Athena’s ROH women’s world championship reign has been one that’s legends are made of.
Athena has taken on all challengers. From all over the world and come out strong. Both women first met a ROH ring in February. Willow is coming into this match fresh off of the win that made her the inaugural Owen Hart foundation winner. In a tournament where she pinned the champ. So, of course Willow feels confident going into this match.
With this first lose in a long time Athena has to prove that she can retain that title and continue to reign supreme.
Willow comes into the match as bubbly as ever. And Athena is as cocky as can be carrying that gold. Early mocking from the champ doesn’t face Nightingale. Athena feels like she had the leg up on her competition early on. But swift hips and several suplexes from Willow puts the control of the match in her hands.
Athena thinks quick and goes to attacking the arm of Willow and really working on it to wear out the strong competitor. The champ doesn’t stop there. She drives Willow’s head into the mat to really make it clear how vicious she will get to retain this title.
Willow tries to make a comeback, but Athena delivers some harsh blows to Nightingale’s head to leave her temporarily incapacitated.
Athena takes the match out of the ring to put Willow’s shoulder inside of the stairs near the ring and crashes right into them, to shatter the left arm of Nightingale.
When Athena thinks that she is down and out, Willow swiftly lifts her up to deliver a vicious powerbomb on the turnbuckle. Then another on the bare floor which leaves Athena wailing in pain. And the crowd chanting at the top of their lungs.
Both women make it to the ring and Athena talks a bit of crap and pie faces Willow in the meantime. This fuels Willow up as she makes a comeback. Athena makes a way to take back control again and hits a face lock, then a Fuji Wara hold.
Willow kicks out of a pin attempt by the champ. Then Athena gets the pounce by Willow.
Nightingale’s bae bomb couldn’t even stop Athena!! Athena walks out of the ring, a tactic that she uses a lot when she feels that she’s losing.
As Willow walks right into Athena’s trap, she gets a thumb to the eye, dropped right on her back on the bare entrance ramp, the stairs and hit with Athena’s O-face finisher.
The experienced and strategic champ gets the win. To the dismay of the fans. You could tell that that revved up ROH crowd wanted Willow to bring home the win.
After losing to Willow during the Owen Hart tournament, I believe that Athena will become an even more vicious champion. Just to make it clear that no one will be dethroning her anytime soon.
This match was certainly worth its spot as one of the two main event matches. Athena and Willow thought that they were worthy of that spot and they certainly proved it.