Since I love Ring of Honor, I figured I'd start doing recaps of the weekly shows. So let's get to it.
Frankie Kazarian vs. Hiromu Takahashi
The two start the match with a series of lock-ups. Kazarian goes off the ropes, Takahashi tries to hip-toss, Kazarian counters it with a fireman's carry pin combo; Takahashi kicks out. The action goes to the outside when Takahashi leaves the ring to greet his beloved stuffed cat Daryl. Takahashi knocks Kazarian off the ring apron with a front dropkick; he then attempts an apron front dropkick, but Kaz dodges.
He then boots Takahashi and suplexes him into the ring barricade, seemingly getting the upper hand. Takahashi tries to fight with chops and elbow smashes, but Kaz takes control right back with a shoulder-block counter, then a springboard guillotine leg drop. Kazarian still in control, but Takahashi fights back with a sequence of kicks.
After a running hurricanrana, corner clothesline and sliding dropkick, it seems Takahashi has taken the advantage. Takahashi finally successful with the apron dropkick. Back in the ring, Takahashi sets up Kaz for the Time Bomb, but Kaz wriggles out, gets to the ring apron and hits a slingshot DDT. After dodging each other's numerous attacks, Kaz finally hits Takahashi with a slingshot cutter. Takahashi kicks out of the pin attempt.
Takahashi attempts to roll Kaz up following a referee distraction, but is unsuccessful. He attempts more quick pins, then superkicks Kaz and hits him with a lariat. Takahashi then drops Kaz with the Time Bomb for the win.
Thoughts: A damn fine way to start off the show. Takahashi and Kazarian showcased some excellent chemistry; Takahashi with his quick sequence with Kazarian's excellent counter wrestling make for a great combination. I would definitely love to see these two work together again in the future. My only problem with the match was the length. It could've gone on for a maybe a couple minutes longer, but given this is a match on a weekly show, it's completely understandable.
After the match, we cut to a quick backstage altercation in which the team of Brian Milonas and the Beer City Bruiser attack LSG, one-half of the tag team Coast 2 Coast. This will definitely factor into tonight's main event.
Tag Team Gauntlet
It's main even time, as the #1 Contenders Tag Team Gauntlet starts out with Milonas and The Bruiser and Coast 2 Coast (LSG and Shaheem Ali). Even with LSG out, Ali still competes on his own. Ali attempts to get the advantage, starting the match out with a tope then a series of strikes, but Milonas and Bruiser quickly recover and go to work on Ali.
Ali once again tries to fight back once again, but to no avail as Milonas hit him with the Last Call superplex/frog splash combo and move on. The next team to come out is The Dawgs (Rhett Titus and Will Ferrara). The Dawgs attempt to gain some momentum with various trickery and quick combos, but all for naught, as Milonas and Bruiser go to work.
After a quick tag from Ferrara to Titus, The Dawgs try to pick up some momentum as Titus hits the duo of Milonas and Bruiser with elbow strikes and chops, then a monkey flip to Bruiser. He rolls outside only for Ferrara to hit him with a tornado DDT off the apron. The two seem to be in control, only for Milonas to block their tag finisher and eventually superplex Ferrara for the win.
The Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin) are next in line, and as expected, Milonas and Bruiser immediately try to maintain their dominant momentum. However, with some quick counters and escapes, MCMG gain the momentum and hit Bruiser with their Skull and Bones (neckbreaker/crossbody) tag finisher for the win. The Young Bucks (Matt and Nick Jackson) are the next team to come out.
The action, as expected is fast-paced as the two teams trade sequences of offense. MCMG finally gain the advantage following a drop toe-hold/kick combo in the corner. Sabin and Shelley continue the attack on the Bucks with an impressive display of combination offense. Matt gets dragged to the outside by Shelley, but superkicks him and gets back in the ring.
Following an impressive counter, Nick gets the hot tag from Matt and immediately goes to work on MCMG. He plants Sabin with a slingshot X-Factor, then moonsaults onto Shelley off the apron. He quickly gets back into the ring and delivers a corner knee strike to Sabin, then a suicide dive to Shelley. The Bucks then hit an assisted shiranui on Sabin, and after a quick knee strike to Sabin, the Bucks slide outside and superkick Shelley.
The Bucks are steadily in control while MCMG fights back. Sabin prevents a Meltzer Driver by holding Nick up on the apron. MCMG then counter the Bucks's More Bang For Your Buck as Shelley gets the knees up for Nick's 450 Splash while Sabin counters Matt's moonsault with a super german suplex. MCMG attempt the Skull and Bones, but Matt counters Sabin into a crucifix pin for the W.
The Kingdom, (TK O'Ryan and Vinny Marseglia) are the final team to come out and quickly take control following a distraction from Matt Taven. They go to work on Matt's back (his weakness). Matt tries to counter, knocking O'Ryan off the apron. Marseglia sets Matt up for the superplex while O'Ryan sneaks in and out from under the ring. Matt plants Marseglia with a diving elbow drop; Nick tries to get tagged in, but O'Ryan pulls him off the apron. Matt then superkicks him.
Following a top rope cutter from Matt, Nick finally gets tagged in and goes to work like he always does with his hot tag offense, hitting kick after kick and strike after strike before capping it all off with a springboard corkscrew moonsault to the outside. Nick and O'Ryan get onto the apron, with Nick delivering a roundhouse kick and german suplex. After delivering a tornado DDT to Marseglia off the apron, Nick then puts O'Ryan in the sharpshooter following a springboard sunset flip.
Marseglia breaks it up with a baseball bat shot to Nick and O'Ryan attempts the roll-up victory, but Nick kicks out. Matt is tagged back in and immediately throws hands and double-clotheslines O'Ryan and Marseglia. Matt tries to powerbomb O'Ryan, but Marseglia blocks it and he and Matt go to the outside. Nick then superkicks O'Ryan and goes over the top rope to deliver a knee to Marseglia. The Bucks finally deliver the Meltzer Driver to O'Ryan and become #1 Contenders.
Thoughts: I honestly loved this match from beginning to end. It built up Milonas and The Bruiser as a powerhouse hoss tag team, it gave us more of the Bucks/MCMG action we've seen multiple times (they never disappoint), and The Kingdom played their roles well as opportunistic heels. And at the end of the day, we get the Bucks and The Briscoes in the near future (sooner than later, I hope). I don't know about you, but that's a match-up I can't wait to see.
Even though there were only two matches on the card, the show managed to be an exciting one. Kazarian/Takahashi was a great opener, and the Gauntlet Match had a steady build to a satisfying payoff. Definitely a recommended watch.
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