After a sort of cheesy opening video package, which kind of made me think of TNA, we went ringside with Steve Corino and Kevin Kelly who ran down some of the matches for the card.
Match One: Cedric Alexander vs. Matt Sydal
Steve Corino and Kevin Kelly play up the experience of Sydal as being a factor. Dueling chants for both men. Following a clean break from the corner, Sydal gave Alexander a double high five in a nice spot. Is it odd to anyone else that Alberto El Patron has a TV Title match and Matt Sydal is opening the show, seeing as how both are former WWE stars? Is it because Matt Sydal wasn't as big a star in WWE I wonder. Sydal was in control for most of the match, but then Alexander did end up taking charge at one point which brought back the dueling chants. Sydal went for a standing moonsault and Alexander countered with a roll up. I really enjoyed that spot. Lots of reversals and near falls. Corino and Kelly were talking about betting odds for sporting events while Pete Rose sits in the WWE Hall of Fame. Still dueling chants and Cedric Alexander has a very close pin and win. Alexander had Sydal up and Sydal reversed it with some knees for a near win of his own. Matt Sydal went up top and was finally able to hit the Shooting Sydal Press for the pin and win.
This was a good match, a hot opener to get the crowd going into the show and all, and I can see now why Alberto El Patron might be in a title match with Sydal opening the show. I hope to eventually see Sydal challenge for the ROH Title though. (Whatever happened to his tag team with ACH? Is that still a thing?) This was also my first real showing of Cedric Alexander and even in defeat he left me rather impressed.
A video package aired of Moose. He's a former NFL player who does his own theme music, what else do you really need to know?
Mark Briscoe cuts a promo about how he was wrestling when Moose was playing football. Mark Briscoe also says he hunts and equates that to the name Moose. Mark actually said "Come March first" because, you know, this promo wasn't taped the same night for some odd reason.
Match Two: Moose (w/ Stokely Hathaway and Veda Scott) vs. Mark Briscoe
Moose has one of the most obnoxious theme songs of anyone in professional wrestling EVER and every time he and his crew pump their arms to the mention of his name I die a little inside. If Moose is a heel then this music fits him perfectly. (I'm assuming he is a heel since Mark Briscoe is loved by the crowd) "Man Up" chant before the match even. In this match, Mark Briscoe is much more experienced than Moose but there is a significant size advantage for Moose. Steve Corino: "I heard the Patriots won the Super Bowl thing". Pretty much how I feel about the NFL. Moose has some good power moves but this whole huge heel monster deal has been done so many times before. It's also somewhat sad that Jay Briscoe is in the main event as ROH Champion and his brother is reduced to... whatever this is. Now I'm wondering if there is a professional wrestler known as the Flying Squirrel because I'd love to see a meme with Rusev and Lana as Boris and Natasha... you see where this is going, right? Someone mock it up. At one point in the match, Moose was outside the ring and Mark Briscoe hit a dropkick on him from inside the ring. Mark stayed in the ring and Moose stumbled into the barricade, sort of hurting himself. Mark Briscoe hit the big Cactus Jack elbow. Back in the ring, Moose hits Mark Briscoe with a spear for the pin and win.
I'm not 100% sold on this Moose character. He's undefeated but the spear as a finisher is weak and has been done far too much. Moose wanted to adhere to the Code of Honor after the match but Veda Scott wouldn't let him do it. So one day will Moose turn on Veda Scott and become a monster face? I can't wait for that to happen. < /end sarcasm>
The Young Bucks are shilling merchandise, which I've seen before on the weekly show, and I'm still not buying what they're selling. (Get it? Because I'm not really a fan of theirs)
Match Three: The Kingdom (Matt Taven and Michael Bennett) vs. The Addiction (Christopher Daniels and Frankie Kazarian) vs. Bullet Club (Karl Anderson flying solo)
Going into this match Kevin Kelly said there were title implications in more than one company involved. The Kingdom entered first. Kevin Kelly asked where Maria was and Steve Corino reminded him she was wrestling later on. The Addiction was out next and I wonder if anyone in ROH yet has thought that they need some tag teams that don't have a "The Oneword" style of name. (And Jimmy Jacobs isn't even in this match) Finally when Karl Anderson came out last, by himself, did Kevin Kelly and Steve Corino finally address it. Karl Anderson gets on the mic and says he doesn't need a partner. Doc Gallows, who was supposed to be his partner tonight (and they tag in NJPW together), was stuck at an airport in snow. I think the crowd and probably a lot of viewers were expecting a replacement. Kevin Kelly said you could only get the Bullet Club t-shirts at ROH live events and that's a lie. (Shout out to ProWrestlingTees.com!) Matt Taven worked over Daniels for a bit and then Karl Anderson tagged himself in when Taven was showboating. Eventually, Taven tags in Bennett and he cuts off the tag to Kazarian. Daniels manages to get a tag to Karl Anderson. After a lot of the commentators celebrating Karl Anderson, Daniels flies to the outside to take out The Kingdom. Kazarian and Anderson are legal in the ring. Steve Corino, later on, says the internet doesn't like The Kingdom as the crowd chants "This is Awesome". The Kingdom hits a spike piledriver on Karl Anderson and then get the pin for the win. I feel like they cut away rather quickly after the match to set up a video package for the next match.
Match Four: BJ Whitmer (w/ Jimmy Jacobs and Adam Page) vs. Roderick Strong
This match is about two guys who used to be friends and now they're not. Roderick Strong was in The Decade and then he got out, probably because he was also tired of all the factions in ROH with "The Oneword" style names. BJ Whitmer is a staple of ROH, much like Roderick Strong, for me but the only difference is that Whitmer has never had the same star power that Strong has. Still, he plays a good role as the veteran in The Decade. Jimmy Jacobs sits in on commentary for this match and the two come out fighting right away. With Jacobs on commentary it's really only like a 2 on 1 situation now, as Roderick Strong needs to also worry about Adam Page on the outside. The match is slow paced, methodical and it makes me wonder what happened to the ROH Pure Championship. Does anyone know why Roderick Strong isn't currently in NJPW as well as ROH? Steve Corino cannot remain impartial. Jumping knee and forearm smash from Strong. An Olympic Slam from Roderick Strong is good for a two count. Whitmer hits a combination suplex for a near fall. Strong takes out Page on the outside then begins some offense against Whitmer but still can't get the win. Whitmer hits an x-factor like move off the top rope for another near fall. Roderick Strong gains some momentum and turns a suplex into backcracker which is good for the pin and win. Jimmy Jacobs says that now he hopes both men can move on and so do I. Roderick Strong slaps hands with fans at ringside and this does appear to be the end of their feud.
A video package recaps what happened with Maria and the Briscoes. Basically, The Kingdom has Maria and the Briscoes have no woman to fight her so they brought in ODB or as she is known here One Dirty Briscoe. Maria plays the role of goody-goody female wrestler type and all I can think is that she's a diva. Maria turns serious and begins to show how women can be two-faced, which is not a good stereotype. I really don't like Maria and wish she would go the same way of the world of professional wrestling as every other failed diva. (And, no, not TNA)
Match Five: Maria vs. ODB
That promo didn't fool anyone. Maria is going to get hurt here like she hasn't felt since she was fired by WWE for being completely and utterly useless. Also, her pretty pink belt is called the "title of love" and I've said this before but it's kind of silly for them to fight for it since Jay Briscoe still has an actual ROH World Title belt. ODB is joined by Mark Briscoe yet Maria walks alone. Interesting. Streamers for ODB. Steve Corino: "Apparently she's from Minneapolis, Michigan". Ha! Maria is on the mic and I'm not sure why. Oh, she's faking a pregnancy angle. This is like when Raven used to play hurt and come out with crutches in ECW only, you know, Maria is no Raven. Michael Bennett came out and laid out both Mark Briscoe and ODB. Maria couldn't get a three count out of it though. Mark Briscoe comes back and takes out Bennett. ODB drops Maria into the barricade outside the ring. ODB hits Maria with some brutal sounding chops. Maria hit a really weak looking kick on the outside. Like, weak in the sense that you're going to see this on Botchamania. ODB struggles to keep her breasts in her top as Maria hits a superkick for a near fall. Steve Corino says that ODB gets on his nerves because she's always touching her mammaries. It's funny because it's true. ODB eventually picks up the win and they destroy the pink title.
ROH doesn't really have a women's division so it will be interesting to see where ODB goes from here. There are rumors other promotions are interested in signing The Kingdom so maybe Maria can go bother TNA.
Match Six: ACH vs. AJ Styles
So apparently AJ Styles is the IWGP Champion now, though he doesn't come out wearing the title. Thanks for the spoilers, ROH! I'm trying to catch up on my New Japan but I'm watching this to stay current with my ROH as well. ACH is best known to me for tagging with Matt Sydal but I know that he can go. This is quite possibly one of my most anticipated matches on the card. Dueling chants for AJ Styles and ACH and rightfully so. At one point, ACH tried to hit a high flying move to the outside on AJ Styles but Styles ran over and hit the ropes to stop him from getting over them. Ouch. ACH had several near falls as he took control of AJ Styles for a bit in the match. Styles finally gets a neckbreaker as a reversal to take back control of ACH. ACH shoves Styles to the outside and this time flies over the top rope and hits Styles with a great high flying move. Steve Corino notes that it is a move AJ Styles has perfected and ACH is seemingly playing mind games with AJ. Both men struggle to avoid being counted out. AJ is back in first. ACH hits some rapid fire clotheslines. Styles tries to come back but is caught and ACH is still in control in the ring. ACH hits a sort of cradle piledriver type move on AJ but only gets a two count. Both men are on the apron and ACH hits a swift kick that sends AJ down. AJ grabs the leg of ACH and yanks him down onto the floor. AJ Styles jumps up and over the top rope to nail ACH back inside the ring. And ACH just got bunched up in the corner. Styles slams ACH down and goes to the top rope after shaking ACH off his leg. ACH knocks Styles down and ends up on the top rope himself. AJ meets ACH up there though. AJ misses a Pele kick and ACH stomps both feet onto the back of AJ. Rather than going for the pin, ACH goes for a 450 splash and misses. AJ locks on a submission hold but ACH rolls it over into a pinning combination. AJ kicks out and ultimately hits the Styles Clash on ACH for the pin and win.
In what I believe is the first ROH PPV of 2015 (Right?) this is going to be right now my favorite ROH match of 2015 and it's going to be hard to top this one. Wow.
A video package hypes the next match. Rocky Romero joins us on commentary.
Match Seven: reDRagon (Champions) vs. Young Bucks *Ring of Honor World Tag Team Championship Match*
So Kevin Kelly explained that the Young Bucks won the IWGP Junior Tag Titles by pinning KUSHIDA of the Time Splitters in a triple threat match so even though reDRagon lost those titles they were never actually beat by the Young Bucks. It will probably take me a few weeks to get to watching that match let alone seeing AJ Styles win back the big one. (And yes, I knew about the Young Bucks title change before this match, for those who don't read all my professional wrestling reviews or just forgot) All four men in this match are in black tonight. Romero drops the name of Shinsuke Nakamura and I forget what match I'm watching for a moment. #njpwordie reDRagon came out with an MMA fighter known as Shayna Baszler and she's not Ronda Rousey so I don't care. Rocky Romero talks about how his next tag partner to come to ROH with him will be Trent Barreta. Steve Corino says, "Will he leave you too?", which is funny because Alex Koslov sort of retired but why did Havana Pitbulls break up? Ricky Reyes, of course, is in Lucha Underground right now. Why not send Romero to join him in Lucha Underground if The Crew breaks up? Wishful thinking? A lot of superkicks by the Young Bucks but they still just remind me of The Hardyz. I was trying to think of a comparison for this match, you know "Hardyz vs. someone" but since I have no real comparison for reDRagon it just goes to show you how truly special of a tag team they are. Kyle O'Reilly chops and kicks Nick Jackson and I only know he's Nick because Kevin Kelly said so. The Young Bucks both have dark hair now so I can't tell them apart as I used to do using the Hardyz method. (Both Matts had the darker hair while Jeff/Nick had lighter hair) Kyle O'Reilly locks on a triangle which is broken up. "This is Awesome" chants from the crowd. One of the Jacksons superkicks O'Reilly to the outside and then the other grabs him. There is a spiked piledriver on the outside and O'Reilly seems to be out of this match. Young Bucks hit "Chasing the Dragon" on Bobby Fish. Fish kicks out and the crowd boos. A loud "That was three" chant but Kevin Kelly said it wasn't. Of all the commentators I listen to (and understand), ROH might have my favorite. Young Bucks almost had a three count again but the MMA friend of reDRagon pulled the ref out of the ring. O'Reilly came back to life and reDRagon hit Chasing the Dragon of their own. The other Jackson pulls the ref out. Someone on commentary said the ref was hot and he might superkick someone himself. Funny, as I think about the Young Bucks match versus O!4K at the CZW 16 show. The crowd chants "Suck It" along with the crotch chops. reDRagon eventually hits another Chasing the Dragon combination for the pin and win.
I love reDRagon but is it possible I'm getting burnt out on watching them fight the Young Bucks? This just didn't feel as big as other matches they've had and I even liked the Young Bucks vs. O!4K match in CZW better. reDRagon needs some new challengers (They should definitely go to CZW and face O!4K) and the Young Bucks need some new opponents as well. I'm not sure if Young Bucks were the faces in this match or not either, but I'm still a reDRagon fan at the end of the day. And, yes, in a reDRagon vs. O!4K match I would have a hard time picking a favorite.
A video package aired of the Jay Lethal-Alberto El Patron build up for those of you who, you know, are paying to watch this on pay-per-view but couldn't bother to follow it on a weekly basis on the ROH website for free.
Match Eight: Jay Lethal (Champion) (w/ The House of Truth) vs. Alberto El Patron
Alberto El Patron comes out first to a great reaction. Lots of "Si!" chants. Lots of green, red and white streamers. Jay Lethal is out next and I can't believe he isn't in TNA any more. He's been such a huge asset to ROH over the years and is just such a solid all around worker. It seems like for every star TNA tries to create they lose about ten more along the way. Steve Corino runs down the history of Alberto El Patron and his MMA background as well. The Code of Honor is upheld. J. Diesel goes to the outside fast. Alberto is already taking it to Lethal. This match is seemingly starting on the outside and a lot of the matches tonight seemed to have been outside the ring more than inside of it. Back in the ring, Lethal drops Alberto over the top rope but the ref says it was accidental and doesn't call for the DQ. Steve Corino mentions the ring ropes and says of El Patron that his "former employer" had similar ropes. Why won't he mention WWE by name? They always complain when you go to WWE they ignore past accomplishments, such as ROH, but will WWE sue them if they name drop them or something? My laptop is currently at 18% with one hour remaining so I should be able to finish this without having to charge. I hope. Fingers crossed. Lethal had an arm bar locked on, and then also three consequitive suicide dives as well. Wow. These two men are also having a great match right here. With Lethal caught up in the corner El Patron hit a double stomp on his chest. Lethal Combination on El Patron for a two count. As Truth Martini tries to interfere he gets an arm bar for his troubles. Lethal hits El Patron in the back of the head with the Book of Truth but it only gets a two count. Lethal goes off the ropes one way as El Patron goes the other. Truth Martini hits El Patron with the Book of Truth, Jay Lethal hits the Lethal Injection and scores the pin and win.
It was nice to see Alberto El Patron come in and win some meaningful matches on ROH TV only to put over Jay Lethal here. On some level, I feel like he should have been used to put over Jay Briscoe and the big ROH Title instead, but this was such a good match that I don't even care.
Nigel McGuinness comes out next for commentary for the main event.
Samoa Joe comes out instead of the main event happening just yet and he is well received by the ROH crowd, obviously. "Joe" chants run wild. Samoa Joe cuts a promo about how you could take him, AJ Styles, Christopher Daniels, Frankie Kazarian and everyone else TNA has released for seemingly no good reason and create a promotion similar to that of TNA in their prime. Okay, not really. Samoa Joe basically says he's back and he's coming for the ROH Championship.
Match Nine: Jay Briscoe (Champion) vs. Michael Elgin vs. Tommaso Ciampa vs. Hanson *Ring of Honor World Heavyweight Championship Match*
For those who don't recall, Jay Briscoe saw that there was trouble booking a number one contender for him at this pay-per-view and he just said he'd fight all three men at once. All three of the challengers' involvement with the title and each other is discussed. Nigel says Jay Briscoe has been champion for six months while Kevin Kelly adds that it's been a little over two years since Jay Briscoe has been pinned or submitted. Wow. If Jay Briscoe comes out of this with the championship still, is Samoa Joe really the best bet to end that streak? I think it should be used to put over a newer talent, and, no, I am not looking at Moose. No one is looking at Moose. Ciampa has a Mr T like haircut and zero tolerance policy since apparently last year he had some angle going on where he beat up officials and non-wrestlers. Even if he doesn't win tonight, I'd love to see Hanson vs. Samoa Joe. Everyone gangs up on Jay Briscoe to start. All four men are in the ring and Briscoe gives Hansom some punchies. Briscoe works over Ciampa next. Then Briscoe and Hanson spill to the outside. Yes, wrestlers on this PPV are fighting on the outside. Again. Briscoe pulls a table out from under the ring. Is this legal? Kevin Kelly says that since this is a championship match there are "very relaxed rules" so apparently yes. Steve Corino says that the Spanish announce team table is in trouble. He also keeps confusing them with the former ROH tag team The S.A.T. who should have made a surprise appearance just for fun. Elgin has Ciampa up for a suplex. Briscoe kicks Elign but Elgin holds onto the suplex and then takes out both men. Elgin jumps for a kick to the head and he moves well for a big man. Elgin gets a close two count on Hansen. Jay Briscoe seemed to be carrying this match at the start but now Michael Elgin is in control of it. Until he's hit face first with a running knee by Ciampa. Ciampa gets a two count on Briscoe. Hanson hits Elgin with a stiff kick to the head. Hanson paints the chest of Briscoe with chops. He puts Ciampa up there as well and chops both men on the corner turnbuckles. And all three men who are not Michael Elgin experience a car crash type move set in the corner. Roaring elbow by Elgin to Briscoe. But Briscoe gets a two count after a release DVD. Ciampa takes out Hansen and then hits Briscoe with a big top rope move for a near fall. Elgin has Ciampa up like Razor's Edge but then flips Ciampa over and drops him ala body press onto Hansen. Yes, Elgin did just use Ciampa as a weapon. Outside the ring, Elgin throws Ciampa Razor's Edge style into the barricade. Briscoe dives out onto Elgin. And Hansen jumps off the top rope to take out both men. Hansen brings Briscoe back in the ring and after a series of moves we have a ref bump. Hansen has the pin and win but there is no ref. The Knights of the Rising Dawn come into the ring and beat down Hansen. And now Jay Briscoe. And now Ciampa as well. The commentators note that the KRD moves are similar to that of The Kingdom. How disappointing of a reveal would that be? Raymond Rowe comes out to chase the KRD off. Michael Elgin hits a Jaydriller on Jay Briscoe from the ring apron to the outside and through a table. A "holy shit" chant and rightfully so. Elgin tries to hit Briscoe with a chair back inside the ring but Nigel McGuinness stops him. Elgin tries to piledrive McGuinness but Ciampa saves Nigel! All chaos has broken lose inside the ring and there is still no referee. Finally a ref comes out and Ciampa hits his finisher on Jay for a near fall. Elgin hits a powerbomb on Ciampa then avoids a kick from Briscoe for a school boy and near fall. Hansen hits the Spin Kick of Doom on Briscoe and is pulled out of the ring by Elgin. Briscoe ends up falling onto Ciampa for the pin and the win yet only Michael Elgin is standing tall here. Samoa Joe comes out post match and Elgin passes by him and smiles. Yes, I do want to see that match. Joe and Jay shake hands and have a stare down in the ring to close the show.
A video package promotes the next pay-per-view as being "Best in the World" and all championships will be on the line. I can't hardly wait. With weekly episodes and an actual PPV deal I would say that Ring of Honor has to be the #2 ranked promotion in the United States right now and they are only really behind WWE because WWE has more money. This was far better a show than the WWE Royal Rumble and even what I assume what the trainwreck of WWE Fast Lane must have been like.
I enjoyed the main event and the tag team title match was solid enough that you should go out of your way to see this one because it has two match of the year contenders in it with ACH vs. AJ Styles and Jay Lethal vs. Alberto El Patron. Ring of Honor could possibly be the best wrestling promotion in the United States right now but it's such a great time to be a fan.
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