right back to that figure four.
12:10Smart move.
12:11Man, the last time that figure four was locked in, Moriarty had to get to the ropes to break it.
12:16If he goes to the ropes to break it this time, it'll be his last rope break.
12:19But there's survival, right?
12:21Oh, man.
12:21Go on, too.
12:22It's a figure four-eco-lock combination.
12:25Shibata grabbing a hold.
12:27You hear Moriarty screaming.
12:29Get to the ropes.
12:30Take the rope break, Moriarty.
12:32There's no more pressure than that.
12:34He's deciding.
12:37He had to.
12:38That is the third and final rope break for Lee Moriarty.
12:43Lee's never been in this situation.
12:44Never.
12:47Moriarty, three rope breaks for Shibata.
12:50Moriarty, none.
12:51Look at the confidence that Shibata has right now.
12:53Shibata knows where he's at in his match.
12:55He knows the advantage that he has.
12:57And he's slowing that pace down and driving and continuing to put a mad off-lock on a champion.
13:03And this combination, Kenta Kabashi-Timaru style.
13:09And here comes Shibata.
13:11Oh, my goodness.
13:13Second time's a charm.
13:14He got it that time.
13:15He could have ordered a piece of when he was up there.
13:17Just floating and then crashing down into the prone body of Lee Moriarty.
13:22A front face lock here.
13:24And that hatch suplex.
13:26The cover.
13:26The float over.
13:27Two.
13:28Holding on.
13:29Moriarty.
13:30One.
13:30Two.
13:31Shibata getting his money's worth here.
13:32Inside leg.
13:33Two.
13:34And every pin caprice.
13:35He's trying to wear down Moriarty.
13:37Every time he puts it in that situation, Moriarty has to kick out.
13:42Has to use more air.
13:44Doesn't have any more rope breaks left.
13:46Moriarty's in trouble.
13:47We've never seen the champion in this situation.
13:48But we've also never seen the champion beat Shibata.
13:52And Shibata knows this.
13:53And it's Shibata able to deliver a shot to Moriarty.
13:59Look at this.
14:00Moriarty just...
14:01And you could tell the fight.
14:03The fire is there from Moriarty.
14:05But the lights are dimming.
14:06Going for the PK.
14:07Almost hit the PK.
14:09And...
14:09Oh, the exposed spine.
14:12But he avoided the dead shot.
14:15And literally Moriarty.
14:17Looking for the elbow.
14:18Breaks the grasp.
14:18Off the ropes.
14:20Big running boot.
14:21And barely phases the challenger.
14:24Yeah, Shibata's doing his feet.
14:26But Moriarty's been weakened, man.
14:27His stance has been weakened.
14:28And he's fighting all hot.
14:29Shibata wants it.
14:30He wants the best of Moriarty.
14:32And Moriarty's going to give it to him.
14:33And you've got to think right now...
14:36Moriarty.
14:36Who's taking the best shot.
14:38Wait a minute.
14:38Let's count.
14:40Shades of Nigel McGinnis.
14:41It's exactly what that Shades of.
14:43Because that's who Moriarty was preparing for.
14:47And Moriarty.
14:48The leg hugged.
14:49Two.
14:50And Caprice.
14:51Can Moriarty erase the doubt in his mind?
14:54The man that has two wins over him with the rope breaks gone.
14:57Can he force a submission?
14:58He has to board a city locked in.
15:00Shibata has to...
15:01It's real hot.
15:02Roll through it.
15:03Sleeper locked in.
15:04Sleeper.
15:04Moriarty knows just about one or two seconds.
15:06It's a precursor.
15:07And just how he's beat Moriarty before.
15:09Moriarty getting to the ropes.
15:11No rope breaks.
15:11No rope breaks.
15:12No more rope breaks.
15:12Moriarty fading.
15:14Daylight is fading here.
15:15Now in the second rope.
15:16Oh.
15:17Use the body.
15:18Great leverage move there.
15:20And Moriarty.
15:21Full head of Sting.
15:23Oh my goodness.
15:25That guy talks about a suicide attack.
15:27And Moriarty's back to his feet.
15:29Moriarty went head first in the barricade.
15:31He got all of it on Shibata.
15:32Moriarty springboard.
15:35To connect on the shot to Shibata.
15:38That leg.
15:39Been working on that leg.
15:40That leg is hurting.
15:42He's been putting all the pressure on the leg.
15:45He certainly has.
15:47And this is what happens.
15:48And it paid off.
15:49And I'll tell you what.
15:50It is hot.
15:51It is humid.
15:52Moriarty's knee has been weakened by that crab.
15:55Moriarty's ankle been weakened by that ankle lock.
15:58It is no wonder.
16:00Shibata got poked in the eye though.
16:02Yes, he did.
16:04Second rope on the inside.
16:05Drop kick connects.
16:06Drop kick connects on Shibata.
16:08Lateral press cover.
16:09One count only.
16:11Only a one count.
16:13Can you imagine putting all that damage on somebody
16:15and only getting the one count that messes with you mentally?
16:18Two switches in play.
16:20Third switch.
16:21Moriarty cannot hold on.
16:22And he did not.
16:23Two.
16:24The stack gets two.
16:25Back into the trap.
16:26Saber over Moriarty.
16:27Saber over Moriarty.
16:28Shibata in trouble.
16:29Rolling through.
16:30And Shibata trying to hold on to the wrist.
16:32Uh-oh.
16:32And the sleeper.
16:33And the sleeper's locked in for Shibata.
16:36And Shibata wins his matches, man.
16:38Pussed that sleeper.
16:38One, two.
16:40Moriarty almost breaks free with a pin.
16:42And the stack again.
16:44Moriarty this time back up.
16:45One, two, one, two.
16:47Look out of his stomach.
16:48He's done it.
16:49He got him.
16:51The winner of this match, and still,
16:54ring of honor, your wrestling champion, Lee Moriarty.
17:01I think what happened here is during this match, Lee Moriarty had to learn more about himself
17:06to hold on to the championship.
17:08He exhausted his rope breaks.
17:10He had to figure out a way to still win.
17:12And he figured out a way to still win with no rope breaks left.
17:16What a great mentality Lee Moriarty showed.
17:20What a great match he had.
17:21Great champion here.
17:23Moriarty prepared for Nigel McGuinness' caprice.
17:27Moriarty went to a place he's never been before.
17:29Yeah.
17:300-3 in the rope breaks against the man he is 0-2 against.
17:33He had to pull something different from deep down.
17:36The moment when his knee buckled on the ropes, any other man may have turned away.
17:41Any other man would have caved to the doubt that was festering in his mind.
17:47But Lee Moriarty is different.
17:50Longest pure champion of all time, fans, right now.
17:54Lexine, they're standing by with a...
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