We have an absolutely jam-packed main event tonight as RUSH, Jay Lethal, PCO and Jeff Cobb do battle in a fatal 4-way to determine the #1 Contender to Matt Taven's world title. But how will the rest of the show pan out? Let's tune in and see.
Hikuleo vs. Hirooki Goto
The match starts out with a battle for leverage as Hikuleo tries to use size advantage while Goto employs his technique and experience. Goto gets out of the corner, evading further chops from Hikuleo; trying to gain some momentum, Goto hits with a couple of corner shoot kicks then a lariat off the ropes. Sending Hikuleo to the ground with a corner lariat, Goto goes to the top rope, but is met by Hikuleo who plants him with a superplex.
Following a quick exchange of counters, Goto headbutts Hikuleo then hits him with a reverse variation of his lariat/backbreaker finisher. Goto then hits him with an Ushigoroshi, then his GTR finisher to secure a victory.
An okay way to start the show off. Hikuleo is still green as fuck, but Goto's enough of a dependable worker to sell and bump for him. Nothing special, but if you're an absolute Goto fan, check it out.
Kelly Klein & Jenny Rose vs. The Allure (Angelina Love, Mandy Leon & Velvet Sky)
The match stops before it can even start as Leon and Love attack Klein and Rose from behind. Sky joins in on the beatdown. It's announced Klein & Rose will take on Love & Leon at Best In The World.
Literally couldn't sleep any harder on this feud. Moving on.
Shinobi Shadow Squad (Cheeseburger, Eli Isom & Ryan Nova) vs. Lifeblood (Tracy Williams, Mark Haskins & PJ Black)
Williams and Cheeseburger start this match out as Williams tries to take the early leverage, making use of his size and technique advantage over Cheeseburger. Black and Isom are tagged in, and after bouncing off the ropes for a bit, Isom hits Black with a jumping knee. Haskins and Nova are tagged in now; Nova gets in an impressive kick sequence, only for Williams to tag himself in. Black then tags himself in as Lifeblood executes a series of quick tags.
Absorbing a great deal of punishment, Nova tags out to Isom, who goes to work on Haskins. After connecting on the outside with a springboard moonsault, he gets Haskins back in the ring and Triple-S executes some 6-man tag offense. Haskins eventually halts their momentum with a rolling samoan driver to Nova, then tags in Black, who connects with a springboard moonsault to Isom and Cheeseburger.
After Haskins and Nova dish out a tag combo on Nova, Black connects with the moonsault double stomp and Lifeblood gets the W.
A decent match and a continuation of some solid tag-team work ROH has been putting out as of late. Lifeblood's been one of my favorite things about ROH so far this year, and their workrate is why. No matter the opponent, just consistently great performances from Williams & Haskins (and whoever joins them occasionally). But that's not to take anything away from Triple-S, as they put on a damn fine showing. Isom is a future ROH mainstay, Nova is underrated and Cheeseburger is God-King. A nice showing from all six men.
RUSH vs. Jay Lethal vs. PCO vs. Jeff Cobb, Four Corner Survival
After a disconnect on the pre-match handshakes, RUSH goes after PCO, but is quickly met by Cobb. The two exchange a brief display of impressive agility before PCO takes them down with a double clothesline. He begs Lethal to hit him, who obliges, connecting with his signature hip toss/cartwheel dropkick combo then a springboard dropkick. On the outside, PCO begs for more, goading Lethal to hit him with a suicide dive. Confused, Lethal hesitates, then Cobb; RUSH appears to take PCO's bait, only to bail at the last second and taunt him with a tranquilo pose.
Lethal responds with dives to both RUSH and Cobb, then tries for PCO, who catches him and chokeslams him on the ring apron. Back in the ring, PCO connects with a Finlay Roll/Vader Bomb combination to RUSH. A PCO chokeslam to Cobb prompts RUSH to go on a tear, dishing out as much punishment as possible in a very quick time frame. Cobb responds with a tear of his own, suplexing everyone in sight.
It's utter chaos in the ring as Lethal connects with a DDT/Complete Shot combo to RUSH and Cobb. He then fights with PCO on the top rope as Cobb tries to superplex them both; RUSH sneaks in and connects with the powerbomb to the three men. Lethal and PCO put down a quick exchange before Cobb interjects himself into the situation. He hits PCO with a samoan drop/moonsault combo, only for RUSH to break up the pinfall.
Cobb eats a superkick from RUSH and is suplexed into the corner. RUSH gets into a quick exchange with Lethal before PCO breaks it up. RUSH avoids an apron senton attempt from PCO, only to be met with a Lethal Injection. Lethal then hits Cobb with a Lethal Combination; with Kenny King providing a distraction, Cobb plants Lethal with his Tour Of The Islands finisher and gets the victory.
A damn good match and an excellent way to end the show. From the get-go, it seemed like each competitor never let off the gas pedal and just put out an absolute high-speed banger. Everyone got in their signature spots and had their time to shine; I especially like how much they're protecting RUSH and Cobb as neither man has taken an L so far in their ROH tenure. I could go into more detail, with this one, but I'd be repeating myself if I did. Executing my best Dale Cooper impression, a damn fine main event. As long as they can pull off bangers like this one, consider this jabroni 1000000% ROH-pilled.
A pretty damn good show overall. Goto/Hikuleo was an okay opener, Lifeblood/Triple-S gave us some good 6-man tag action and the main event was absolutely bonkers. Give this one a watch in its entirety ASAP if you haven't already.
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