Honor Reigns Supreme Recap/Review: 01/13/19

It's ROH's first PPV of the year. The company has hit the reset button, and many are wondering it'll go in the future after the departure of The Elite (and to a lesser extent, SoCal Uncensored). Did they sink or swim with their first PPV of 2019, as well as their first PPV unaffiliated with The Elite in some time? We'll find out.

Shinobi Shadow Squad (Ryan Nova, Cheeseburger and Eli Isom) vs. Corey Hollis, John Skyler and Josey Quinn

A fairly standard 6-man tag match. Back-and-forths ensue without that many interesting spots to name. 3S eventually gets the upper hand and hits their Oyasuminasai tag finisher for the W.

There is literally no reason to mention this match outside of the inclusion of Based God Cheeseburger. Moving on.

Mark Haskins vs. Beer City Bruiser

Haskins tries to apply various holds while Bruiser breaks them up, demanding “a fight.” Haskins then throws various kicks, having little to no effect on Bruiser at the start. The two trade momentum throughout the match, Bruiser using his size and power to counter Haskins’ striking. Bruiser tosses Haskins around for a bit with slams and suplexes, then tries to finish off the match with a frog splash. Haskins dodges, throws a few more kicks while Bruiser is caught up in the ropes, then finishes off Bruiser with a diving double stomp.

Quick, and somewhat forgettable, but I actually did like this match, all things considered. The two played off each other's styles decently, plus I dug how the momentum picked up once Bruiser shrugged off Haskins' technical holds and demanded a real fight. It was nothing special, but a fun exhibition nonetheless.

Best Friends vs. Juice Robinson and David Finlay

Robinson and Beretta start the match off attempting to gain leverage while trading off mind games, no one really having the advantage at the beginning. Finlay and Chuckie attempt the same, only for Finlay to hit a dropkick and tag Robinson back in, seemingly getting the advantage with some classic tag-team maneuvers. This lasts for but a brief respite as Best Friends take it back with a savage double stomp on the outside railing; it gets back in the ring as Best Friends start working Finlay over.

Robinson and Finlay attempt to fight back, while Beretta and Chuckie T try to counter, both getting worn out. Beretta and Robinson go back-and-forth, trading signatures and counters. Robinson displays impressive strength, hitting a Gut Check then tagging in Finlay, who displays his hot tag expertise by throwing his quickest strikes possible at Chuckie. Despite Chuckie’s best efforts at a comeback (including an impressive snap piledriver), it’s all for naught though as Finlay hits him with a Stunner and secures the victory for his team.

I dug this match WAY more than I probably should have, given it was yet another tag-team match added to the card. But these guys really surprised and pulled out a notably good match on a lesser PPV. While certainly not an all-time classic, these guys certainly brought out the best in each other here, mixing classic tag wrasslin' chemistry with some new school flavor. Plus, anytime my man David Finlay gets a rub, I'm all for it.

Flip Gordon vs. Tracy Williams

Williams starts the match out by grounding Gordon with precise mat work. Gordon attempts to fight back despite his bum knee. The problem exacerbating, Williams refuses to fight Gordon anymore, taking the win via referee stoppage.

Disappointingly short, but such is life, I guess. While Williams' ROH PPV debut was cut short, here's hoping he gets to shine in his TV debut against Zack Sabre, Jr. this coming Monday. Also, best wishes to Gordon in that the knee issues he had here are nothing serious and he can get back to killing it in the ring ASAP.

The Kingdom (Matt Taven, Vinny Marseglia and TK O'Ryan) vs. Shane “Hurricane” Helms, Delirious and Luchasaurus, Proving Ground Match

Delirious brings out his trademark outlandish antics, but Taven is unphased. O’Ryan and Helms go at it for a bit and Helms sneaks in some of his innovative offense before Luchasaurus is tagged in and he goes to work on The Kingdom, throwing a flurry of strikes and kicks. The momentum comes to a screeching halt as The Kingdom put a stop to Delirious’ outlandish antics, throwing out various impressive displays of tag team offense.

Delirious throws desperation suplexes before tagging in Helms; following a quick comeback, he, Delirious and Luchasaurus deliver a chokeslam to each of the members of The Kingdom. Despite their best efforts, they fall short as O’Ryan and Marseglia hit an elevated back-body drop/samoan drop combo to pick up the win and dash their opponents’ hopes for #1 contendership.

While it was nothing special, I certainly had a lot of fun watching this match. All six men had good chemistry with one another and pulled out some entertaining spots (the triple chokeslam in particular). While I love The Kingdom, it was nice to see a little spotlight being thrown on the opposite side (unofficially named "The Green Machine" on the broadcast). Helms is an underrated GOAT, Luchasaurus is such a fun in-ring performer and Delirious is just an absolutely fascinating personality to watch. Here's hoping they get a title shot down the road, because they sure as hell deserve it.

PJ Black vs. Bandido

The two start the match off jockeying for leverage, displaying impressive speed and agility while doing so. Bandido seems to have the upper hand at the start of the match, following an impressive suicide dive/Fosbury flop combo. However, his momentum is over as quickly as it started, as Black hits a quick counter then briefly pulls out some technical prowess to work Bandido over. After a couple successful dives from Black, the action gets back in the ring.

Bandido throws multiple tilt-a-whirl variations before Black uses his strength advantage to counter. The two scuffle on the top rope before Black hits a springboard hurricanrana, then slows the action down once again. Bandido fights back with a reverse GTS and the two exchange counters and signatures, trying to gain the advantage. Following a hard knee, Bandido puts Black away with a super moonsault fallaway slam and picks up the W.

There was honestly more detail I could've put into writing about this match, but it moved too fast for me to keep up. That may sound corny, but it's entirely truthful; I was so focused watching the sequences these two were pulling off that I honestly forgot about adding more. But then again, maybe that's a good thing when it comes to high-speed matches like this one. It's a "blink and you'll miss it" kind of match that demands your undivided attention. While PJ Black is great and more than held his own here, Bandido was the obvious show-stealer here. A message to ROH: give this man a mega-push, because he sure as hell deserves it.

Jeff Cobb vs. Shane Taylor vs. Jonathan Gresham vs. Rhett Titus, Proving Grounds Match

The match takes a shocking turn as Taylor abstains from the match, seemingly rescinding his opportunity for #1 Contendership. Gresham and Titus go back-and-forth for a bit, Cobb interjecting himself into their exchanges. Gresham is momentarily taken out of the equation is Cobb works Titus over before hitting a delayed superplex. Getting back in the ring, Gresham attempts to chop down Cobb by working his legs, who seems unphased.

After getting Cobb to the outside, Titus and Gresham trade dives, trying to further weaken Cobb. Gresham and Titus go at it for a brief respite before Gresham gets sent to the outside; Cobb hits Titus with a spike piledriver, then a Tour Of The Islands to come out victorious, squashing his opponents’ chances of a #1 contendership.

While it was a shame Taylor quit the match, it was a nice way to garner heel heat, as well as a potential rivalry with Cobb over the title. But let's not take the attention away from the other competitors, as they certainly brought their A-game here. Titus and Gresham pulled off some decent spots, proving their merits as singles competitors (especially Gresham, who I believe is the future of ROH, given his recent performances). Plus Cobb maintains his based-as-fuck aura here, more than proving his worth as an in-ring competitor and as a champion. 

Kelly Klein vs. Jenny Rose, WOH Championship

Klein seemingly has the upper hand at the beginning of the match with her Camp Klein constituents; this quickly changes as the two brawl on the outside, Rose taking the advantage and working over Klein. Once it gets back into the ring, however, Klein takes it back and attempts to choke out Rose by various means (first with a bungee cord, then with the ring announcer’s tie). They get back to the outside and history seems to repeat itself once again.

However, Rose’s momentum is just as soon quelled as Klein drives her through a table. While momentarily effective, Rose eventually recovers and brings the fight to Klein, planting her with a superplex onto steel chairs. After Rose steps outside to grab the ring bell, Klein slowly picks up her energy back up and hits Rose with a Samoan Driver to retain her title.

A brief, but fun match with memorable spots and a decent continuation of the Klein/Rose rivalry. I really hope they deepen the feud a little more, because they have good chemistry with one another and it could potentially boost more attention into the Women's Division. Above all else, it proves Klein is a more-than-deserving champion and should hold the belt at least for a few more months, because right now, she's honestly the best thing WOH has got going on at the moment.

Villain Enterprises (Marty Scurll, Brody King and PCO) vs. Silas Young and The Briscoes (Jay and Mark)

King and Mark start the match out but PCO is tagged in just as quickly and the two throw a staggering series of chops, upping the brutality. Young and Scurll are tagged in, but the match quickly goes to the outside. VE seems to have the advantage, but Young and The Briscoes put a stop to it after Mark drills PCO on the ring apron with an iconoclasm. They take the advantage and being working Scurll over before Scurlll musters the strength to tag King in and shit really hit the fan.

King and PCO display impressive feats of agility with their outside dives, and it’s utter chaos from there on out. Brawling on the outside and numerous momentum shifts occur (PCO taking a fucking Canadian Destroyer on the ring apron, unsurprisingly); The Briscoes set up a table outside, only for King to toss Mark through it, incapacitating him. Various impressive tag maneuvers are displayed before King and PCO destroy Jay with Gonzo Bomb/moonsault combination to pick up a win for VE.

A glorious clusterfuck is how I would describe this match, and trust me when I tell you that's a compliment. Young and The Briscoes worked well for a thrown-together team, and it was an outstanding debut for the newly formed Villain Enterprises. Scurll proved himself to be an excellent leader, while King and PCO displayed some superb tag-team chemistry. The shit on the outside sold me on the match in particular; just utter brawling chaos, coupled with gruesomely fun spots. If this is what I'm to expect from Villain Enterprises, then I am on board 100 fucking percent (I mean, I already was because of Marty, but you get the idea).

Dalton Castle vs. Jay Lethal, ROH World Championship Match

Castle brings the fire at the very beginning with a series of suplexes and knees, the intensity at 1000% from him. Lethal tries to fight back, including pulling out a Lethal Injection at a surprisingly early point in the match; he attempts to get his momentum back and slow the match down, attacking Castle’s weakened ribs and back. Lethal turns the tables despite Castle’s best efforts, continuing his punishment of Castle’s back.

Castle musters up enough strength to counter Lethal’s Camel Clutch with an electric chair drop. The action spills outside the ring as Lethal backs Castle into the guardrail, then hits two suicide dives before planting Castle with a cutter on the outside. Castle escapes the 20-count and gets back in the ring; Lethal’s first attempt at his Hail To The King elbow is countered, then is successful the second time around.

The two continue their back-and-forth before Castle tries to wear Lethal down, similar to what Lethal was doing to him at the beginning of the match. But following a Bangarang counter, Lethal hits Castle with a bucklebomb, then a superkick, and finally a Lethal Injection to cap off the match and retain his title.

Not gonna lie, this match was pretty damn good. Is it going to make my Top 10 of the year? Probably not. Will it be in contention MOTY honors? Most likely, no. But if you take it for what it is (a good tug-o-war kind of match with some solid ring psychology and storytelling), and it's actually a hell of a lot of fun. Lethal balances being an elite-tier champion and ring worker here, knowing how to work his opponent regardless of size/style/etc., while also providing an excellent example of what a world champion should be. But let's not take anything away from Dalton Castle, either. Though his previous run as World Champion may have been a bore, there's no doubt he can give it his all in the ring when the time calls for it. I'm hesitant to call it MOTN, because Bandido/Black and VE/Young and The Briscoes were also on the card. Regardless, a damn good match.

So was this PPV an absolute game-changer? No. But it was a decent all-around outing, and a sign that the best is yet to come for ROH. The Elite and SCU may be gone, but given the talent they have right now, that really doesn't matter. As long as they can balance the development of their new signees and their already developed roster in an intelligent fashion, I have a feeling that ROH will have a great 2019. Here's hoping I don't eat my words. Aside from my future speculation, it's a fun PPV. It's not something that requires an immediate watch, but one that definitely deserves a future viewing.

ROH Wrestling Episode #381 Recap/Review: 1/7/19

Well, folks, here it is. The very first episode of 2019, and you don't need me to tell you a LOT has changed in the realm of ROH in recent.time. As a result of major shakeups and shocking departures, ROH hit the reset button, leading many to wonder what direction the company would be taking. Let's not waste any more and see if the first episode of the new year helps enlightens us.

Opener

The show opens with Ian Riccaboni introducing four men: Chris Sabin, Flip Gordon, Dalton Castle and Marty Scurll, all of whom have #1 Contendership opportunity for Jay Lethal's World Title. In the main event, they'll compete to see who gets the very first pickings at the belt. And just as Riccaboni tries to bring out Lethal, Matt Taven appears still in "Real World Champion" mode and cuts down all four competitors. Lethal quickly comes out to confront Taven and the two tussle before being pulled apart by security.

I've always been a fan of Matt Taven, but I think I like him even more with this gimmick. He really pulls off this delusional, arrogant character quite well, and I think he has potential to be the new top heel of ROH. If anyone in the main event scene gets an extended feud with Lethal, it should either be him or Scurll. And aside from Taven, I'm absolutely hyped for the main event. Given the competitors involved, it should be a damn good match.

Luchasaurus vs. Jeff Cobb

The action starts off hot as Luchasaurus gets the jump on Cobb and delivers a series of strikes and kicks, seemingly getting the upper hand from the get-go. Cobb, however, halts his momentum with a quick suplex and from there, it's a battle for leverage as each competitor plays to their strengths: Luchasaurus with his strikes and Cobb with his power and agility. There are several impressive spots throughout the match, including a crispy chokeslam/standing moonsault combo from Luchasaurus and a superplex/standing moonsault combo from Cobb.

Despite his best efforts, Luchasaurus falls short after taking a devastating belly-to-belly superplex/spike piledriver/Tour Of The Islands combo from Cobb, who continues his path of dominance in ROH.

A short match, but fun as hell. I'm really not that familiar with Luchasaurus, so this was definitely a nice introduction; needless to say, I liked what I saw and I want more. And Cobb of course kills it, as always, proving yet again why he's one of the most versatile performers in ROH right now. Not much else outside of that, but definitely a blast to watch.

Kelly Klein vs. Nikki Addams

Prior to the start, Klein announces that since becoming WOH Champion, every singles match of hers (starting with this one) will be a title match. The match is over as quickly as it started, with Klein absolutely dominating Addams despite her best efforts. Klein hits a running knee strike and picks up the W. After the match, Jenny Rose comes out and reflects on her rivalry with Klein then asks if she wants to make their upcoming match at Honor Reigns Supreme a street fight, which Klein accepts.

A pretty decent squash match, all things considered; Klein shows up, dominates, gets her hand raised. I like the direction they're taking with her as champion by making all of her subsequent singles matches a title match; it really taps into the arrogant powerhouse persona she displays. Plus, for what it is, I like this rivalry between her and Jenny Rose. It's not much, but it's a lot more than what's happening elsewhere in the division. Above all else, I'm hyped for their HRS match.

Christopher Daniels Segment

Not flanked by his SCU consituents, Daniels comes to the ring and cuts a promo reflecting on his time in ROH as well as saying goodbye to the ROH faithful, as per the expiration of his contract. COO Joe Koff comes out and offers Daniels a new contract, impressed with his performance at Final Battle. Shane Taylor breaks up the emotional moment and he and Daniels get into a scuffle before Taylor plants him on a steel chair, then rips up Daniels' new contract and stuffs it in his mouth.

While it ran a bit longer than I'd have wanted it to, it at least accomplished its goal of highlighting Daniels' popularity within ROH; he cut a damn good promo, and every moment reaction he had really seemed genuine. Plus, Taylor gets a little bit more heat by ruining an emotional moment from an ROH legend.

Gordon vs. Sabin vs. Castle vs. Scurll

The match starts off interestingly enough with Gordon and Sabin briefly teaming up to take out Castle and Scurll, first with tandem suicide dives then with a succession of missile dropkicks. This is all for naught, as Castle quickly recovers and from there, it's a constant battle for momentum in the ring; Castle, Sabin, Scurll and Gordon each have time together in the ring as they try to gain the advantage in a match where it's anybody's ballgame.

For a brief respite, Sabin has the upper hand by working all three of his competitors; first with breaking up an impressive submission sequence, then a diving crossbody followed up by his patented springboard tornado DDT/kick combo. He continues his momentum by taking out Scurll and Gordon with a series of kicks before Castle puts him away with an emphatic Bangarang, securing his spot as the first challenger for Lethal's world title.

While I think it would've benefited from having at least another minute or two latched onto it, this was still a damn good main event, all things considered. Each man had their time to shine and picked their spots perfectly (especially Sabin, who even in defeat, was the MVP of the match in my book). And as for the finish? I mean, I like Castle and he technically deserves it, but I'm still not entirely enthralled at the idea of him being in the world title picture. Here's hoping he changes my mind at Honor Reigns Supreme.

Regardless, a great match and an excellent way to cap off the first episode of ROH Wrestling in 2019. It may be too early to tell, but I think I'm gonna like what I see from here on out. Fingers crossed I'm not wrong and look like a dumbass in the process.

The BAW Awards: Honoring The Best Of Professional Wrestling In 2018

Folks, I'm going to be honest: 2018 was a pretty damn good year for wrestling. Even with all the negatives involved (something I'd rather not get into, as I want to stray from my usual pessimistic self), it seemed as though the positives outweighed them, soaring above the bad spots and providing us a shining light in this dark, cruel world. Today, we'll be honoring the best professional wrestling had to offer us in 2018. Here it is, the First Annual BAW Awards. Let's get it started.

Most Underrated

Hangman Page- This was a tough one, as there were a lot of choices to pick from: Jonathan Gresham, Burch and Lorcan, the entirety of the 205 Live roster, etc. But I had to give it to Page simply for the fact he always delivered standout performances despite being overshadowed by the name recognition of his Elite constituents. He combines an impressive moveset (a dazzling display of strength, aerial offense and hard-hitting strikes) with a solid dash of charisma (check out his performance on Being The Elite if you aren't convinced).

Another example of a wrestler who can do excellent work in a tag team atmosphere (him and the Bucks vs. SoCal Uncensored are absolute bangers) or in singles (check out his work with Kota Ibushi, Punishment Martinez, Joey Janela and Jeff Cobb if you're not convinced). Don't let him leaving ROH take anything away from your opinion of the Hangman. When All Elite Wrestling takes off, he should be slated to have a big 2019 and he damn well deserves it. If Page isn't on your radar already, rest assured he will be.

Breakout Star

Jay White- It's crazy to think a man in his mid-20s, not far removed from the Dojo, would be one of the biggest fixtures in New Japan. Needless to say, White proved the doubters wrong this year and put in a surprising performance that few can rival. Adopting the Switchblade gimmick, White put in top-tier work as a villainous disruptor aiming to break down the pillars of New Japan, and did a pretty damn good job of it, too. He infiltrated and disrupted one of the most powerful stables in NJPW (CHAOS) and further sewed the seeds of dissension in another (Bullet Club).

But let's not take anything away from his ring work this year, as it's also been stellar. Whether it was vs. Hangman Page at Strong Style Evolved, Punishment Martinez at ROH War Of The Worlds: Toronto or his absolutely stellar performance at this year's G1 Climax, White consistently proved he can more than hang with the best of them. A fantastic character, a consistently good in-ring worker, White has more than proven he's up to the task of being the next top gaijin in New Japan (excluding Kenny Omega, for obvious reasons). He more than fulfilled the task he was given, and it'll be exciting to see what 2019 holds for him.

Best Stable

SoCal Uncensored- As with many of these awards, this one was a difficult decision. Numerous groups could've been added here: Undisputed Era in NXT, oVe in Impact, most of the stables in New Japan, etc. But when I think about the overall impact stables have made this year (in terms of matches/character progression/brand-building, etc.), there's no one who did it better then SCU in 2018. Teams like Bullet Club and LIJ already had marketable brands, so for them it was just maintaining the status quo. For SCU, it was different; while The Addiction already had a notable reputation, it was nowhere near the level of their constituents. They had more steps on their ladder, but managed to climb them with ease and market themselves (as a unit) as a force to be reckoned with in professional wrestling.

Their chemistry as a team is second to none, at least when it comes to forming a solid unit rather than a group of individuals who just happen to team up. Whether it's their matches, their promos, or their character paradigm, I can think of no other stable this year who did it better than SCU. I can safely say watching their shift from despicable heels to desperate babyfaces was one of the most interesting things I watched in wrestling this year. While every town (aside from beautiful Southern California) may have been the worst, there's no doubt SCU was the absolute best stable of 2018.

Best Tag Team

The Young Bucks- Sometimes, the most obvious answer is the best answer. In this case, the Jackson brothers fit this description better than any other tag team of 2018, putting on performances other tag teams in the wrestling business would strive to rival. Just a quick recap of what the Bucks did in 2018, in case you needed a reminder: moved up to NJPW's heavyweight tag team division and winning the belt (soon to be challenging for it again at Wrestle Kingdom), self-funded the biggest independent wrestling show ever (All In), plus are in the planning stage of developing their own promotion (All Elite Wrestling). And aside from their business acumen, let's talk about what really matters: the matches. Because, my god, they've had some brilliant bouts this year.

They really proved their absolute versatility this year more than others. Name a type of match, and the Bucks made an absolute banger out of it: Exhilarating spotfests (them vs. SoCal Uncensored at Supercard Of Honor w/Flip Gordon, vs. SCU and Briscoes at Final Battle), straight-up tag team wrasslin' (vs. Briscoes at Best In The World) and pure, heartfelt storytelling (vs. Golden Lovers, Strong Style Evolved). You can put the arguments of "horfdorf spot monkeys" to rest, because this year, more than others, they proved they're so much more than that. Marketing geniuses, ring masters and consummate professionals all-around. The Bucks are the best tag team of 2018 and I will hear no arguments to the contrary.

Best Character

Eddie Edwards- When it comes to storytelling and character progression, Impact is arguably doing it better than anyone in professional wrestling, and the best example of that is the Eddie Edwards saga. What started as a regular joe underdog fulfilling his dreams and becoming World Heavyweight Champion turned into something much more sinister and foreboding. It turned into a epic tome of a man losing his mind in a quest for vengeance, however superficial that vengeance may have been.

No one was more engrossing of a personality in 2018 than Eddie Edwards and I'll die on that hill. In the realm of professional wrestling, to actually delve into the psyche of a wrestler, exposing their mental state and presenting it as just more than "BLAH BLAH I CRAZY NOW," it's truly an accomplishment. While not the exact same, it's akin to Brian Pillman in ECW/WWE, as far as how unabashedly naked and bare the talent involved were willing to portray their mentally unstable character. And the craziest part is, it isn't over for the Edwards saga. The best is yet to come, and I can't wait.


Best Feud

Johnny Gargano vs. Tommaso Ciampa- A feud simple in idea, yet otherworldly in execution. Take a beloved tag team (DIY), split them up in dramatic fashion (immediately after a heartbreaking loss to the Authors Of Pain at Takeover: Chicago), and let the characters develop organically and over time, and you have the most intriguing feud of 2018, and arguably one of the best in the last decade. And the crazy part? It shouldn't have worked as well as it did, given Ciampa's injury during the AOP match. But through a mix of perfectly executed promos and post-match attacks from Ciampa, it worked like a charm.

The characters were laid and performed superbly by both wrestlers: Ciampa, envious of the spotlight and aching to carve out his own identity by any means necessary. Gargano, confused and angry from the betrayal, desperate for vengeance at all costs yet trying to keep his "Johnny Wrestling" so as not to become like Ciampa. It started with promos (excellent from both men) crafting and developing their characters, then they took it over the top with a tremendous series of matches. And the best part of the feud was how morbid it became. Given his recent heel turn, it was pretty apparent Gargano had failed in his quest for vengeance. He became everything he supposedly despised, and it's supposedly come full-circle. But who knows? Maybe there's more to this story to unfold, and that's what makes it so great. The layers, both realized and potential, are so thick and rich it's impossible not to indulge.

Best Match

Marty Scurll vs. Will Ospreay vs. KUSHIDA vs. Hiromu Takahashi, Wrestle Kingdom 12- It's no secret that the Junior Heavyweight usually always steal the show (specifically the singles matches). This was no truer than Wrestle Kingdom 12, where they gave an already stacked show an extra shot of adrenaline. There are so many components to why this match is so great, so I'll try my best to explain my love for this match in as succinct of detail as possible.

For starters, let's talk about the competitors. All four men involved had well-established rivalries with one another (Scurll/Ospreay and KUSHIDA/Takahashi), so it's no secret that the in-ring chemistry would be great. But the fact they managed to merge them together and do so in a way where everyone gets a chance to shine with the other competitor involved while also working their previous rivalries is nothing short of incredible. Plus, let's not forget each competitor's character throughout the show: we have Ospreay, the famed Aerial Assassin; KUSHIDA, the consummate grappler and time-weathered veteran; Takahashi, the wily and unpredictable sparkplug; and last but not least, we have the then-champion Scurll, playing the puppet master of the whole match, countering the momentum of each competitor and bending the advantage to his favor given the opportunity.

Next, let's talk about the spots, because hot damn, were they aplenty. Ospreay's moonsault off the scaffolding and springboard shooting star press, Scurll pulling out an OsCutter of his own just to spite Ospreay, Takahashi's fluid-as-fuck sunset bombs, the dual Crossface Chickenwing/Hoverboard Lock, etc. There's too many to name, and they were each coordinated and performed with absolute ease. Not only that, but they were done to tell a story, and were effective in doing so. And with that came near fall after near fall, each one feeling just as earned as the last, until the last final sequence with Ospreay hitting the Oscutter to the end the "Scurll Beats Ospreay" curse and the secure the title.

Such a momentous match, I forgot to keep my rule of succinct detail. Anyways, moving on.

Best PPV

ROH Supercard Of Honor XII- So I know the term "stacked card" gets thrown around flippantly when talking about wrestling shows. However, trust me when I tell you this show actually managed to live up to the term and then some, if only for consistency's sake. Many PPVs tend to only have a small handful of matches I'm actually invested in. But whether it was my obvious bias or not, SOH actually managed to make me care about practically all of the matches on the card, which is hard to do, given the cynicism of many a wrestling fan (including myself) nowadays. While there were points in the show where my interest dipped, there was never a point where I just didn't flat out give a fuck. When a show can make you care and be interested in practically the entire card, that's when you know you have a kino PPV.

SOH seemed to offer a little bit of everything when it came to the matches. For the tag team matches, you had something for the spotfest lovers (The Young Bucks and Flip Gordon vs. SoCal Uncensored) and something for those who love pure, old-fashioned wrasslin' (Jay Lethal and Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. The Briscoes). On the midcard, we had two similar matches each with a subtle difference: one was a bruising slugfest for those who love a good brawl (Punishment Martinez vs. Tomohiro Ishii), while the other was another striking affair but with a little bit more high-flying athleticism peppered in (Kota Ibushi vs. Hangman). And for the co-main event, we had pure, unabashed storytelling (Cody vs. Kenny Omega, attempting to a settle a feud that just missed the cut for Feud Of The Year honors). I could run down the entire card, but that'd be tiresome, so I'll just say every match had a little something to give for everyone, and that's more than many PPVs nowadays can say.

Top-to-bottom excellence with 100% replay value and no signs of aging any time soon, there's no doubt Supercard Of Honor was the Best PPV of 2018.

Female MVP

Tessa Blanchard- So I know we can say this about a lot of wrestlers, about they're the New Face/Next Big Thing/Future Of/etc. Many rise to the occasion, while others fall flat and bust. Given the year Tessa Blanchard had in 2018, I can safely say she's accomplished the former, and deserves to not only be named the Female MVP of professional wrestling in 2018, but also the Future of Women's Wrestling and where it should be going from here on out.

How did she accomplish this, you ask? Well, it's very simple really: by being one of the best damn in-ring performers in professional wrestling. The uniqueness of her moveset (a fascinating blend of power, speed and hard strikes) is only rivaled by the versatility of her competition. Whether it was tearing the house down at All In, enduring a 75-minute epic against Mercedes Martinez at RISE 10 or holding her own and then some in numerous intergender matches (including an epic encounter with Brian Cage in WrestleCircus), Blanchard proved just how multifaceted she is as a performer. Female or male, she's far above most competition.

For more proof, look no further than her beyond-excellent run in Impact Wrestling this year. Shortly after debuting, Blanchard won the Knockouts Championship in an excellent bout vs. Su Yung and Allie at Impact: ReDefined, and has been on a tear ever since. She's defended the belt numerous times, most notably against Taya Valkyrie at Bound For Glory. And aside from her matches, she routinely displays a natural sense of charisma as a champion; carrying it with an earned air of pride and arrogance knowing she can back it up and then some. Simply put, the Knockouts Division goes through her, and it's going to take one hell of an effort to change that.

And the craziest thing is she's accomplished all of this at only 23 years of age, meaning her impact (no pun intended) is only going to grow. Taking all of this into consideration, not only does it make perfect sense, but it's blatantly obvious Tessa Blanchard is 2018's Female MVP.

Male MVP

Jay Lethal- Some might think it's silly (and somewhat bias) of me to select Lethal, when it seems like there'd be other, more obvious options to choose from. But watching his performance last year from beginning to end, from an all-around perspective, it'd be stupid of me NOT to select him as the overall Male MVP of 2018. In terms of sheer consistency, there's no man who delivered as much as to professional wrestling as Jay Lethal last year.

To prove this, let's get into the matches. He started the year off with an excellent bout against Will Ospreay (on free TV, no less), proved his tag-team prowess with Hiroshi Tanahashi against The Briscoes at Supercard Of Honor, slugged it out with Punishment Martinez, had a MOTY candidate vs. KUSHIDA at Best In The World as well as provided us with an excellent trio of matches against Jonathan Gresham (the third of which we'll get to). And while we're on the topic, let's talk about Lethal relieving us of Dalton Castle's boring title reign, because hot damn, was that necessary (sorry, Dalton).

Lethal becoming champion again was the best possible decision ROH made, because not only does he have an absolute passion and devotion to ROH, but he's provided excellent matches so far when defending his title. Look no further than his second Ospreay match in 2018 as well as his third (and final) match against Jonathan Gresham, an Iron Man match which is another MOTY candidate. Not only that, but he also capped off the year by BTFOing Cody at Final Battle and maintaining his spot as top dog of ROH.

Lethal earned the Male MVP honors for these reasons: his tremendous in-ring work (be it on free TV or PPV), his overall performance as a champion and his ability to build up ROH while also simultaneously establishing his own brand.

Best Promotion 

NXT- Okay, so before you start yelling, hear me out on this one. I'm well aware NXT is just a branch of WWE and not its own promotion by definition. But judging from the content they produced in 2018, they might as well have been, because it's nothing like what we see from main roster WWE. I would rival it with the likes of NJPW/ROH/Impact/etc., as far as cranking out consistently high quality content, be it from their weekly shows or their PPVs. But from what I saw this year, nobody did it better than NXT.

On weekly shows, they do a better job at developing characters and delivering excellent than arguably most promotions, and can do so within under an hour. They proved this with the Gargano/Ciampa saga, the Veleveteen Dream revolution as well as the domination of the Undisputed Era. And on the Women's side, let's not forget Shayna Baszler running roughshod and easily being the most captivating female persona in NXT.

And as for PPVs, fuhgeddaboutit. We had Takeover: Chicago II, New Orleans, Brooklyn 4 and WarGames 2, among others. There's too many matches to list, so I'll just name a few: UE vs. Burch & Lorcan, Gargano vs. Almas, the 6-Man ladder match for the North American Title, Ricochet/Adam Cole, the Gargano/Ciampa trilogy, Baszler/Kairi Sane, etc. There's something about Takeovers that really bring out the best in NXT, and they proved that this year moreso than the others.

By managing to consistently deliver on their weekly shows as well as their PPVs, there's no doubt in my mind NXT was the overall best brand in professional wrestling this year. And judging by what they have in store for us this year, 2019 may be just as good.

So, yeah, 2018 was a really damn good year for wrestling, be it WWE/NJPW/ROH/Impact/etc. We had countless great matches, engrossing feuds, shocking moments, and so on and so forth. 2019 just started, so we have the rest of the year ahead of us. Let's keep the positivity up and wish for the best. Rest assured, you'll be hearing from me about it at the end of the year. Cheers, folks.

ROH Wrestling Episode #378 Recap/Review: 12/17/18

So it's a holiday-themed episode of ROH Wrestling this week, as the main event is the "Christmas Surprise" 10-Man Tag Match, an ROH tradition,; and this year, ROH World Champion Jay Lethal and "Real" World Champion Matt Taven are the captains of their respective teams. This is my first introduction to it and I'm already pumped. If it's as much fun as the Gravy Train Turkey Trot, consider my ass hooked. But before that, we gotta get to all of the other stuff. So let's not waste any more time and dig in.

Twisted Sisterz (Holidead and Thunder Rosa) vs. Britt Baker and Madison Rayne

This match is back-and-forth as both teams consistently trade the advantage. The Sisterz pull off some crisp tag team combinations (impressive strength from Holidead), displaying their experience as a team. Baker and Rayne are not to be outdone though, as they pull off some impressive combos of their (loved that ripcord elbow/cutter sequence). But it's all for naught as the Sisterz put Baker away with a swinging slam/double stomp combo to end the match and pick up the W.

A decent enough opener. All four women worked well together, especially the Sisterz, as they're the established tag team. But that's not to take anything away from Baker and Rayne, as they showed strong chemistry despite this being a first-time (I think) pairing. Not too much more to say here.

Team 1 (Matt Taven, Brian Milonas, Jonathan Gresham, Beer City Bruiser and Marty Scurll) vs. Team 2 (Jay Lethal, Cheeseburger, Rhett Titus, Vinny Marseglia and Jeff Cobb)

I already love this match, and the ring work hasn't even started yet. Each competitor has their own unique entrance as they make their way to ring and jaw-jack. A brief squabble ensues before Bruiser breaks it up and the match starts out with Lethal and Gresham, Bruiser, and then Taven, who demands Cheeseburger. Milonas is tagged in and Cheeseburger tries to wear down the much larger Milonas.

Silliness further ensues as Scurll and Marseglia tease an ax vs. umbrella fight before Taven is tagged in. Both teams refuse to tag in, leaving Marseglia and Taven to duke it out. Each man bounces off the ropes before sliding underneath, chaos ensuing outside the ring. Both teams trade delightfully impressive tag-team sequences before Cobb eventually puts Bruiser away with the Tour Of The Islands and secures a victory for his team.

Words cannot even begin to describe how much I loved this match. It's rare feeling when I just feel pure joy when watching wrestling, and this match definitely fits that criteria. Everything from the entrances, to the in-ring sequences, even Based God Riccaboni making a Christmas Vacation reference. For me, the whole match just epitomized the concept of fun. I'll probably be watching this match again very soon; I felt so fucking happy watching this match, you have no idea.

Overall, a great way cap off the year. Something light, but engaging. A decent women's tag match to start the show off, plus a fucking GOAT match to cap it off, with some 2018 recaps sprinkled in. ROH, you spoil us. Cheers.

ROH Wrestling Episode #376 Recap/Review: 12/3/18

Well, ladies and gents, it's a been a while since I've done one of these. My apologies, as my inspiration for this tends to go through highs and lows, and as of late, I haven't been that motivated to write. Needless to say, I plan on changing that. More to the point, this week's episode. The matches for Final Battle have been set and now we just play the waiting game until this hopefully fantastic PPV comes to us in less than two weeks' time. The build-up to the matches has been done fairly well, especially everything SoCal Uncensored-related (story-wise, they've been the most interesting thing to watch in ROH as of late). And how fitting, given they're the main event of the show as they defend their titles against two of CMLL's top stars Guerrero Maya, Jr. and Stuka, Jr. But before that, let's get to the rest of the show.

Kenny King vs. Christopher Daniels

This was a decent way to start off the show. While he lacks the one real "big-time" match of sorts, King has always been a solid, reliable midcarder who can put on solid matches with most performers. And Daniels, obviously, is a legend who seemingly ages like wine when it comes to his in-ring performance. Coincidentally, age was the main theme of the match, as King spent most of his time mocking Daniels' age as well as his seemingly short time left in ROH.

Following a low-blow, King plants Daniels with the Royal Flush and picks up the W. Nothing special, but a decent match to start off the show. Both men are consistently good workers, and combined with Marty Scurll on commentary, told a decent enough story in the ring as far as sub-10 minute matches go. Not anything spectacular, a solid opener. Above all else, I'm pumped for Scurll/Daniels.

Jeff Cobb vs. Josh Woods

A mashup of styles as Cobb and Woods put their mat-based work to the test. Hangman Page sits up at the entrance ramp and watches his Final Battle opponent duke it out, putting their amateur wrestling backgrounds on full display here. Cobb uses his power and technical experience to make quick work of Woods and takes the W with a Tour Of The Islands. Page walks down to the ring, unimpressed, calling for people in the back to bring out his opponent (which I'll cover next) so he can show Cobb what a "real ass-whoopin'" looks like.

While no doubt short, I definitely dug this match for what it was. Cobb kept it technical and really only pulled out the power advantage near the end, which is a welcome surprise. Aside from that, I liked how it fed into Cobb's feud with Page; Hangman, needing to play a game of one-up with Cobb, talks shit, demands his next victim to be brought out while also instructing to sit and watch what he's capable of and what he'll see at Final Battle.

Hangman Page vs. Facade

Immediately after the Cobb/Woods match, Page gets in the ring with Day-Glo wearing Tom MacDonald doppelganger Facade, this time with Cobb sitting up at the entrance ramp to scope out Page. Page pulls out his standard bag of tricks (the apron shooting star press, the bridging pumphandle suplex, etc.) and is generally dominant throughout most of the match. Facade does his best to fight back (including an impressive springboard 450 plancha), but it wasn't enough as Page puts him away with a Buckshot Lariat and a Rite Of Passage to take the W and gain momentum leading up to Final Battle.

This might sound crazy, but I think the Cobb/Page tandem of squash matches just might be my favorite part of the show so far. They showed just how similar Page and Cobb as the standard-bearing powerhouses of ROH. While both men are similar in terms of strength and agility, both definitely have an advantage over the other; Cobb is much more technically proficient and can keep it mat-based, while Page is the better striker, dishing out clubbing blows in effective fashion. It's a good tandem of squashes, as well as a preview of what's to come at Final Battle.

SoCal Uncensored (Frankie Kazarian and Scorpio Sky) vs. Guerrero Maya, Jr. and Stuka, Jr.

I mean, it's obvious who going to win here (it'd be nonsensical for Team CMLL to take it so close to Final Battle), but as long as the match quality is good, the result is inconsequential. After a series of tag team combos and counters, SCU hits a uranage/backstabber combo on Stuka, Jr. to win the match and retain their titles. Afterwards, Christopher Daniels comes out to address SCU's situation with the company, which draws the ire of his Final Battle opponent Scurll. The two trade words and the episode ends.

An okay match and a decent enough closing to the show. It's impressive to see how well Kazarian and Sky have gelled as a tag team. It's only been a couple of months and the two have gotten along swimmingly, pulling out impressive combos and manuevers with each match. While I know "underrated" is a term used quite flippantly in the realm of wrestling, I feel these guys fit it to an absolute. They're so fluid in the ring and can get it done on the mic as well (especially Kazarian). Then again, that's nothing to take away from Maya, Jr. and Stuka, Jr. from this match. They put on a decent showing (tilt-a-whirl backbreakers aplenty) and gave us American wrestling fans a taste of what CMLL has to offer.

At The End Of It All

To sum up my feelings on this episode as a whole, I deem it necessary to use a Dennis Reynolds quote: "It was pretty good, it was alright. It wasn't great, but it was fine." It was pretty much a build-up episode to Final Battle, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Surprisingly enough, I think my favorite part of the show was the dueling squash matches from Jeff Cobb and Hangman Page. A nice story of one-upsmanship leading into their match at Final Battle, which should be a show-stealer.

It wasn't the greatest thing I've ever seen from an episodic wrestling show, but then again, it didn't need to be. It just needed to provide decent matches that hyped you up for their last big PPV of the year, and they accomplished it. Solid in-ring work and storytelling here, done in an easily digestible time frame. I'm pumped for Final Battle, that's for damn sure.

The Western Presence in Japanese Wrestling: Its History, The Current State And Whether We Should Care

Dominion, June 9. At Osaka-Jo Hall, Kenny Omega shocked the wrestling world by finally defeating his long-time rival Kazuchika Okada in a hellacious 75-minute bout to become the new IWGP Heavyweight Champion, joining a lineage of fellow gaijins (foreigners) who managed to capture World Title glory in New Japan. Cut to present day, and all but two championships on NJPW are held by gaijins. And it's not just New Japan; various Japanese promotions, both male and female-centric, have a seemingly increased gaijin presence. So with that being said, what's the deal with it all? Is this a new direction puroresu is taking? And if it is, should we care either way?

Before we answer those questions, I feel it's important to look at the history of gaijins in Japanese wrestling: the most famous wrestlers, their success and why they were a bigger deal in Japan than they were elsewhere.

The History

Professional wrestling in Japan goes back as far as the 1950s; interestingly enough, that's where we also saw the genesis of gaijins. Rikidozan, arguably Japanese wrestling's biggest star of the 50s and 60s, would take on Western wrestlers such as Freddie Blassie, Killer Kowalski, Lou Thesz, Karl Gotch and others. Following his tragic murder in 1963, two of his top pupils Antonio Inoki and Shohei "Giant" Baba would strike out on their own; Inoki starting New Japan Pro Wrestling with Baba starting All Japan Pro Wrestling.

The biggest difference between NJPW and AJPW is while Inoki's promotion had much less on foreigners (at least until the 80s), Baba always had a steady stream of foreign wrestlers in AJPW, in part due to his promotion's membership in the National Wrestling Alliance. From there, wrestlers such as Jack Briscoe, Harley Race, Billy Robinson and The Funk Brothers (Terry and Dory, Jr.) dazzled the crowd with mat classics while Abdullah The Butcher and Bruiser Brody put on chaotic, often times bloody brawls. But there was one gaijin in AJPW that stood out above the rest, and that man was Stan Hansen.

Hansen fit into his  role quite well as a wily, ill-tempered cowboy who beat the shit out of anyone and everyone who pisses him off, an American stereotype then perceived by many countries outside the U.S. He came in, mouth full of tobacco, swinging his bullrope and daring anyone to get in his way. Japanese audiences seemingly ate it up like catnip, as Hansen became the gaijin face of AJPW, winning the Triple Crown Championship (AJPW's World Title) four times and the Tag Team titles 8 times, among numerous other belts along the way, carving out a legacy other gaijins such as Terry Gordy and Steve Williams. But while Hansen was tearing it up in AJPW, there was another gaijin making a name for himself in NJPW.

December 27, 1987. NJPW founder and promoter Antonio Inoki is pummeled and defeated by a debuting Big Van Vader, a moment so shocking it incited a riot in Ryogoku Sumo Hall, even getting NJPW banned from the venue for a while. Not long after, Vader's stock rose as he became the top monster gaijin in NJPW of the late 80s/early 90s, securing the IWGP Heavyweight Championship three times as well as Tag Team gold with Bam Bam Bigelow. His success even spilled out even into AJPW, where he won the Triple Crown Championship twice, becoming the first wrestler (gaijin or otherwise) to have held world titles in New Japan and All Japan.

Gaijin presence in Japanese wrestling waned on and off over the next few years, without having that much impact (the less we talk about Bob Sapp, the better). That is, until 2013 when Bullet Club emerged. Founded after his turn on then-Apollo 55 teammate Ryusuke Taguchi, Prince Devitt (a.k.a WWE's Finn Balor) aligned himself with fellow gaijins Karl Anderson, Bad Luck Fale, Tama Tonga and Doc Gallows to disrupt New Japan at its core, disrespecting its ideals and traditions. From there, the group changed heavily, both in its membership (LISTEN UP SLAP NUTS) and its ideology. The group still exists today with longtime member Kenny Omega is its leader, though not in the same vein as the BC of yesteryear.

Current State

So I've talked at length about the history of gaijins in puroresu. Now let's talk about the scene looks like today. If you've paid any attention to New Japan in recent time, you'll know that gaijin presence has ramped up quite a bit. And if you don't believe me, take a look at the current champions:

-IWGP Heavyweight Champion- Kenny Omega (Canadian)
-IWGP Intercontinental Champion- Chris Jericho (Canadian)
-IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion- KUSHIDA (Japanese)
-IWGP United States Champion- Cody (American). Interestingly enough, all previous champions have been gaijins: Omega, Jay White (New Zealander) and Juice Robinson (American)
-IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions- Guerrillas Of Destiny (Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa, both Tongan)
-IWGP NEVER Openweight Champion- Taichi (Japanese)
-IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions- El Desperado and Yoshinobu Kanemaru (both Japanese)
-NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Champions- G.O.D and Bone Soldier (aka Taiji Ishimori, Japanese)

As you can see, the focus on gaijins is still quite strong in New Japan, probably stronger now than at any other time in NJPW's history. This new transition has also seemed to touch the realm of joshi puro, especially World Wonder Ring Stardom. While many gaijin wrestlers have made their presence known in STARDOM (Bea Priestly, Viper, Kay Lee Ray, Impact's Tessa Blanchard and NXT's Shayna Baszler, Dakota Kai and Deonna Purazzo), one arguably stands out above the rest in terms of popularity and impact. I'm of course referring to Toni Storm.

Storm won the World of Stardom Championship (STARDOM's top prize) Sept. 24, 2017 when during a match with Mayu Iwatani, the then-champion Iwatani suffered a dislocated elbow, prompting the referees to stop the match and award the belt to Storm. From then, Storm held the belt for 258 days, one of the longest reigns in the company's history. Her reign drew criticism from fans abroad, as she rarely defended the belt before dropping it to Kagetsu last month. Nevertheless, as far as recent gaijins go, Storm's run in the company is most definitely a noteworthy one.

So Why?

With all this talk about history, one starts to wonder: Why did gaijin presence become such a big deal in Japan? Why was it easier for these guys to get over in Japan than anywhere else? A multitude of reasons, actually. For one, the gimmick; this is epecially true in the case of Stan Hansen. It's hard to get a cowboy gimmick over in the states simply because it's old news, be it then or now. We've seen Gunsmoke, we've seen John Wayne and we've read our history books; we know what to expect and as a result, we sleep on it hard. But take it overseas, where the stereotype became prevalent to thanks to the American pop culture they consume, and it's an instant success.

The same can be said for the constituency of Bullet Club. Many of the gaijins that have come through BC either had no recognizable success and started out in NJPW or had meager success elsewhere and exploded in New Japan. This can be said especially for the idea of the group as a whole (at least initially). A team like BC wouldn't have gotten over as well in the West as in Japan because Western audiences had become so entrenched with the lore of the New World Order (NWO), that a team coming through with similar tactics and fundamentals would've just been old news in the West. But seeing a team disrespect and mock the time-honored values and beliefs of puroresu, especially to BC's degree, was unheard of; as a result, they made an instant impact and are still going strong today. I had said previously ideologies within BC had changed, but given the uprising of The Firing Squad (G.O.D and Bad Luck Fale), especially with Tama Tonga's run in the G1 Climax this year, it seems at least a small part of BC may be returning to its roots.

So What?

So at this point, I'm sure some of you might be the asking: What's the big deal? Why the hell is this so important? Well, it's all a matter of perspective. For most of us, we grew up with WWE/NWA/WCW/ECW/etc., so obviously we're accustomed to seeing loads and loads of Western-centric wrestling rosters with some meager outside presence. We grow so used to them that they become tiresome, and we seek out something completely different, dipping our feet into other foreign styles, such as Lucha Libre and the focal point of this article, Puroresu. One moment we're watching beefy Japanese lads chop and headbutt each other until their chests turn violet and their brains become oatmeal, the next we see a fellow Yankee Doodle Dandy stroll down to the ring and we're thrown for a complete loop. We've seen enough of this fancy-dancy American shit, give us some realness, dammit!

But more to the point, when we as a wrestling audience reach for something new and different outside the Western landscape, we want that to be special. We want that to be its own thing, separate from what we're used to. Because of this, when those two paths do converge, it can get frustrating. It feels as if they're somehow betraying us by bringing in we've seen a thousand. That being said, we have to think about the other side; what we see as fresh and original, they see as the same old song and dance. For them, bringing in Western talent is a refreshing breath of air.

"Hmph. You millenials with your Bullet Club and your Los Ingo-whathaveyou. Back in MY day, we had Kawada, Kobashi, Misawa, Akiyama and Taue! We had Hansen, Williams, Gordy and Vader! Now THAT was a time to be a puro fan." Unsurprisingly, puro fans aren't immune to the nostalgia bug. We've seen it with the Territory diehards, the Attitude Era fanboys and the ECW extremists, among others. Much like fans of any other form of popular media, we're always going to have those who gripe and complain about the current state of the product they consume and long for better days past.

For them, as well as the entirety of the wrasslin' fandom, I say this: in order to survive and thrive, professional wrestling needs to change and adapt. Obvious, I know, but it bears repeating. It can't just cling to the past; while it's nice to see them retain themes of the past, it's necessary they grow with the times in order to satisfy the ever-changing demographics. You can enjoy the Three Musketeers of NJPW, you can indulge in the (insert AJPW legend I already listed here) and you can immerse yourself in the days of Manami Toyota, Bull Nakano and Akira Hokuto. That's all fine and good, just remember that it's a business, and to maintain relevancy, businesses need to keep their pulse on what's trending.

Professional wrestling, like any other popular medium, is ever-changing. Whether it's WWE, NJPW or anything in between, it has to evolve in order to survive. Much like how WWE bringing in talent from Japan/Mexico/etc. is a breath of fresh air to the product, we also have to see that Western talent will do the same for puroresu. So don't get discouraged when you see so many gaijin champions in puro. Rather, embrace it; acknowledge that while your favorite will always stick to tradition in some form, it needs to appeal to a wide demographic, and sometimes their tastes aren't as congruent with yours. In short, love what you love while also accept the changes. Nothing's perfect, after all.

Sources: 

https://www.cagematch.net/?id=

https://www.cagesideseats.com/2016/1/11/10747164/too-sweet-me-a-history-of-bullet-club-in-five-parts

http://www.oocities.org/smokyrobmoore/jp052499.htm

http://theditch.us/riot.html

ROH Wrestling Episode #364: 9/10/18

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.