Words can't express how fucking amped I was for this episode. The Lethal/Gresham main event looks dope, and Kazarian/Briscoe should be damn good as well. Let's not waste any more time and get right into it.
Kazarian vs. Mark Briscoe
The match being fast and hard-hiting, with Mark throwing clubbing blows at each other as the commentators mention they were brawling outside the ring before the cameras even started rolling. Mark has the early advantage, but Kaz puts a halt to it following a sunset flip attempt then a hip-toss neckbreaker. Kaz gets Mark on the ring apron, then hits him with a slingshot guillotine leg drop followed by a slingshot hurricanrana on the outside.
After distracting the ref, Mark hits Kaz with an apron blockbuster. The two brawl on the outside for a brief respite before Mark drops Kaz on the ring apron with a back suplex. Back in the ring, Kaz attempts to take the momentum back with a Backstabber, then a springboard Codebreaker. He then counters Mark's leapfrog attempt into a Japanese Ocean Cyclone Suplex. After a Jay Briscoe distraction, Mark gets Kaz in a roll-up; Kaz kicks out.
After Kaz delivers a wrecking-ball dropkick to Jay, Mark plants him with a back suplex slam and attempts the Froggy Bow. Kaz dodges, then gets Mark in a crucifix pin hold for the win. A beatdown ensues as Scorpio Sky and Daniels rush in to break it up. It's to no avail, however, as Punishment Martinez comes in and helps The Briscoes. Jay plants Daniels with the Jay Driller as the three stand tall.
Thoughts: Definitely shorter than I expected, but I loved what I saw. While it was quick, both men were able to get in plenty of their signature moves, Kazarian in particular. He's honestly one of the most underrated workers in ROH at the moment, if not in professional wrestling as a whole. While short, it does feed into the feud SCU has with The Briscoes, which I've been digging since it started. A quick-but-fun start to the show.
The Dawgs (Will Ferrara and Rhett Titus) vs. Cheeseburger and Ryan Nova vs. The Bouncers (post-match highlights)
After losing the match, The Dawgs beat down on Nova and Cheeseburger in particular. Ferrara mocks Burger's signature Shotei (adopted from Jushin Thunder Liger), but Burger fights back. It's to no avail, however, as Titus comes in to assist Ferrara as he hits Burger with the hammerlock lariat. Ferrara then hits Nova with a Shotei before delivering one to Cheeseburger.
Thoughts: Not a whole lot to say here. Just The Dawgs attacking Nova and Burger after a match. It feed into Burger's rivalry with The Dawgs (Ferrara in particular), but I honestly can't be arsed to give a shit (even though I love those guys).
Jay Lethal vs. Jonathan Gresham, 30-Minute Iron Man Match for the ROH World Championship
The match starts with both men exchanging various series of holds and counters, showing off their technical prowess; Gresham attempting to wear Lethal down with his trademark brand of chain wrestling and slow the match down. Lethal attempts to speed the match up with a hip-toss/dropkick combo. After a back suplex form Lethal to Gresham out of the corner, the two exchange knife-edged chops, with Lethal getting the upper hand.
The two exchange strikes as Lethal throws Gresham with a couple of snap suplexes. Gresham fights out of a sleeper hold and delivers another knife-edged chop; Lethal asks for more, which Gresham obliges. Lethal answers back with a well-placed knee to the gut and send Gresham into the corner, who answers back with some more chain wrestling then a tilt-a-whirl headscissors. 15 minutes have passed and neither man has scored a fall.
On the outside, the two trade chops and forearm smashes; Gresham works the left arm of Lethal seemingly gaining the advantage following a well-placed hammerlock throw into the ring apron. Back in the ring, Gresham is firmly in control as he continues to wear down Lethal's arms, bending and manipulating them any way he can, going through various armbar and hammerlock variations. 20 minutes pass, still no falls. Gresham attempts a hammerlock pin combo, but Lethal kicks out.
Lethal tries to fight back, but Gresham still has a hold on his left arm. The two trade chops until Lethal attempts a signature Lethal Combination (backbreaker/flatliner) on Gresham twice, with Gresham countering both with a pinfall attempt. After kicking out both times, Lethal hits Gresham with a bicycle kick/spinning enzuguiri combo. The two bounce off the ropes for a bit before Gresham nails Lethal with a Quebrada moonsault, then a dropkick to the knees on the ring apron.
Gresham attempts a suicide dive, but Lethal dodges and hits him with a springboard dropkick on the ring apron, then connects with a suicide dive of his own. He feigns his Hail To The King diving elbow drop and attempts a figure-four leglock, which Gresham blocks only for Lethal to deliver a successful Lethal Combination this time around. Lethal tries to irish whip Gresham, only for Gresham to nail him with a stunner/double axe handle/bridging german suplex combo. 15 minutes pass, still no falls.
Gresham then plants Lethal with a rebound german suplex, then follows it up with a forearm smash. Following Lethal kicking out of a pinfall attempt, Gresham tries to put on the cross armbreaker, but Lethal counters and attempts the figure-four once again. Gresham counters and Lethal answers back with a superkick; he signals for his Lethal Injection finisher, but Gresham counters with a well-placed kick to the left arm.
Following another tilt-a-whirl headscissors takedown, Gresham manages to make Lethal tap to the Octopus Stretch, securing the first victory with only 3 and a half minutes remaining. Gresham then attempts a roll-up, only for Lethal to counter it with the figure-four. Lethal makes Gresham tap and evens the score 1-1 with only 90 seconds remaining. Gresham attempts various pinfalls as does Lethal before time expires. The match is declared a draw, but Gresham pleads for Lethal to give him five more minutes, which Lethal obliges.
The match now going into sudden death, the two throw strikes for a brief spell. Gresham then attempts a pinning combination, but Lethal kicks out. He then attempts for another Octopus Hold only for Lethal counter it with a torture rack/rolling slam combo. Lethal hits Gresham with the Hail To The King, but Gresham kicks out. The two exchange pinfall attempts for a brief respite; two minutes remaining, still tied up 1-1.
Gresham throws a sleeper hold on Lethal, who backs into the corner and counters it. Gresham then goes for it again, only for Lethal to counter it with a cutter. Lethal then hits the Lethal Injection and wins the match 2-1 in sudden death.
Thoughts: Real talk here, I'm a loss for words. This match was absolutely beautiful, plain and simple. Everything just seemed to click and then some: the slow build at the beginning with each man jockeying for position, Gresham's chain wrestling meshing with Lethal's chaotic combos, both men scoring a tap-out victory with barely a minute to go, etc. So much went on in this match, I feel like I'm doing it a disservice with such a brief review of it.
And let's just talk about that ending for one hot minute. Gresham wrenching in the sleeper hold twice, with Lethal fighting back and countering the second attempt with a cutter before hitting the Lethal Injection. True perfection. Shakespeare couldn't have written a better ending. From bell-to-bell and then on, this match was absolutely fantastic. I might be blowing smoke here because this is reactionary, but I'd say Lethal/Gresham is a MOTY candidate, at least for ROH.
Overall
I mean, if we're being honest here, the iron man match was the main selling point of the episode (as well as it should've been). The main event was an absolute barn-burner, living up to the hype and then some. But that's not to take anything away from Briscoe/Kazarian. The two put on a solid opener and further an engaging, interesting feud. With that being said, if you do watch this episode (which I highly recommend you do), please, PLEASE watch it for Lethal/Gresham. Trust me when I tell you won't regret it.
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