ROH 388 – Aftershock Tour: Philadelphia – 21st August 2015
It feels like this weekend, featuring the return of multiple New Japan stars, has been hyped and promoted almost from the moment the NJPW crew got back on the plane at the conclusion of Global Wars a few months ago. Hopefully Ring Of Honor and SBG are rewarded with strong attendances for these shows as a result. The talent they’ve brought in can’t have been cheap either; two of New Japan’s ‘big three’ are here tonight. There's no Tanahashi, but Okada and Nakamura are in the house along with Kushida and the debuting Hirooki Goto. I believe this is a TV taping but is released on DVD/VOD as an additional revenue stream to offset the costs of bringing those guys in, and I have no problem with that whatsoever. It does mean the card is a little cluttered but there are some real gems that stand out. Roderick Strong has his rematch for the World Championship – and that is WAY down the card! Elsewhere the Young Bucks challenge The Addiction for the Tag Titles, Cedric Alexander faces Dalton Castle and Kushida and Matt Sydal meet in what could be a showstealer. Shinsuke Nakamura main events the evening with Adam Cole in a hotly anticipated ‘dream match’, whilst Okada is further down the line-up teaming with Chaos partners RPG Vice against the Briscoes and Goto. Kevin Kelly and Steve Corino are in Philadelphia, PA.
The Addiction vs Young Bucks – ROH Tag Title Match
Like I said, it’s a TV taping so the line-up is bound to be a little strange. Opening the show with a long-awaited Tag Title shot for the Bucks is certainly different from a Will Ferrara match! On TV this week we saw Daniels, Kazarian and Sabin violently assault the Jackson brothers in an attempt to crush them out of the title picture. Clearly that didn’t work and now Matt and Nick want the belts The Addiction worked (and schemed) so hard to attain. Sabin is here and in the corner of the champions.
EARLY ONSET ALZHEIMER’S on Daniels! Sabin acts quickly to rescue Frankie from a similar fate, but the Bucks are rampant and moonsault out after them! Paul Turner ejects Sabin from ringside, but only after a DOUBLE SUPERKICK from the Jacksons! This is an insane pace and it doesn’t stop there, with Kaz shoving Nick to the floor from the top rope and Daniels piling out after them with the Arabian Press. STEEL CHAIR SHOT on Nick! Did the ref see that? The editing on this is awful, although I appreciate they are trying to leave in the content that will be clipped out during the commercial breaks when it goes out on TV. The sound is shockingly out of sync with the action too. Obviously Nick has been neutralised which has left the champs easily able to isolate and wear down his brother. REBOUND CORKSCREW STUNNER from Matt to Daniels! TORNADO DDT TO THE FLOOR by Nick! Daniels somehow recovers to join his partner in hitting the powerbomb/neckbreaker for 2. Best Moonsault Ever blocked…and all four men go down! WAVE OF THE FUTURE on Matt! The Kingdom are at ringside assaulting Chris Daniels, with Taven looking like a cross-dresser for some reason!? TOP ROPE MOONSAULT TO THE FLOOR AT THEM BY NICK! MORE BANG FOR YOUR F*CK! DANIELS PULLS THE REF OUT! Then as Turner argues with The Kingdom on the floor he runs in and uses the title belt on Nick! Matt snatches it and wants to do the same…but has it snatched from him by Maria! Kazarian grabs him for a sneaky roll-up and wins the match at 11:50
Rating - **** - A generous 4* rating, but I can’t deny that I was thoroughly entertained here. It wasn’t the best match they could have had, but it never stopped being fun and I just loved the contrast between the constant insanity coming from the Bucks and the persistent cheating and veteran cheating from Daniels and Kaz. We aren’t talking traditional tag formula cheating like using the ropes or faking a tag here or there. I’m talking weapons, stooging off referees, trying to profit from outside interference (even when it was aimed at them!)…they were a riot! The Kingdom right now are as interesting as they have ever been, with the Adam Cole stuff and brewing rivalries with basically the entire tag division, and it wasn’t too surprising that they turned up in this one. Bearing in mind that this is a TV taping, for an UNDERCARD match on the television show this was exceptional.
Nigel McGuinness isn’t happy with that finish. He berates Daniels for betraying ROH’s principles and calls The Kingdom ‘wankers for interfering…then punishes them both by adding the Young Bucks to the scheduled Addiction/Kingdom Tag Title Match at All Star Extravaganza.
Jay Lethal vs Roderick Strong – ROH World Title Match
It feels extremely strange popping in a Ring Of Honor DVD and having two of the biggest matches on the entire show go on first. Is this how they structured the live tapings? I wouldn’t want to be the guys who have to work after them if so! These two wrestled to a memorable 60-minute draw at Death Before Dishonor, and now bring the rivalry to television for the rematch. Both men felt the initial draw backed up their claim that the other man couldn’t beat them. Will we see a clean winner this evening?
The start is frantic, with Strong almost countering the hiptoss/dropkick spot into the Stronghold only to be kicked out of the ring into the path of Lethal’s big tope suicida. He no sells that and hits a hell of a dropkick – with such force that it draws a ‘holy sh*t’ chant from an ECW Arena crowd! His head takes more of a pounding soon after with Roddy rattling it against the guardrails. The full House Of Truth are at ringside and it takes a distraction from Martini, Dijak and Diesel to buy Lethal some time. Wisely Jay slows it right down; grinding onto a chinlock trying to catch his breath as much as work his opponent’s neck. One of Lethal’s punches has opened up a cut on Strong’s forehead making things even more difficult for the challenger. The champion’s gameplan is becoming clear – keep the pace methodical, kill any momentum Strong tries to build and work the neck where possible. It is clearly working too; as he’s now able to shrug off the normally potent chops of his foe and easily haul him down into a front facelock. Lethal Combination blocked…Olympic Slam blocked…Lethal Injection COUNTERED TO A CRADLE BACKBREAKER! RUNNING ELBOW FLURRY! MUSO gets 2! Jay drops to his knees to evade End Of Heartache before exploding from below like a snake into the Lethal Combination. Roderick climbs to the top rope, and hits Hail To The King on Lethal…for 2! Neither man can stand too well now but still come up throwing strikes from their knees. Superplex by Strong…only for Lethal to roll through into a small package! SUPERKICK! LETHAL INJECTION COUNTERED TO THE SICK KICK! FOR 2 AGAIN! Lethal tries to use the TV Title belt but it’s blocked, and Roddy even finds time to take out Diesel and Dijak for good measure! The distraction means Jay is able to escape Death By Roderick…then NAIL him with the World Title behind Sinclair’s back. LETHAL INJECTION! STRONG KICKS OUT! An irate Lethal kicks him right in the face then gives him ANOTHER Lethal Injection. This time it is over at 18:24
Rating - **** - I can’t think of too many better matches taped for the SBG TV show all year. Truthfully there haven’t been that many genuinely exceptional World Title Matches on the SBG show ever in fact. This was right up there with the best of them and an outstanding sequel to the Death Before Dishonor match. It was clear from the opening bell they weren’t going sixty this time, but actually when you consider they still went almost twenty the pace they were working at was quite amazing. This was seriously intense stuff, with very little filler dragging it down and every move or legitimately meaning something. The Philly crowd provided a raucous atmosphere for them to perform in too which certainly helped.
Both members of reDRagon stand in the aisle gesturing at Jay Lethal. He has to defend both of his championships against them at All Star Extravaganza.
Donovan Dijak/J. Diesel vs reDRagon
This is the following week in TV broadcast terms, but slots in quite nicely alongside what we just witnessed on this DVD. Jay Lethal has individual matches against both members of reDRagon at All Star Extravaganza – first defending his TV Title against Bobby Fish then his World Title against Kyle O’Reilly. He is the House Of Truth corner tonight and will be sending his two henchmen into battle with the instruction to do as much damage to both of his challengers as possible.
Fish asked for his team’s corner to be immediately above the commentary table where Jay Lethal is situated. Diesel and O’Reilly trade some pretty intense striking, which looks decent. Diesel then completely f*cks up a basic sunset flip spot which has the crowd in fits of laughter. This guy is appalling. Bobby salvages the situation, but only by LOUDLY calling every spot to the point that it’s very obvious he’s walking the big meathead through the whole thing. Thankfully Dijak finally comes in…but unfortunately for him he is quickly wiped out with a flying knee of the apron by Kyle (although even the f*cking camera man is messing sh*t up now and nearly screwed that spot by getting in the way. DIJAK THROWS O’REILLY OVER THE TOP ROPE! This guy is such a beast! He leads his team to a semi-successful isolation of O’Reilly but is finally bewildered by the fast hands and feet of his opponent. Tags all round, so we go back to a frustrated Bobby Fish having to drag the completely hopeless Diesel through more stuff. reDRagon pummel Donovan’s legs with kicks, driving him out of the ring in the process. Another spot f*cked up by Diesel as he doesn’t take Fish’s running elbow properly and appears to end up with a bloody nose. Anklelock on him…which Bobby won’t relinquish even when Dijak starts hitting him. ARMBAR ON DIJAK! FISH HOOK DELUXE ON DIESEL! reDRagon win at 10:02
Rating - ** - There was a good match in here somewhere, but J. Diesel appeared to be on a one-man mission to totally wreck it. The dude is embarrassingly awful, and it was no fun watching genuinely world class workers like Fish and O’Reilly have to carry his talentless ass. Dijak is a real prospect, and has future WWE star written all over him due to his size, athleticism and sports background…but for now it’s getting increasingly annoying watching him saddled with Diesel as a partner rather than striking out on his own. This had some very interesting bits of work between Dijak and reDRagon but it never threatened to escape the total ineptitude of the fourth participant. A few weeks ago I wrote that the tag match between War Machine and the Dijak/Diesel team was watchable because Diesel was largely kept out of the match…but that it was to the detriment of Donovan’s momentum since he had to carry the work, take the bumps and sell for the opponents. This one was pretty much the exact opposite in that Dijak got to look far stronger…but the match quality suffered because his schmuck of a partner was in there botching sunset flips and suplexes like it was his first day in the stupid ROH Dojo. As an FYI to Sinclair: if this guy trains in your school, his appearance on your TV show is pretty much an advertisement for why you should go learn to wrestle ANYWHERE else.
Cedric Alexander vs Dalton Castle
I was ready to write Cedric in ROH off. He’s a great athlete and a good wrestler, but for whatever reason it just wasn’t working. His heel turn has rejuvenated his character though, and for the first time in a while I’m honestly interested to see what he does next. He has new music (although nobody told the production team since the pop-up graphic still lists his old theme), Veda Scott by his side and a bad attitude in tow as he looks to take down one of the most popular stars on the roster. Castle is embroiled in an escalating row with Silas Young which now sees him at risk of losing his beloved Boys. Young is on commentary for this.
Cedric spends much of the first minute standing in the corner and watching as Dalton bounces around the ring in all manner of poses. Silas’ commentary is almost as entertaining as the match itself, particularly as all of his plans for making The Boys ‘men’ involves turning them into lumberjacks (chopping wood and living in the woods); said without a hint of homoerotic irony. Veda trips Castle, allowing Alexander to hit a running kick on the apron and give him a clear advantage for the first time. He pops out from behind Veda again to punch him in the face…but maintaining the fight on the outside proves to be an error as Dalton is able to tiger feint into the headscissors to the floor! Alexander tries his springboard lariat…only to be CAUGHT in mid-air then converted to an overhead suplex for 2. Everest German blocked into the 540 Kick for 2. Castle ducks another enzi attempt and this time does convert to the Everest German…prompting Silas to leave commentary and grab The Boys. Obviously that distracts Dalton, and Alexander grabs the tights and steals a win at 09:29
Rating - ** - I expected better from these two; they are certainly capable of it. This one never got out of the low gears and in truth was carried almost entirely by Silas Young’s hysterical commentary rather than anything they were doing. I like Alexander wrestling with a heel-ish edge, but I have little interest in his act degenerating almost entirely into only hitting moves when Veda Scott helps him. He isn’t Matt Taven as TV Champion and doesn’t need that level of help to get heat.
Stokely Hathaway appears at ringside taunting Cedric with a wrench…as Moose invades the ring from behind to wipe him out with the Hitstick. They meet in a No DQ Match at All Star Extravaganza
Michael Bennett/Matt Taven vs War Machine
The Kingdom are preparing for their championship opportunity at the next pay-per-view, but have made pretty sizeable enemies in War Machine along the way. Hanson and Rowe don’t like these two one bit and would love to dish out a beating just when their opponents need to build momentum the most. Of course, a win would also make them top contenders should Bennett and Taven leave San Antonio with the Tag Title belts…
Bennett and Taven were clearly impressed with the Young Bucks earlier, so try the same double superkick spot to start. War Machine totally no sell it though then set about mauling them. Rowe cuts the ring in half and hits the Cement Mixer early on Taven, with Bennett still regrouping on the outside with Maria. Matt is nursing a hamstring injury and wisely tags out to avoid further injury…sending his partner into a similarly violent assault from their opponents. Maria Kanellis gets involved, and very nearly gets sledgehammered in the corner by Hanson as a consequence. REBOUND ENZI OFF THE RAILINGS by Taven! Kingdom try to keep Hanson grounded, but can’t do enough damage and Bennett finds the Twist Of Fate countered into the inverted powerslam. Superman Punch from Rowe to Bennett! Cement Mixer on Taven for a second time! The Kingdom escape Fallout, only to amusingly fail one-after-another in attempted dive spots and get splattered down on top of each other on the apron as a result. Taven ducks the Cartwheel Lariat from Hanson…into a CARTWHEEL ENZI! Apron Spear from Bennett to Rowe! Maria tries to interfere again, but is pulled down from the apron by the Young Bucks, leaving Bennett to eat a double chokeslam whilst distracted! FALLOUT on Taven! War Machine get a big win at 10:44
Rating - *** - I really like War Machine, but the way they are booked is maddeningly inconsistent. They just lost (and looked a little silly) to the Young Bucks a couple of weeks ago, but now get to look strong and win against The Kingdom, when Bennett and Taven are the ones needing to look strong ahead of a title shot? I don’t quite understand Delirious’ logic, but at least it sets Hanson and Rowe up as top challengers if/when Kingdom get the belts. These four men are always fun to watch together as well, since the rugged rough-housing of Rowe and Hanson is that much more entertaining when it’s at the expense of cocky, sleazy goofballs like Bennett and Taven.
The Kingdom’s night gets even worse as they get attacked by the Young Bucks…only for The Addiction to swoop and lay out Matt and Nick with the Tag Title belts. It means Daniels and Kazarian are the ones standing tall on the go-home episode ahead of All Star Extravaganza 7.
INTERMISSION – Cheeseburger isn’t wrestling mercifully, and is instead sent to the ring to throw out free merch. Brutal Bob and his new protégé Tim Hughes (who jobbed to Adam Page in mere seconds on TV a few weeks ago) attack him from behind. Bushwhacker Luke (who looks amazing for a guy in his late 60’s!) is the latest random legend to take a shine to Cheeseburger it seems, and he makes the save.
Silas Young vs Michael Elgin
These guys have a long history in the business together, and have actually contested a couple of decent matches (as well as a really awful World Title Match) in this company in the past. With much at stake for Silas at the forthcoming pay-per-view (he’ll become one of Dalton’s Boys if he loses) he needs to warm-up with a strong showing. But can he overcome a former Ring Of Honor World Champion, who is making his return after finally cracking New Japan with an impressive showing in the G-1 Climax?
Elgin’s G-1 performances appear to have earned him a lot of respect with the Philly crowd. He certainly appears to be full of confidence and spends most of the first two minutes swatting Silas away like an insect. Silas needs a big strike, and kicks at the knee before dropping him on the apron with a DDT. Corino points out that a lot of Young’s moves are targeting the face and head of Big Mike since that sets him up for Misery. Elgin is so weighty he can’t actually hit the Killer Combo since his weight causes Silas’ knee buckle from under him. It means Unbreakable can capitalise by tossing him through the air with a German suplex! Pee Gee Waja Plunge nailed for 2, but nothing Silas does is inflicting enough damage. He gets socked in the jaw with a lariat and as he crawls to the apron for safety Michael simply plucks him from the apron into a DEAD-LIFT SUPERPLEX. Young retaliates with Misery and is desperately unlucky to see his opponent fall out of the ring as a result. A pissed off Last Real Man decides he wants to break Elgin’s neck on the exposed concrete floor…but Elgin counters into a GUARDRAIL BOMB! Elgin Bomb seals the win at 09:27
Rating - ** - Elgin looked impressive and both men brought some admirable physicality to the match. My view was that it possibly went a little longer than it needed to, lacked some of the punch and excitement that some of their previous matches have had…and also rather stunted some of the momentum Young has started to build during his feud with Castle. ROH doesn’t have many active storylines at any one time, I’m not sure why the centrepiece of one of them needed to be quite so comprehensively beaten – no matter how impressive Elgin was in the G-1. It would have been fine if they'd been given the opportunity to steal the show and deliver a blockbuster match (along the lines of their match in Milwaukee a few years ago), but having Silas crushed in a one-sided filler bout makes him look seriously weak.
Caprice Coleman vs ACH
These guys could actually have an awesome match if they were allowed to cut loose…but since this is being packed into the middle of an SBG episode I don’t expect much to come of this at all. I’ll say again that ACH is having an amazingly consistent and seriously underrated 2015 so far. I think he is technically building towards his big feud blow-off with Adam Page at All Star Extravaganza (although this episode is being broadcast after the ppv so I’m not sure how much relevant it will have).
Caprice is a veteran and shows it by grounding ACH inside the opening sixty seconds. He’s also smart enough to avoid ACH’s strikes when the pace does quicken! Next he dodges the apron PK and swings around the ringpost into a dropkick. The fans literally don’t give a sh*t about him though, which is a shame because his work here is super. Perhaps trying to impress the silent fans Coleman tries an ambitious springboard move and vaults straight into a kick to the ribs from ACH. Caprice is still scouting ACH’s moves though, side-stepping the slingshot flatliner and countering into a mildly-botched Mind Trip for 2. Trinity suplexes get another nearfall…and FINALLY fans are starting to care about poor Caprice. Hero’s Grip countered to the One Inch Punch! SKY SPLITTER gets 2! Back to the ropes they go…with ACH SOMERSAULTING OUT OF A FRANKENSTEINER! BRAINBUSTER! MIDNIGHT STAR! ACH wins at 07:06
Rating - *** - I enjoyed the hell out of Caprice Coleman’s performance, even if nobody else did. He played the veteran card superbly – smartly wrestling everything from the opening bell, countering all of ACH’s usual sh*t and only failing when he tried to step into ‘ACH’s domain’ of attempting aerial moves. And that somersault flip out of the frankensteiner spot at the end was pure poetry in motion as well. The fans sat on their hands for most of this, which is a shame because the actual in-ring content deserved much better.
Steve Corino interviews Caprice Coleman, discussing some kind of letter he’s been given by Prince Nana. It isn’t revealed what the contents were but they’ve clearly had some impact on Caprice…
Kazuchika Okada/RPG Vice vs Jay Briscoe/Mark Briscoe/Hirooki Goto
Obviously the New Japan native talent are the main draw here, but it is only right that I point out that Roppongi Vice will technically be targeting some payback after the Briscoes beat them at Death Before Dishonor last month. They come packing their stable-mate and reigning IWGP Heavyweight Champion, ‘Rainmaker’ Kazuchika Okada, so Jay and Mark have recruited their own Japanese heavyweight to combat that. Goto is the reigning IWGP Intercontinental Champion and is making his Ring Of Honor debut this evening.
Okada refuses to shake hands with Goto, much to the amusement of Romero and Beretta who hop around like puppies behind him. Mark steals Trent’s headband and effectively blindfolds himself with it whilst still beating poor Beretta all over the ring. Romero and Okada come to his aid, dragging Mark to the Chaos corner and starting to isolate him. The Rainmaker doing Trent’s over-acted bootscrape spot, then RPG Vice doing Okada’s ‘Rainmaker’ pose both make me audibly laugh out loud during his segment. Goto gets a tag and tucks into the IWGP Champion with relish; getting a two-count with a Saito suplex. Running uppercut by Okada, followed by the flying elbow! Rainmaker countered to a DVD over the knee by Hirooki! Gobstopper Knee on Jay! Forever Clotheslines on Mark! Splash Mountain Neckbreaker gets 2 on Rocky! Reverse Neckbreaker from Okada to Goto…then Mark counters the Rainmaker into the urinage! All six men are down! RPG Vice try to ambush Mark on the outside but Goto rescues him from the Doomsday Device. DOOMSDAY DEVICE ON THE FLOOR by the Briscoes instead. Froggy Bow on Beretta for 2. Rocky saves his partner from the Jay Driller, leaving Mark exposes to the TOMBSTONE by Okada. Goto headbutts his way out of the Rainmaker! JAY DRILLER ON BERETTA! The Briscoes and Goto get a big win at 13:11
Rating - *** - During some of his appearances on the New Japan tour earlier on in 2015 I was rather critical of Okada…and in turn some of my readers were EXTREMELY critical of me! I’ll say again, it’s not that I don’t understand that Okada is a big star and doesn’t need to work super-hard in front of a few hundred ROH fans. I was merely pointing out that it isn’t necessarily overly interesting to watch the guy half-ass his matches and make ROH talents look inferior in the process. To give him due credit I thought he was working much harder here. He didn’t necessarily appear in the match too much, but he gave his opponents far more offence than I’d imagined. Both Mark and Jay got decent ring-time with (and got to hit a few moves on) him which was much appreciated. The match as a whole will make for a perfectly serviceable SBG main event. It wasn’t amazing or too memorable…but it was competently worked, packed in plenty of action and chucking out New Japan’s top singles champions into their television broadcasts certainly helps.
Matt Sydal vs Kushida
I believe this is right before Sydal went to Japan to make his NJPW debut. He remains a big name on the independent circuit, and now has his eyes set on making a splash inside the biggest promotion in Japan too. There is no doubt that earning a pinfall win over the reigning IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion would be a hell of a way to make a first impression.
Kushida works the mat with Sydal and looks to be the more proficient grappler and spends more than a minute frustrating the former WWE superstar. He’s quicker too, cartwheeling out of a Sydal headscissors to kick him right in the head. Sydal can’t trade strikes with the Tajiri-trained athlete either, so eventually settles for trying to attack a body part. He swarms Kushida’s knee; slowing Japanese athlete and preventing him from throwing kicks. He may be struggling to walk, but Kushida still has his eye on victory and hits the arm stunner trying to set his opponent up for the Hoverboard Lock. TOP ROPE SOMERSAULT PLANCHA TO THE FLOOR! And to his credit he comes up selling the leg too! As Reborn tries to crawl back inside Kushida greets him with a running boot to the shoulder, then a moonsault for 2. Sydal kicks the legs…only to have the standing moonsault COUNTERED to the Hoverboard Lock! He finds a rope but such is Kushida’s aggression that he refuses to let go and gives him another armwrench instead. Buzzsaw Kick ducked then countered to a spinning heel kick. NO SOLD! JUMPING HEEL KICK by Kushida to leave them both down! Kicks to the arm by Kushida! Handspring heel kick COUNTERED TO A REVERSE RANA by Sydal, getting a 2-count. SYDAL PRESS MISSES! HOVERBOARD LOCK! Sydal kicks his way free! SO KUSHIDA PUNCHES HIM IN THE FACE! NO SOLD! JUMPING KNEE STRIKE gets 2! SYDAL PRESS! HE WINS! Matt Sydal shocks the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion at 14:45
Rating - **** - Both men could have done more to sell their respective injuries, but on the whole this was another amazing sprint from Kushida – who is making a real habit of producing stunning matches every time he comes to ROH. Perhaps this one wasn’t quite on the level of the Kushida/Strong War Of The Worlds match, but it was definitely up there with it (and the Lethal/Kushida TV Title Match from the 2014 tour). Sydal, who is an elite performer in his own right, had no problem keeping up with arguably the top junior heavyweight worker in the world - rolling back the years in a marvellous display. Watching two high quality athletes such as this go move for move, especially in that last three or four minutes, was a real treat.
BJ Whitmer is on crutches, but has a live microphone and is complaining that Adam Page isn’t booked in the main event.
Adam Page vs Will Ferrara vs Takaaki Watanabe vs Moose
Are Moose and Ferrara not sick to death of facing each other in filler multi-man matches? There is an argument to be made that each one of these men won’t be happy with their current spot in Ring Of Honor, and that they’ll all currently be feeling undervalued. The best way to force your way up the card to higher profile roster spots is to string together wins, to leaving Philadelphia with a victory here is of huge significance. Can Moose get his career back on track as he prepares for Cedric Alexander at All Star Extravaganza? Can Watanabe score the big win people have been waiting for this entire ‘excursion’? Can Page score the win that backs up Whitmer’s claims that he should be main eventing? Can Ferrara shock three bigger guys with an upset to climb the ranks himself? All to play for here…
Page acts like a dick before the match, but tags out to Moose at the first sign of trouble once the bell rings. Poor Ferrara is in the firing line and eats the Game Breaker…and naturally Adam tags back in the second he has been neutralised. He also has Colby Corino on hand to take a few cheap shots at Will behind the referee’s back. Watanabe ends Page’s dominance with a fisherman buster for 2. Colby trash talks with Moose and gets emphatically kicked off the apron as a result, and the big man turns right around to counter the Adam’s Apple into the Hitstick. More stupid spots with Ferrara trying to credibly hit offence on Moose are thankfully curtailed when Wata suplexes Will ON HIS HEAD! GERMAN SUPLEX ON MOOSE! Evil STO from Watanabe to Ferrara gets him the win at 06:32
Rating - * - Putting Watanabe over was such a perplexing decision it took all the shine off of this match for me. He has done nothing during his excursion, and whilst his performances have improved recently there was literally nothing (other than getting up New Japan’s butt some more) for ROH to gain from putting him over here. Page keeps producing good singles matches when given the opportunity to do so…but they then get instantly made redundant when he gets relegated back to faffing around in pointless filler. He was spectacularly wasted here.
Adam Cole vs Shinsuke Nakamura
Although still billed as ‘representing The Kingdom’, Cole has now returned to using his singles entrance version of his theme music. He has issues with The Kingdom and The Addiction, but at his core remains desperate to get back into ROH World Title contention. He’ll know a win over the King Of Strong Style, arguably NJPW’s most recognisable face, instantly elevates him to top contendership status…and probably gets him a ticket back to New Japan as well.
Cole goes straight after the arm that Nakamura injured during the G-1 Climax Tournament which is a nice touch – especially after Nak spent most of the pre-match smirking at him like a lunatic. Naka pretending to be scared of the ‘Adam Cole BAYBAY’ stuff is one of the funniest things to happen in ROH this year. Adam responds by kicking him in the leg as he attempts a signature knee strike then makes fun of one of his poses! A running knee against the guardrails is his punishment for that insolence. Sensibly Adam takes it inside the ring and drags the King Of Strong Style to the mat – where he can use none of his aforementioned ‘strong style’. Much of his offence focuses on Nakamura’s back and neck, but doesn’t successfully kill off the foreign visitor…and pretty soon he is KNEE-ING THE SH*T out of Cole! Credit to Cole; who covers up to survive those then comes up throwing a flurry of superkicks back at Nak. Fed up of absorbing knees, Cole picks apart Shinsuke’s legs – to the extent that he struggles to run the ropes. It builds to the Figure 4 Leglock! There’s no more smiling and dancing now – Naka is screaming in pain! Finally he does escape by throwing a knee strike, only to collapse to the ground right alongside Cole. LUNGBLOWER by Nakamura, followed by a Regalplex…and again he goes down clutching his leg! Bomaye…COUNTERED with a running knee from Cole! SHINING WIZARD gets 2. Florida Key! Still 2! Last Shot blocked into a FLYING KNEE by Nakamura! BOTH MEN DOWN! Cole kicks the leg…AXE KICK! RUNNING KNEE! Nakamura gets 2! BOMAYE BLOCKED! COLE SPITS IN HIS FACE! Last Shot COUNTERED TO THE LANDSLIDE! COLE NO SELLS! BOMAYE! Nakamura wins at 17:41
Rating - **** - I liked this even more than Strong/Nakamura from Global Wars. That night it was Roddy who carried the match, whereas this one was great thanks to all the things we love about Nakamura matches. He was violent, he was charismatic, and he sure as hell helped his opponent look fantastic too. For a guy who’s offence is 90% knee strikes, he did a far more thorough and competent sell-job on the leg injury than a man of his stature (on a show of this stature) needed to. He scores the win, but he gave Adam Cole, Ring Of Honor’s ace, plenty. This is well worth checking out
Tape Rating - *** - The format of this show makes it a hard one to rate as a DVD (or VOD) viewing experience. On the one hand, you are damn sure getting your money’s worth when you consider only one (the pointless four-way) out of the ELEVEN matches on this show is actively bad. It was just a little jarring to start the show with two major ROH championship matches (Addiction/Bucks and Lethal/Strong), then have 90 minutes of completely average content to get through before things picked up again in the final hour. Coming out of these tapings it is certainly fair to say that the first episode (Addiction vs Bucks and Lethal vs Strong) and last episode (Kushida vs Sydal and Nakamura vs Cole) will be outstanding. Those four big matches really make this DVD worthwhile. The main event felt very special – and probably stands out as the highlight of Shinsuke Nakamura’s Ring Of Honor appearances. Purchasing this DVD means you’ll have a hard copy of two of ROH's best televised matches all year, so it isn't a hard one to recommend ultimately.
Top 3 Matches
3) Matt Sydal vs Kushida (****)
2) Shinsuke Nakamura vs Adam Cole (****)
1) Jay Lethal vs Roderick Strong (****)