ROH War of the Worlds: Toronto Recap and Review 5/11/18

For the second night of Ring of Honor's War of the Worlds Tour, we're headed up north to Toronto. Needless to say, the card is was stacked as hell, so let's not waste any more time and get right into it.

Punishment Martinez vs. Jay White, IWGP US Championship Match

The match starts off with the two exchanging a series of strikes, White seemingly gaining the advantage. Following a clothesline over the top rope and two baseball slide dropkicks, he sends Punishment Martinez to the floor and the two duke it out on the outside. After tossing White around for a bit, Martinez sends him back into the ring and goes to the top rope for a spinning heel kick.

Martinez turns the tables for a bit and takes control with various strikes. White fights back and counters Martinez’ springboard attempt with a dropkick. Following a number of chops, forearm smashes and suplexes, White regains control for the moment. Martinez goes to the corner and White runs after him; Martinez stomps him down and hits White with a second-rope spear. White goes to the outside and Martinez dives onto him with a springboard somersault tope.

Getting back in the ring, Martinez plants White with the Psycho Driver; White kicks out. He then attempt for the South of Heaven chokeslam, but White blocks it then nails Martinez with a flatliner/deadlift german suplex combo. Both men try for their respective finishers; Martinez drives White’s head into the mat with a curb stomp after a lifting full nelson toss.

Incensed after another White kick-out, Martinez goes to the outside and grabs a chair. Hangman Page, who joined the commentary team for the match, came down to the ring and grabbed the chair from Martinez. After this distraction, White hits Martinez with his Blade Runner finisher and picks up the W, retaining his title.

Thoughts: This was a great way to kick off the show. It was a stiff, hard-hitting affair and the pacing was fast and crisp. Judging by their match from last year's Death Before Dishonor, you could tell this would be an excellent match-up given their impeccable chemistry together. Both performers' stocks rose a good deal after this match: White's constantly growing as a champion and is shaping to be one of the better midcard champs in professional wrestling, while Martinez proved he's an excellent in-ring performer and deserves a bigger push (and more title shots).

Bully Ray Promo (and impromptu match vs. Cheeseburger)

After a recent change of heart and decision to attack the younger generation of wrestlers, Ray comes down to the ring and cuts a promo. He directs his disgust towards the fans, calling them “millennial snowflake marks” and responds to fan chants stating he was always the star of the Dudley Boyz while D-Von played back-up. He then challenges the “millennial marks” and “disrespectful young boys” to come down to the ring. Cheeseburger responds and gets destroyed.

Thoughts: Look, I love both of these guys, but I can't be arsed to honestly give a single shit about this feud. If you watched their match in Lowell, the same thing happened here. Skip it. Moving on.

Tetsuya Naito vs. Beer City Bruiser

Naito plays mind games with Bruiser, who is having none of it and gets increasingly agitated. He responds by bringing Naito outside the ring tossing him around. He brings Naito back in the ring and continues the punishment. Naito tries to fight back, but Bruiser uses his size to halt Naito’s momentum.

Naito is eventually able to create an opening following an atomic drop and a sliding dropkick to Bruiser’s knees. He starts throwing elbows and forearms to a staggered Bruiser, then hits him with a running hurricanrana and his signature corner kicks. He has the advantage for a while until Bruiser plants him on the ring apron with a death valley driver. Naito barely beats the 20-count and Bruiser goes to work on the IWGP Intercontinental Champion.

Bruiser tries to powerbomb Naito and gets planted with a springboard tornado DDT as a result. The two trade blows for a spell before Bruiser knocks Naito down with a clothesline. He tries for a frog splash, but it unsuccessful and Naito hits consecutive Destinos and comes out victorious.

Thoughts: There weren't any real stakes here, but then again, there didn't need to be. All it had to do was be a fun little exhibition match and it accomplished that. Both men get to show off their skills as wrestlers, and Bruiser builds his reputation up a little bit by going up against an elite performer like Naito. Nothing much else to this match. Just an entertaining watch.

The Young Bucks (Matt and Nick Jackson) vs. Super Smash Bros (Evil Uno and Stu Grayson)

Matt and Uno start the match off exchanging rest holds and shoulder blocks, with Matt getting the upper hand. Uno gives an eye poke, but Matt responds with a hurricanrana/dropkick combo. Nick and Grayson get the tag. Grayson delivers a few shoulder blocks and puts Nick in the corner. Nick responds with a couple of knife-edge chops, then a spinning springboard arm drag to Grayson.

The brothers show off their patented tag-team offense and seemingly take control. They get Grayson in the corner and work him over, culminating in a corner back rake. This momentum is short-lived as Grayson throws Matt out of the ring and Uno gives an apron suplex. SSB go to work punishing Matt and targeting his back while also knocking Nick off the apron, briefly taking him out of the equation.

Matt ducks out of the ring, superkicks Uno then gets back in the ring and spears Grayson. 

Nick finally gets tagged in and puts him hot-tag offense on full display. It culminates with a slingshot X-Factor to Grayson and moonsault to Uno off the apron. The brothers then put SSB in stereo sharpshooters, but SSB manages to make it to the ropes. The Bucks attempt a Superkick Party, but Uno counters both of them and send them to the outside. Grayson then nails an assisted somersault tope over the ring post to the brothers.

SSB hit an enzuguiri/brainbuster combo and Grayson covers, but Matt kicks out. Both teams trade accidental knee strikes to their respective partners. After an impressive handspring pele kick from Grayson, Uno and Matt are tagged in and the two exchange punches. Uno gets superkicked then met with a somersault stunner from Matt, who then gets frog splashed by Grayson. Nick attempts a swanton bomb, but Grayson gets the knees up.

SSB hit their Fatality tag finisher on Nick, but Matt breaks up the pin. Grayson walks across the shoulders of Uno and Nick and delivers diving hurricanrana to Matt. SSB work the brothers over with some tag-team offense and get Matt in the corner. Grayson delivers a 450 to Nick while Uno hits Matt with a corner cannonball; Nick kicks out. The brothers finally get a Superkick Party in and hit Grayson with the Meltzer Driver for the victory.

Thoughts: Hot. Damn. This match was good. Like, damn good. You wanna about good spots? Well, this match had those in spades. Each sequence was so smooth and precise, and quickly paced; to tell you the truth, it was hard for me to keep up in certain spots while I was recapping it. This kind of fluidity is something you definitely in a match featuring The Bucks. And while on the surface it was nothing more than a spotfest, it actually told a nice little story.

We had The Bucks, one of the most over acts in all of professional wrestling going up against a team like SSB, who were gone from ROH for quite some time and were thought to be a relic of the past. Because of this, SSB performed with a chip on their shoulder. Through sheer force of their performance, the duo managed to shift the crowd favor from The Bucks over to them, and that's not an easy thing to do. I hope these four guys wrestle against each other again in the near future, because they are excellent together.

Alexia Nicole and Xandra Bale vs. Jenny Rose and Tenille Dashwood

Nicole and Rose start the match off, with Rose getting the upper hand, hitting a series of arm drags followed by a sidewalk slam. Dashwood is tagged in, but Nicole fights back; Rose is tagged back in, but following a distraction, she gets hung up on the ropes, with Nicole and Bale working her over.

Following some miscommunication, Dashwood is tagged in, who gets both Nicole and Bale in the corner and hits them with a sliding crossbody. Rose is tagged back in who plants Bale with an STO backbreaker/chokeslam combo for the victory.

Thoughts: The only thing I really got with this match is that I'm starting to really dig Jenny Rose. She's a solid in-ring worker, and I'm definitely sold on that finisher. Looking forward to her title match with Sakai on this tour. Dashwood's a good worker as well, and I like seeing her in ROH. Not too much more say about this match. Pretty forgettable, but I like Rose and Dashwood, so that's a plus.

Roppongi 3K (Sho, Yoh and Rocky Romero) vs. SoCal Uncensored (Christopher Daniels, Frankie Kazarian and Scorpio Sky)

Kazarian and Romero start the match out jockeying for position, trading rest holds and pin attempts. Daniels gets tagged in and he and Kazarian attempt to double-team Romero, but get met with a double headscissors takedown; Sky meets a similar fate. Yoh gets tagged in, then Sho and the two double-team Daniels. R3K with the advantage at the moment.

This is short-lived, however, as Sho gets pulled to the outside and is stomped down by Sky and Kazarian. SCU then take their time punishing Sho with 3-man tag offense, including an impressive flipping back suplex/splash sequence culminating in a springboard moonsault from Daniels. Following consecutive backstabbers to Daniels and Sky, Sho finally manages to break free and tag in Yoh.

Yoh fights off Daniels and Sky with hot-tag offense and counter moves before tagging in Romero. After delivering a springboard hurricanrana to Daniels, Romero unleashes his vintage corner clothesline to Kazarian and Daniels before catching them with a double hurricanrana, R3K turning the tables on SCU and reclaiming their momentum. SCU try to take it back, but R3K responds stereo jumping knee strikes, then a suicide dive from Romero and stereo somersault topes from Sho and Yoh.

But just when it seemed like R3K was firmly in control, SCU snatch it right back after a jumping knee strike from Sky and an aided tornado DDT from Kazarian. Daniels and Kazarian isolate Romero while Sky delivers a somersault tope to Sho and Yoh. After their Celebrity Rehab finisher and a spinning back kick from Sky, SCU pick up the win and gain some momentum back following their title loss to The Kingdom in Lowell.

Thoughts: I'm honestly becoming more of a fan of 6-man tag matches than I ever thought I would be, and matches like this (and the main event) are an example why. Not the best, but damn good for an exhibition match. The chemistry between these two teams was absolutely spot-on; I'm not sure if this was their first time facing each other, but you could've fooled me if that was the case. The back-and-forth sequences were fantastic (I especially loved SCU's flipping back suplex spot).

R3K are becoming one of my new favorite units in professional wrestling. Sho and Yoh are the definition of a "well-oiled machine" when it comes to tag teams, while Romero fulfills his player/coach role to a tee. SCU are also one my new favorites; I always get as giddy as a schoolgirl when I see them in action. Kaz and Daniels are absolute magic as a team with neither man seeming to age (especially Daniels, whose moonsault is absolutely perfect despite being 48). Scorpio Sky is starting to grow on me as a performer as well; his athleticism is absolutely astounding.

A damn good appetizer to a delicious main course.

Hangman Page vs. Silas Young, ROH World Television Championship match

Punishment Martinez interrupts Page’s entrance to the ring and tries to attack him with a chair. Page responds quickly and the two slug it out on the outside. Just as Page tries to get into the Martinez throws the chair at him and curb stomps him onto it, all while Young watches from the ring apron. Page leaves the ring a battered mess; frustrated, Young demands the referee ring the bell and count Page out.

Despite the attack from Martinez, Page still makes his way into the ring and Young immediately starts picking at the scraps like a vulture. Page tries to fight back, but he practically has no effect on Young, who throws him to the outside and DDTs him on the apron. Young continues to talk trash while Page is practically running on empty; he hits Young with a clothesline, gaining a breather for the moment. Page then starts throwing chops and forearms smashes to Young, hoping to get some sort of leverage.

He tries to hit the Rite of Passage, but Young rolls out of it and delivers a knee to Page followed up by a rope-hung neckbreaker. The two exchange blows, Young seemingly coming out on top. However this changes when Page superkicks him on the ring apron then delivers a picture-perfect moonsault to Young on the outside. Page then rolls Young into the ring calls for his Buckshot Lariat.

He attempts the Rite Of Passage once again, but is unsuccessful once again and Young gets out of it, gives Page a full-nelson knee strike then hits him with Misery and retains his title.

Thoughts: I loved this match purely for the story it told. Having Hangman Page be an absolute battered mess through most of the match while Young picked him up apart like Vultures feasting on fresh carrion was a brilliant watch. Both men played their roles perfectly, with Page being the against-all-odds babyface while Young was the bullying, opportunistic heel. 

With each performance, Page is showing more and more of what he can do as a performer. Much like what I said about Martinez earlier, this man also deserves a bigger push and more title opportunities. Plus, Young is honestly one of my favorite champions in all of wrestling. How he carries himself with the belt and his performance in and out of the ring are just perfect.

Cody vs. Jushin Thunder Liger

After spending a good portion of time staring each other down, Cody and Liger begin the match with a standard collar-and-elbow tie-up. Liger then starts applying various holds just for Cody to break out of them and back off, taking his time to draw heat from the crowd. Liger in full control of this match so far.

Cody hits Liger with a gut kick/uppercut on Liger, turning his back on him to celebrate in the process. Liger responds with a Shotei palm strike, then a surfboard hold, combining it with a rear chin lock. Cody takes advantage of a distraction from Bernard The Business Bear and sends Liger to outside, tossing him around the barricades and delivering haymakers, stealing the momentum and taking control.

Getting back in the ring, Cody starts working Liger’s legs over and puts him in a figure-four leglock. After getting to the ropes to break up Liger’s reversal, Cody goes to the top rope only to be met with a Liger superplex. He then follows it up by giving Cody another Shotei and a super hurricanrana. Liger dropkicks Bernard through the ropes and Cody responds with a springboard plancha. The two get back in the ring and Cody attempts the Disaster Kick, but Liger dodges and delivers a kneeling powerbomb.

Cody shoves Liger into the referee and grabs a couple of chairs while he’s down. He sits Liger down in one chair and attempts to hit him with the other, but the referee recovers just in time to take it away from him. While the referee has his back turned, Liger tosses the other at Cody then rolls him up with a small package, but Cody kicks out. He grabs at Liger’s mask and delivers the Cross Rhodes to get the W.

Thoughts: For me, Cody is one of the most captivating figures in professional wrestling right now. Even in exhibition matches like this one, he is just absolutely fascinating to watch just by how much he flexes his character work. Everything he does adds another layer to his abilities as a performer. Plus, having a legend like Liger put you over isn't bad either (who can still go at 53 years old, btw).

Wasn't really an exciting match per se, but an interesting one. The in-ring work was good, but not blow-you-out-of-the-water fantastic. I guess my interest for this match was based purely on what Cody can accomplish as a character.

Los Ingobernables De Japon (EVIL, SANADA and Hiromu Takahashi) vs. Kenny King, Jay Lethal and Colt Cabana

SANADA and Lethal go hold-for-hold to being the match, trying to get the upper hand. Lethal gets put in the Paradise Lock, only for Cabana to come to his aid break him out. Lethal and SANADA trade rapid-fire standing switches, with Lethal coming out on top after a hip toss/dropkick combo.

King and EVIL are tagged in and the two trade shoulderblocks, EVIL gaining the brief advantage following a thumb to the eyes. 

Cabana gets tagged in and delivers a tilt-a-whirl headscissors to EVIL, who tags in Takahashi. Cabana then demands he wrestles Takahashi’s pet cat Daryl, Jr. Following the distraction, Takahashi tries roll up Cabana, who gets out and threatens hit Daryl with a Bionic Elbow.

Daryl’s mask is removed following a roll-up attempt from Cabana; fortunately, he gets his mask back and his taken out of the ring. 

Back in the ring, Cabana takes control following numerous counter moves. Cabana gets Takahashi a vertical suplex position, then passes him to Lethal and King finishes the sequence. The advantage is short-lived, however as the other members of LIJ take Cabana and King out of the ring and isolate Lethal.

SANADA is tagged in and following some tag-team offense, EVIL gets back in. Lethal tries to fight back, but BUSHI hangs him up in the ropes. After delivering a Lethal Combination, Lethal tags in King and he starts to take the other members of LIJ before ending up with SANADA. King evades a SANADA/Takahashi double-team and tags in Cabana, who starts to work the two over. But just when it seems like Cabana has the advantage, EVIL takes it right back and he and SANADA their Magic Killer finisher.

King breaks up the pinfall attempt and the action breaks down between the two teams as all six men nail their signature moves, including an impressive seven consecutive suicide dives courtesy of Lethal. Cabana puts EVIL in his Cubs Win submission finisher, who gets to the ropes, allowing BUSHI to spit his black mist at Cabana. EVIL then plants Cabana with an STO and gets the win for LIJ.

Thoughts: As I hinted at before, a delicious main course to a full meal. I'm honestly starting to prefer 6-Man tag team matches over traditional ones, and matches like these are exactly why. Everything just seemed to click in this match. The spots were fantastic, the chemistry was excellent and the pacing was just perfect.

The match-ups they provided were also all superb as each man performed to the best of their fantastic abilities: SANADA/Lethal, EVIL/King and Takahashi/Cabana are all singles matches I would like to see in the near future. Plus, each team's chemistry with each other was perfect; LIJ are great as always, and Lethal/King/Cabana were an excellent first time-pairing. I can't really say who was the MVP of the match, because all of them were in their own way. Just a perfect send-off to a great show.

Overall

I honestly really loved this show from top to bottom. Lowell was kind of a disappointment, so it was nice to see them really step up their game and provide an excellent overall product. If I had to pick an absolute favorite match, I'd say it's a tie between the main event and The Bucks/SSB. Both matches provided me with the most entertainment.

So check it out when you get the chance, because you won't be disappointed.