Welcome to another edition of The ROHbot Report – the only article you need for all the Ring of Honor news you have to know. This year’s “Final Battle” represented the beginning of a new era of Honor. With all the ROH Championships on the line and probable surprises, the wrestling world’s eyes were on Arlington to see how everything would play out for all the honorable marbles.
Zero Hour/Pre-Show: Jeff Cobb vs. Mascara Dorada
Great reception for The United Empire’s Jeff Cobb. The former ROH World Television champion followed the Code of Honor before finding out that “The King of the Ropes” could actually survive a shoulder block exchange. Incredible agility from Cobb in a very lucha-infused opening sequence ended with Jeff getting arm dragged to the floor. Dorada’s follow up attempt with a dive saw him get suplexed both against the steel ring post and the ring’s edge!
Unconventional surfboard from Cobb as he used Mascara’s body as a base to pose. It only took one forearm to ground Dorada when he tried to fight back. Cobb spent too much time mocking his opposition, taking a drop toe hold against the turnbuckles. Satellite head scissors from Dorada exited Cobb and, this time, he had the ability to execute a crazy corkscrew plancha. Dorada used a springboard somersault senton to bring the action into the ring, but gained no three count. Just when Dorada thought he had some momentum, Cobb yanked him into a pendulum belly to back suplex topped by the standing moonsault when he couldn’t pin his opponent.
Dorada countered the Tour of the Islands via the sunset flip, but Cobb refused to stay down for the three count. Mascara recovered, blocking a dead-lift superplex attempt to execute a super bulldog to gain a two count of his own. The fans were rallying behind both men as Dorada had a moonsault in mind. Cobb moved, landing a northern lariat that set up the pop-up Tour of the Islands to give Cobb the pin fall victory.
Winner: Jeff Cobb (6:58)
Match Review: Very entertaining clash of styles in this David vs. Goliath affair where David actually lost. Dorada definitely seemed ready to impress like this was the Cruiserweight Classic and Cobb is always fun to watch. Would love to see a rematch down the road and more Jeff Cobb in ROH going forward.
Zero Hour/Pre-Show: Shinobi Shadow Squad (Cheeseburger & Eli Isom) vs. The Jericho Appreciation Society/2Point0 (Matt Menard & Angelo Parker)
Code of Honor followed by “Cool Hand” Angelo Parker before locking up with a smiling Eli Isom. Parker was surprised with a cradle, deciding to tag out to Matt Menard who, too, almost got outmaneuvered. Parker demanded both Cheeseburger and a handshake. When Parker tried to turn the handshake into a slick kick, Cheeseburger gave him a good ol’ Manhattan drop. “Daddy Magic” slipped in, using a backbreaker on Cheeseburger to set up Parker’s running knee strike. The JAS representatives vocalized their joy of beating down the ROH stalwarts; using quick tags and even quicker maneuvers like Parker’s snap suplex to keep Cheeseburger on the wrong part of town. Punching his way toward Eli, Cheeseburger had to move like a snake to get to his partner.
Isom double shoulder rammed both opponents in the corner to set up Cheeseburger’s double stomp off the top. Cheeseburger had the Shotei ready when Parker pulled down the ropes to send him propelling to the floor. Isom couldn’t stop a clubbing shot from Menard that set up a double team DDT from 2Point0. The pin fall was elementary for Parker on Isom.
Winners: The Jericho Appreciation Society/2Point0 (5:58)
Match Review: Solid as expected with the fans, thankfully, supportive of the ROH contingent even though they enjoyed the antics of Parker & Menard. Whenever ROH gets a weekly product 2Point0 would be a perfect fit.
Zero Hour/Pre-Show: Willow Nightingale vs. Trish Adora
Immediate lock up with Trish Adora actually not being out-muscled as expected. Instead, Adora embraced bringing the fight to the floor to lock in a head scissors. Willow countered with a head scissors of her own while giving a thumbs up to the viewing audience in the process. Adora freed herself, looking for a flash pin. Nightingale kicked up, demanding her opponent bring the power. Instead, Adora got shoulder and cross body blocked for a two count. Stopping an Irish whip out of the corner, Adora showed some incredible strength by pulling off a northern lights suplex.
Willow kicked out before the three count, stumbling into the corner where Trish kept the pressure on her until Nightingale unleashed an enzuguri out of nowhere. Willow was channeling her inner Kenta Kobashi with chops and lariats to set up the missile dropkick. Adora valiantly kicked out, countering the Babe Bomb to turn a neck breaker into a very unique stretch muffler. Willow survived the submission, as well as a subsequent German suplex pinning combination. Trish hit the ropes potentially for Lariat Tubman when Willow exploded with the pounce … period! Babe Bomb sealed the deal for Willow as she pinned a very game Trish Adora.
Winner: Willow Nightingale (6:20)
Match Review: Another solid bout, but this time featuring two fan favorites and a very hot finish. Willow’s got so much momentum right now both in terms of wins and in the fans’ eyes. If Athena can pull off the title win later on, Athena-Willow for the gold is a must.
Zero Hour/Pre-Show: The Kingdom (Matt Taven & Mike Bennett) w/ Maria Kanellis-Bennett vs. Top Flight (Dante Martin & Darius Martin)
It was Dante Martin and Mike Bennett starting off for their respective teams. Fans were solidly behind the debuting Top Flight and Matt Taven didn’t take kindly to it by attacking Dante from behind to set up a pair of double teams including a running forearm from Bennett to set up Taven’s dropkick to the back of Dante’s head. Reversing a suplex, Dante kicked Bennett into a Taven tag while tagging out himself. Darius ended up on his back temporarily after a roundhouse kick from Taven. But a miscommunication resulted in Taven kicking Bennett before Top Flight went a little wild with the double teams on Taven including a snap mare-splash combo and the double team dropkick off an Irish whip.
Just when it seemed Dante had Taven reeling, Bennett distracted him for Matt’s Kick of the King. Dante fell out of the ring, prone to a rope-assisted springboard forearm from Bennett. The Kingdom had the Proton Pack in mind, but Dante refused to be dropped as he sent The OGK into one another. Darius was a house of fire, rocking both opponents until he ran into a big forearm from Bennett after Maria’s attempted distraction failed. Spine buster from Bennett set up the lionsault from Taven with Matt doing the Jericho crucifix pose before stating that Jericho has his title. The Kingdom were in complete control, using all of their patented double teams in preparation for Bennett’s piledriver. Darius avoided the maneuver, but got swept into a kimura. Darius bridged out of the arm bar, initiating a slap exchange that had the fans going crazy. Bennett came off the ropes, running into a Spanish fly.
The fans wanted Dante and that’s what they got as he jumped and pulled off dropkicks, slams, and moonsaults. Darius recovered quickly, helping his brother double team Taven into a tornado DDT. Bennett had to drive Dante into Darius to stop a sure pin. The Kingdom found themselves shocked when Darius stopped a pin off the Spicolli driver-Just the Tip combo. Bodies began flying to the floor with Dante actually slipping off the top and still landing the dive. The referee demanded Maria leave the ring as he prepared a dive on Taven in the ring. Darius tagged in, running into a super kick from Bennett. Dante prevented the Hail Mary with Darius putting Bennett in position for the power bomb. Dante jumped off the top, yanking Bennett out of midair to pull off a reverse super blockbuster off a moonsault. Darius made the cover to pin the former ROH World Tag Team champions.
Winners: Top Flight (11:19)
Match Review: What seemed like a sure, yet entertaining squash turned out to be one incredible showing by both teams that, may be, the best PPV pre-show match in wrestling history. Like Cobb-Dorada, this is a match worthy of a rematch and Top Flight would be a great addition to the ROH roster.
La Faccion Ingobernables (RUSH & Dralistico) vs. AR Fox & Blake Christian
No Code of Honor from LFI as Dralistico and Blake Christian locked up. The pace quickened almost immediately with the shoulder block exchange. The masked man ran through Blake, only for Christian to get up and go move for move with the luchador as if this were Arena Mexico. Christian wanted the handshake when they reached a stalemate, but took the forearm to his jaw instead. Tagging out to their respective partners, AR Fox and RUSH started throwing chops like they were going out of style; same for the forearms that followed. RUSH drilled Fox with a rolling elbow, only for AR to pop off the mat with an enzuguri. Blake ran in after tagging, taking a big forearm that allowed LFI to take the fight to the floor with RUSH slamming Blake on all four ringside guardrailing. Dralistico distracted the referee so RUSH could choke and whip Blake before the masked man power bombed Fox on the steel ring steps.
LFI were having a good time insultingly striking Blake while AR struggled to get on the apron. Blake found himself being picked apart while they motioned they kicked the football that is Blake out of the arena. But the playing around allowed Blake to recover and catching Dralistico running with the t-bone suplex. Tag to AR Fox allowed him to knock the masked man out of the ring and springboard dropkick RUSH out as well. Fox was flying like Jordan, sailing atop both opponents in and out of the ring. The crowd was chanting for AR as he put Dralistico on the top rope for that springboard Spanish fly. RUSH stopped AR, pulling him to the floor before slinging an incoming Blake into his own partner. RUSH held Fox & Blake in position for Dralistico’s springboard shooting star press to the floor. The referee had to move out of the way to avoid being crushed by a 450 splash by Blake as Dralistico tried to pin AR.
The save helped AR recover and pull off that springboard Spanish fly. As Blake dove to the floor on RUSH, Fox came off the top with his own 450 splash. Dralistico kicked out, only for the referee to say it was a three count.
LFI went off, smacking both opponents on the heads with chairs.
Winner: AR Fox & Blake Christian (10:35)
Match Review: A wild, chaotic, and energetic bout as expected with the people involved. The ending, though, really hurt and helped as it produced an unexpected result followed by the impromptu brutality LFI is known for (though those chair shots were totally unnecessary). Expect a rematch maybe as soon as this week’s “Dynamite”.
ROH Women’s World Championship: Mercedes Martinez (c) vs. Athena
Huge hometown ovation for the challenger with her impressive entrance gear proclaiming #AndNew. Athena wanted the Code of Honor and the champ was happy to oblige. Athena’s first shot missed and left her prone to a series of strikes including those blistering chops “The Latina Sensation” is known for. Athena fired back with some chops of her own to begin a forearm exchange where the fans booed Mercedes. Eye poke from Athena gave her the room needed to pull off one of those jaw-cracking forearms. Running knee strike in the corner from Athena set up the hussy backhand not seen in far too long. Countering the suplex attempt with a spine buster, Mercedes got booed out of the building. But the champ wouldn’t be deterred as she cinched in the STF.
Elbowing her way out of the submission, Athena pulled off a leg sweep that saw Martinez collide throat-first against the ring ropes. Seated Meteora connected for Athena, but he follow-up attack from the top was stopped by a rising Martinez. The challenger prevented the spider German superplex, power bombing the champion. Athena’s gourd buster topped by a thrust kick on Martinez’s jaw didn’t stop the titleholder. Breaking free of a waist lock, Martinez began unleashing suplex after suplex before executing the brain buster … for a near fall!
Athena found herself stuck in elevated Indian deathlock. Unfortunately for Mercedes, the challenger pressed off the mat and Martinez out of the ring for a belly to back suplex on the ring’s edge! Instead of rolling the champion into the ring, Athena wanted to abuse her on the floor by whipping her into the barricades. Missing a dropkick, Athena hit the floor and left herself prone to a guardrail-assisted Anarchist’s neck breaker. Mercedes was taking in the jeers as the referee counted Athena down at ringside. The fans were rallying behind the challenger, only to see a lariat in her immediate future. Short-arm clotheslines from Martinez was the precursor to a surfboard stretch. Athena bit her way out of the submission, using a power bomb Code Breaker … to gain a near fall when Mercedes grabbed the bottom rope!
Athena had a tantrum, yanking off the top turnbuckle pad as the crowd cheered in approval. Athena turned around, taking a power bomb after the fans demanded Athena beat up the referee. Yanking the referee out of the way, Mercedes put herself in position for a dropkick that slammed the back of her head against that exposed turnbuckle. Athena quickly climbed the ropes, waiting for Mercedes to rise so she could give her the O-Face. Athena made the cover … for the pin. NEW CHAMPION!
Winner: Athena (13:10)
Match Review: The crowd really made this one feel even more special than it was as Athena and Mercedes’ chemistry was in full display. Though it got a little cluttered at the end and referee messing up the count during the closing moments during that power bomb, the fans got what they wanted and a new face is heading the ROH Women’s division at a, potentially, very important time.
Swerve in Our Glory (Keith Lee & Swerve Strickland) vs. Shane Taylor Promotions (Shane Taylor & JD Griffey)
Keith Lee was left hanging by his partner during their entrance. Swerve Strickland decided he would try to out-strike a Judo-Muay Thai practitioner while JD Griffey showed he has incredible submission talents. Frustrated, Strickland tagged out. Keith Lee avoided everything JD threw at him as the fans demanded Shane Taylor. Before they could even get close, Strickland tagged himself in. Showing his agility, Swerve caught Shane off guard and used a head scissors to set up the flying back elbow. Swerve’s intended next attack saw him run into a huge clothesline. STP were cutting off the ring early with JD dragging Swerve across the ring’s edge for a big leg drop. Swerve avoided Taylor’s next attack, dropkick JD before tagging in Keith.
The crowd rose as the former partners collided for the first time. Taylor came off the middle with a cross body attempt, only for Lee to catch him. Lee couldn’t hit the Big Bang, but Swerve pulled Taylor out of the ring. JD landed a big flying knee upon avoiding SiOG’s double team. Lee catgut and let go of JD to set up Swerve’s kick. Strickland found himself caught in the Tower of London from Shane, barely kicking out of Taylor’s subsequent pin. JD locked in a triangle choke with Taylor and Lee fighting on the floor. Lee entered the ring, coming off Bret’s rope with the moonsault to break up the triangle choke as the crowd exploded.
Swerve tagged out as Taylor did the same. Helping their respective partners up, it was time for a donnybrook. Knocking out JD, Lee accidentally rolling elbowed Swerve. Taylor caugth Lee coming in with Welcome to the Land … for a near fall!
The running knee from JD couldn’t put Lee down for the three, either. Swerve started leaving as Lee tried to get up. STP were beating the life out of Lee. JD went for the roundhouse kick, only to hit Taylor. A stunned JD couldn’t avoid the Big Bang from Lee. Lee made the cover, winning on his own.
Winner: Swerve in Our Glory (13:46)
Match Review: While things got a little too hectic and overbooked by the end, it at least made sense considering the story coming in and, this time, Lee not being the one to leave his partner high & dry. JD Griffey really impressed and, hopefully, this isn’t the last time we see him or Taylor in the new ROH.
ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Championship: Dalton Castle & The Boys (c) vs. The Embassy (Brian Cage & The Gates Of Agony [Kaun & Toa Liona]) w/ Prince Nana
Brian Cage paying homage to Chris Kanyon with his Mortis-inspired attire. Dalton Castle and Bishop Kaun locked up instead of following the Code of Honor. When the former ROH World champion found himself muscled around the ring, he decided to take a lap and get fired up alongside the fans before reentering with a shoulder block in mind that forced Kaun to tag out to Brian Cage. Cage found himself catching Boy Brandon, only to be tripped by Boy Brent. The Boys’ quickness allowed them to double team and dropkick Cage out of the ring. Toa Liona entered, shoulder blocking both Boys down. Castle ordered his Boys to dive on Toa & Cage, only for them to be caught and slammed on the floor as “The Peacock” felt a backbreaker courtesy of Kaun.
The Embassy were in complete control with Brent being the isolated champion. Kaun’s top turnbuckle-assisted backbreaker set up Toa’s senton on the apron prior to Cage’s dead-lift superplex. Rather than go for the pin immediately, Cage reminded everyone that it’s, “Embassy forever!” Kaun failed to keep Brent grounded, giving him the chance to kick Bishop and tag out to Dalton. Suplex city had arrived in Arlington courtesy of Castle as every opponent felt a suplex in various forms. Castle was pitching The Boys on Kaun and Liona while striking Cage every time he had a chance. The champions had something in mind when Kaun stopped the triple team. Toa struggled and eventually double Samoan dropped The Boys.
The fans wanted Dalton to save The Boys, but it was Brandon saving himself to tag out to his brother. Brent was on fire when he ran into a Kaun Alabama slam. Big moves were being dished out until Brandon took the Drill Claw from Cage. Castle bulldogged Cage, only for Nana to throw in a Boy to stop a running Dalton. Toa collided with Brent to knock him into Dalton. Brent couldn’t stop The Embassy from pulling off the swing-set triple team power bomb on him … for a Brian Cage pin fall on Boy Brent! NEW CHAMPIONS!
Winner: The Embassy (10:02)
Match Review: Once again, the crowd is really making these matches something special even if it was just solid. And, once again, the ending was definitely cluttered but worked as the former champs didn’t seem underwhelming or out of their element; just outnumbered.
Lexi Naire was backstage with Top Flight. Happy about their big win, Top Flight was interrupted by “Daddy Magic” & “Cool Hand” where a fight, of course, broke out between the two teams. The brawl moved into the crowd where they ended up fighting on the entrance. Dante dove off the entrance stage, taking down The JAS reps.
Instead of leaving with their figurative tails tucked between their legs, Parker & Menard entered the ring so Parker could talk about how Chris Jericho was the only man who could resurrect ROH. Whipping out a hat like Jake Hager’s favorite, “Daddy Magic” declared Claudio Castagnoli will have to team with Hager as “The Hat Trick” when he loses tonight. Wheeler Yuta came out, sending 2Point0 to the back.
ROH Pure Championship: Daniel Garcia (c) vs. Wheeler Yuta
And dey’s a clubberin’ in Arlington, Tony! In the heat of the moment, the champ punched the challenger. Wheeler Yuta responded in kind, causing both to earn a warning that would’ve been a disqualification for Daniel Garcia if neither had any rope breaks left. The action spilled to the floor with Garcia getting whipped into the ring steps, the champ reversing a running attack to belly to back suplex Yuta, and Wheeler feeling the steel steps back first. Using the turnbuckle rod, they exchanged stomps until Garcia kicked Yuta’s legs from underneath him so he fell across the top turnbuckle rod throat first. Yuta had to use his first rope break to stop a rear chin lock while tied in the ropes.
Garcia smartly did the same thing with a modified surfboard in the ropes to force another rope break usage by Wheeler less than five minutes into the match. After taking a kick to the back off a snap mare, Yuta tried to fire himself up by slapping the taste out of the champ’s mouth. Garcia responded in kind, curb stomping his fallen challenger. The challenger, once again, got cut off when mounting a comeback; getting chopped out of the sky in position for the dragon sleeper. Yuta had no choice but to use his final rope breaker. Yuta used the rope break as a way to distance himself and forearm his way in position for something that Garcia countered into the Sharpshooter.
Yuta pulled Garcia into the crossface when the champ went to lean back into the submission like he did when he won the title. Both men go up swinging with palm strikes until Garcia got rocked. Missile dropkick from Yuta was retaliated with a dropkick from the champ. Yuta stumbled to his feet, catching Garcia with the brain buster. Unfortunately for the challenger he was too exhausted to follow up. Like two rams, they began head-butting each other until the palm strikes started again. Garcia blocked Yuta’s rebound German on the first try, but not the second. Hammerlock Angle slam didn’t down Garcia for those precious three seconds.
Superfly splash ended for Yuta with him feeling a chess full of knees. Garcia put Yuta in the Sharpshooter again with the ropes being no saving grace. Yuta wisely used the ropes to pull himself and, eventually, Garcia out of the ring. They started slugging it out on the apron with forearms & kicks until Garcia went for the piledriver on the apron. Wheeler back dropped his way out of the maneuver, dropping Garcia back first across the ring’s edge. Garcia couldn’t stop the leg-crossed tombstone, but did stop the three count. Garcia got swept into the crucifix hold. Yuta’s elbows rained on the champ; knocking him out. The referee had no choice but to stop the match! NEW CHAMPION!
Garcia refused to follow the Code of Honor, but did give Wheeler the title belt.
Winner: Wheeler Yuta (14:49)
Match Review: Yuta and Garcia have had some great matches thus far, but this is definitely their best. Such hatred, vitriol, and, most importantly, smart usage of the Pure rules to really make this encounter unique. This is the type of match that makes stars.
ROH World Tag Team Championship (Double Dog Collar Match): FTR (c) vs. The Briscoes
Dax Hardwood was chained to Jay Briscoe while Mark Briscoe and Cash Wheeler were stuck fighting it out on the apron. Cash was the first to use the chain by whipping a flying Mark out of the sky. Pitching a chair, Dax crowned Jay as Mark began to bleed from a cut either on his forehead or his right eyebrow. Jay and Dax were throwing hands in the crowd as Mark and Cash moved up the entrance aisle. Mark was the first to dive, somersaulting off the entrance stage to down Cash after Wheeler fell tumbled down the entrance stairs. The fans were chanting, “This is awesome!” as Jay brought Dash into the ring. Dax ducked a chain-covered fist, suplexing Jay not once, but twice. Wheeler found himself getting Redneck Kung Fu chopped so the youngest Briscoe brother could free himself from a chain-assisted choke around the ring post. Apparently, Dax lost a tooth sometime during his brawl with Jay. Using his chain-covered fist, Jay split Dax’s face.
Jay wanted some chairs. The crowd was split down the middle as Jay placed a chair between the top & middle turnbuckles. Dax reversed the whip, sending Jay face-first against the chair. Before Mark could retaliate, Cash yanked their chain so Mark got hung and flung into the corner for another choke hold. Jay was bleeding profusely as Cash had the Doomsday Device in mind. Mark got turned inside-out, yet had the ability to kick out with a little assistance from his brother. Using the chain, Wheeler was trying to choke out Mark in the Gory Special while Dax whipped him with the chain attached to himself. Cash whipped Mark over the top to hang the former multi-time Tag champion. Jay used Dax’s body to save his brother by using Cash’s cane as a clothesline. Time Bomb neck breaker from Jay set up a chain-covered Froggy Bow from Mark … that gave The Briscoes a near fall!
Mark started pulling chairs from underneath the ring before uncovering the timekeeper’s table. Utilizing a suplex on the floor to avoid the chairs he retrieved, Mark couldn’t save his brother from being knocked off the top rope. Dax came down with a flying head-butt on Jay with his head wrapped in the chain to further cut Jay’s face. Jay pulled the referee in front of an incoming Dax-chained fist; cutting the referee’s face!
Dax and Jay got up swinging until Jay got downed by a suplex. Cash also used a suplex on Mark with Briscoe colliding on the ring’s edge. Cash wanted to drive Mark through that timekeeper’s table, but Mark wasn’t having it as he dropkicked Cash onto the chairs at ringside. Placing Cash on the table, Mark changed his aim as Jay wanted to use the Doomsday Device. Mark turning his direction allowed Cash to recover and yank the chain so Mark sailed off the top onto the chairs!
A shocked Dax got pulled into the Jay Driller … for a near fall!
Jay Briscoe began rattling Dax’s back with a chair as it appeared Jay’s eye lid was ripped. Dax used a low blow to piledrive Jay on the chair. With only his legs covering Jay, Dax gained a two count. FTR wanted death to Jay by sliding in a plethora of chairs. Dax was looking for a super piledriver on the chairs. Jay used the chain to low blow his way out of the bad predicament. Knocking Cash off the apron, Jay met Dax on the top for a superplex onto the chairs!
Mark held Cash at ringside as Dax avoided a three count. Jay wrapped the chain around Dax’s face for a crossface. Cash crawled into the ring to stop his partner from tapping out, but Dax was already unconscious. The referee signaled for the bell … NEW CHAMPIONS!
Winner: The Briscoes (22:20)
Match Review: How in the world do you follow that? What an incredible end to this trilogy with The Briscoes proving themselves the better fighters in a brawling environment. If the violence doesn’t turn someone off, there’s no reason not to see this masterpiece of wrestling brutality.
After the match, The Gunn Club attacked FTR; beating them with the chains. Austin Gunn took the microphone to state they will kill FTR’s legacy. The Briscoes ran The Gunns off as the fans chanted, “Ass Boys!”
Dax declared their mission going forward was to beat The Gunns. The Briscoes helped FTR up in a great show of honor.
ROH World Television Championship: Samoa Joe (c) vs. Juice Robinson
The “Joe is gonna kill you!” symphony was sounding out. Kudos to the ring crew for changing the canvas so quickly as “The King of TV” gladly entered a strike exchange. The fans were responding to each significant shot by shouting the name of the wrestler responsible. Surprisingly, Juice had Joe grounded. Former ROH World Television champion Tony Deppen was watching from the front row as Joe’s failed attempt at the Coquina Clutch caused the action to spill outside of the squared circle. Joe pulled the floor mats apart, only for Juice to push backward and slam the back of the champ’s head against the barricade. With Joe prone, Robinson used the cannonball to crush him against the barricade yet again.
Joe was thrown into the ring, catching a running Juice with STJoe. Juice rolled to the floor, only to feel a flying forearm from the champ. Placing Juice against the barricades, Samoa Joe unleashed his Ole kick to set up a near fall when the action returned inside. Juice was struggling to get off the canvas as Joe constantly smothered him or ran through him. Robinson found himself using a rope-a-dope strategy until he felt the Manhattan drop-big boot-senton splash combo. Juice barely made it to the ropes to save himself from a sure pin, but Joe knew Juice was running on fumes. The challenger surprised a running Joe with the spine buster.
Juice’s fists set up a cross body block off the top that ended in a two count on Joe. Back dropping his way out of a piledriver, Joe had the power bomb into the STF ready. Robinson was on the verge of tapping when his right hand found the bottom rope. The fans were solidly behind “The Samoan Submission Machine” as he set up the Muscle Buster. Juice countered with a sunset flip, connecting with the Harlem Side Kick. Robinson had a cut near his left eye as he climbed the ropes again. This time, Joe crotched Juice on the top rope; hitting the Muscle Buster immediately after to pin Robinson and retain his championship.
Winner: Samoa Joe (13:37)
Match Review: What should’ve been a “come down” match was anything but as Joe and Juice slugged it out like two behemoths in a very good strong style match. This may seem redundant, but a rematch between Joe and Juice would be a nice thing to see. Surprising no Wardlow involvement similar to The Gunn Club.
ROH World Championship: Chris Jericho defends against Claudio Castagnoli
No Code of Honor as Chris Jericho kicked Claudio Castagnoli and oddly chased Ian Riccaboni & Caprice Coleman from the announcers’ table. Claudio caught a chasing Jericho with the running European uppercut before during the same in the ring with a flying version. Claudio was beating “The Ocho” from pillar to post in these early minutes. Neutralizer hit early by Claudio … for a near fall!
Showing his incredible strength by tossing Jericho around with gut-wrench suplexes. Big boot from Claudio knocked Jericho off the apron. The challenger had a somersault plancha off the apron in mind when Jericho moved so Castagnoli hit nothing but the thinly-padded floor. Jericho was having a good time mocking the crowd as he tried to keep Claudio on the mat. The champ ran into a pop-up European uppercut with Claudio using the maneuver to set up those elbows off the seated abdominal stretch. Sadly for Claudio, his back was shot after that fall on the floor. Jericho was able to corner Castagnoli and clothesline him in position for a frankensteiner. Claudio blocked the rana, punching Jericho in position for a super bomb. Jericho countered the power bomb in midair, hitting a super hurricarana … for a near fall!
Jericho showed off his European uppercut skills and they were ineffective. Using a clothesline to send Claudio out of the ring after stopping the Giant Swing, Jericho had a big attack in mind. Castagnoli stopped what the champ had in mind, only to take a suplex off the apron onto the floor! Both men barely made it back into the ring before the count-out; leading to a standoff of forearms. Showing the lion’s heart still beating in his chest, Jericho exploded with a big boot after taking one. Both had clotheslines in mind; leading to a double down. The fans were entertaining themselves counting up to, “Ocho!” as the adversaries rallied to their feet for a strike exchange. Eye poke by Jericho didn’t stop the Big Swing, but rolling into a cradle did as Jericho turned the Big Swing into the Walls of Jericho. The crowd actually wanted Claudio to tap until he made it to the ropes.
Jericho motioned that he won, walking into another European uppercut. The fans began to boo as “Daddy Magic” brought Jericho’s bat as “Cool Hand” distracted the referee. Jericho bashed Claudio on the face, going for the cover when the referee turned around … for a near fall!
The referee ordered The JAS away from ringside as Jericho prepared for something Claudio turned into a small package. Jericho kicked out, hitting the Code Breaker. Instead of going for the pin, Jericho demanded Castagnoli to get up for the Judas Effect. Claudio ducked the Judas Effect to pull off the Giant Swing. Jericho tapped out after the thirty-third rotation! NEW CHAMPION!
New Pure champion Wheeler Yuta and former ROH World champion Jerry Lynn joined Claudio to celebrate as the fans showered the new champ with streamers.
Winner: Claudio Castagnoli (17:15)
Match Review: After a pretty rough and somewhat underwhelming opening minutes, they got into a nice groove with the story of Claudio’s back giving him issues. Jericho attempted to do everything that helped him win & retain the ROH World title and it didn’t help him as Claudio returns to the top of the honorable mountain. Should this have closed over FTR-Briscoes III? Definitely not, but it turned a lot better than expected with the right outcome to send the fans home happy.
Overall Review: Wow – just absolutely surprised how well this show came together. With little build to quite a few matches, questionable decisions leading up to the event in terms of how ROH has been presented on AEW programming, and the general feeling that this was an underwhelming card minus a few obvious suspects, this delivered on the best of levels.
FTR-Briscoes III, once again, exceeded the grand expectations with The Briscoes finally winning on the grandest of stages in ROH. Other than Joe, no champion retained to really shake things up including Athena being a part of one of the show’s best matches. The closing two bouts were strong alongside a fantastic Pure Championship bout that really showed why people are so high on Yuta and Garcia. The pre-show matches can’t be forgotten with the opener and closer of ROH’s Zero Hour producing some of the show’s best matches including a breakout performance from Top Flight. This is four hours of must-see wrestling with a few hiccups mostly attached to cluttered finishes and the referees.
Quick Results:
– Jeff Cobb defeated Mascara Dorada
– The Jericho Appreciation Society/2Point0(Angelo Parker & Matt Menard) defeated Shinobi Shadow Squad (Cheeseburger & Eli Isom)
– Willow Nightingale defeated Trish Adora
– Top Flight (Dante Martin & Darius Martin) defeated The Kingdom (Matt Taven & Mike Bennett)
– Blake Christian & AR Fox defeated La Faccion Ingobernable (RUSH & Dralístico)
– Athena defeated Mercedes Martinez to win ROH Women’s World Championship
– Swerve In Our Glory (Swerve Strickland & Keith Lee) defeated Shane Taylor Promotions (Shane Taylor & JD Griffey)
– The Embassy (Brian Cage & Gates of Agony [Kaun & Toa Liona]) defeated Dalton Castle & The Boys to win the ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Championship
– Wheeler Yuta defeated Daniel Garcia to win the ROH Pure Championship
– The Briscoes defeated FTR to win the ROH World Tag Team Championship
– Samoa Joe defeated Juice Robinson to retain the ROH World Television Championship
– Claudio Castagnoli defeated Chris Jericho to win the ROH World Championship
And there you have it. Show that love, or like, for The ROHbot Report on its Facebook page. Here’s to a great week for you and yours; and as always, thanks for reading.
