Summary

Kazuchika Okada returned to Ring of Honor on the March 5 episode of ROH TV and successfully defended the AEW International Championship against AR Fox.

Fox earned the instant title shot by winning a four-way elimination match over Lee Johnson, Matt Menard, and Shane Taylor.

Okada won the title match with the Rainmaker, marking his fifth successful AEW International Title defense.

This was Okada’s first ROH-branded match since ROH/NJPW G1 Supercard in 2019, when he defeated Jay White for the IWGP Heavyweight Title, and his first non-NJPW crossover match on ROH programming since ROH Death Before Dishonor 2018.

Kazuchika Okada’s ROH return strengthens the AEW International Title profile

Okada defending the AEW International Title in his first ROH-branded match in years gives this reign broader visibility across partner programming, and that immediately raises the title’s week-to-week prestige.

Fox earning his shot through a same-night elimination win also kept the defense tied to active ROH competition, which helps frame Okada’s title run as open to challengers coming directly out of ROH momentum.