In this week's episode, Ring Of Honor highlights their return to New York City for Manhattan and gears up for Summer Supercard. Some of ROH's biggest stars are featured tonight, including Jay Lethal, RUSH, Dalton Castle and of course World Champion Matt Taven, among others. It should be a jam-packed show, so let's not waste any more time and get on with it.
Matt Taven opener
Well into almost four months in his reign as ROH World Champion, Matt Taven enters Hammerstein Ballroom clad in a Red Sox jersey and addresses his reign, highlighting his victory at Supercard as well as the multiple successful defenses he's had so far. Taven vows to put an end to his near 7-year rivalry with Lethal tonight, only for Kenny King to come out and demand a title shot, as per the stipulation of his Honor Rumble victory. Taven agrees, only to be met with an upset Lethal and the two trade blows before security breaks them up.
A decently executed segment, and definitely a match I'm looking forward to later in the evening. Lethal's a future wrestling god, Taven is fantastic and King is super underrated. With enough time provided, they should definitely be able to put on a great showing.
Briscoes/Guerrillas Of Destiny Video Package
This segment highlights the current rivalry between The Briscoes and G.O.D over the ROH World Tag titles. G.O.D defended their titles against the brothers at War Of The Worlds, only for the Briscoes to reclaim the titles later in Manhattan. G.O.D attacked the Briscoes post-match following a successful title defense against The Bouncers at Mass Hysteria. The challenge was laid out by G.O.D, and the two teams will face off in a Ladder War for the Tag Titles at Summer Supercard.
I'm just sort of "eh" on this. It's probably going to be a good match and I'm definitely hype for it, but I'm not really sold on the rivalry. The Briscoes are at their best when they're working straight heel, and this isn't the case here. Coupled with the fact G.O.D really don't like ROH, I'm honestly kind of baffled they're still actively working with them. That aside, I'm definitely looking forward to Summer Supercard.
RUSH/Dalton Castle Package
Following Briscoes/G.O.D, we get a video package unfurling the RUSH/Dalton Castle rivalry. After RUSH embarrassed him in mere seconds at G1 Supercard, Castle grew bitter and vowed revenge. He took it out on RUSH's younger brother Dragon Lee at Best In The World, then attacked RUSH post-match at Manhattan Mayhem. The two had a match at Mass Hysteria, only for Castle to garner a disqualification via a low blow, they'll square off at Summer Supercard.
Both guys are excellent workers and this should prove to be a great match. This is really the first time RUSH has shown any semblance of vulnerability in his ROH tenure, and it's honestly surprising it's at the hands of Castle. But this is a good thing, because having a superman schtick for too long can get boring, so it's interesting to see some vulnerability in RUSH. Why it's against Castle is anyone's guess, but regardless, this should be a damn good showing and I'm just twiddling my thumbs until it happens.
Tracy Williams/Shane Taylor Package
From the highlights provided, Williams won the proving ground match at Manhattan Mayhem and earned a shot at Taylor's World TV title. Following his victory, Williams cuts a promo how he's going to win the TV Title from Taylor in front of his friends and family in Toronto. Conversely, Taylor cuts a promo how he seeks to destroy Williams and completely embarrass him in front of his friends and family come Summer Supercard.
So, am I pissed Bandido didn't win it at Best In The World? Yes. Am I a fan of Shane Taylor and his reign as TV Champion? Yes. Would it be satisfying to see Williams leave Summer Supercard with the World TV title? Yes. Confusing questions aside, I'm definitely hype for this match, as it's clash of styles to the fullest (Williams' technical acumen vs. Taylor size/power game). Looking forward to this one and really hoping it's more than just a squash.
Jay Lethal vs. Kenny King vs. Matt Taven (c), ROH World Championship match
As soon as the bell rings, Taven sits on the outside and lets his two opponents go at it. King and Lethal taunt each other's signature moves before Taven grabs Lethal off the ring apron; the two trade punches before King lands a corkscrew plancha onto both of them. Back in the ring, King lands a series of kicks on Taven, sending him to the outside. Afterwards, King plants Lethal with a backbreaker/lariat combo.
Watching on the outside, Taven finally makes his move in the ring as he dropkicks King, then hits Lethal with a rope-assisted enzuguiri, culminating in a discus clothesline to King. Taven tosses King aside for a bit as he tussles with Lethal, hitting a swinging neckbreaker/springboard moonsault combo in the process. King tries to stop the momentum, only for Taven to answer back with a DDT. The three trade punches for a brief spell before Taven dodges a enzugiri attempt from Letal and redirects it to King before superkicking him.
Taven and Lethal try to go through the motions before King takes both of them out with a double lariat. King and Lethal duke it out on the apron for a brief spell before Taven connects with a springboard enzguiri to King, then lays out his competition with a suicide dive. Taven tries for an over the top rope tope suicida, connecting on King but Lethal and responding with one of his own. Lethal then hits King one of his signature dives and hits one more, finalizing his trio of dives.
Lethal tries to apply the Figure Four to King, only for Taven to break it up with a frog splash. Taven goes for one of his own on King; Lethal tries to respond, only for King to reverse the pressure and get Taven out of harm's way. Lethal then locks in the crossface, but King breaks it up; he then hits Lethal with a Chin Checker, only for Taven to plant King with his Kick Of The King. Taven and Lethal throw hands before King plants them both with a double blockbuster.
Taven and King trade pin attempts before Taven drills King with a knee; Lethal connects with a Lethal Injection to Taven, who kicks out. King hits Lethal with a Lethal Injection of his own, then a Royal Flush. Taven drills King with a Climax and then pins Lethal to retain.
This was a fantastic match and a great way to end the show. The spots were well-executed by each performer, who fulfilled their role to an absolute tee. The overall MVP of the match is Taven, as he blended his opportunistic heel character work with (insert spot monkey reference here). While he isn't booked the smartest, Taven is one hell of a worker, and matches like this one prove it. I'm beyond hype for his match with Alex Shelley at Summer Supercard, because I know those two can tear the house down if given the opportunity.
While essentially a recap show with one match, I will say it was put together well, and definitely got me hype for Summer Supercard. If you're looking for a real wrasslin' experience, skip to the last 20 minutes or so of the episode. Regardless, a fun and engaging watch.
In what should prove to be an absolute barn-burner, Lifeblood seeks vengeance as they take on Villain Enterprises in a 6-man main event. This should prove to be pretty damn good, but let's see how the rest of the show pans out.
Jeff Cobb vs. Jonathan Gresham vs. Dalton Castle vs. Kenny King
Castle and Cobb start the match with a quick technical exchange, highlighting their amateur wrestling experience. They run the ropes before Cobb dropkicks Castle; Gresham and King are subsequently tagged in. Gresham attempts some mat-based trickery, but King's size advantage gets the better of him as he responds with a series of kicks to ground Gresham. King and Castle exchange tags, attempting to further break Gresham down.
Their chemistry breaking down, King and Castle begin to squabble following a few surprise tags. Gresham takes advantage and tags in Cobb, who flies in like a bat out of hell as he takes Castle and King for a ride of suplexes. Cobb is distracted as Gresham tags himself back in; Castle takes advantage and takes Cobb down with a spinning bulldog. Gresham takes Castle down with a jumping enzuguiri; King responds to this with an inverted backbreaker, then heads to the top rope.
Castle drops King to a seated position to set up his signature knee lift, but is met with a lariat from Cobb. King recovers and hits a blockbuster on Gresham. He tries the same on Cobb, who catches him and plants him with a jackhammer. Following a kick-out, King goes on a tear as he spinebusters Cobb, clothesline Castle out of the ring then plants Gresham with a blue thunder bomb. King exits the ring to grab a foreign object (the time-keeper's high heel), but Cobb sees it and King enzuguiris him out of the ring in the process. Castle gets back in the ring only for King to send him back out via a forced/assisted suicide dive to Cobb.
With the referee distracted, Gresham grabs the high heel hits King with it, rolling him up and getting the victory to start out the show.
A pretty damn good match with a rather surprising finish. King and Cobb were the overall MVPs of this match, getting in the most offense and providing the most impressive spots. What really grabbed me, though was the ending. Akin to his victory at Best In The World, Gresham used dirty tactics to get a W; definitely apropos of his character, and I'm thinking this is signaling a heel turn, which is something I'm not sure how to feel about just yet. Regardless, a good match and a great way to kick the show off.
Soldiers Of Savagery (Moses & Khan) vs. Primal Fear (Matthew Toro & Soriano)
SOS lays waste to their opponents as a pair of elevated double chokeslams puts them way to garner a W for Moses & Khan.
It's a meh from me here. I've seen a thousand squashes, and this one was just like the rest. The finisher is pretty alright, but that's about it. Let's get to the main event now.
Lifeblood (Tracy Williams, Mark Haskins & Bandido) vs. Villain Enterprises (Marty Scurll, PCO & Brody King)
The match begins with Haskins diving onto Scurll before every member of both teams start throwing hands. Williams connects with a sliding dropkick to PCO and Bandido hits King with a fosbury flop: Scurll and Haskins continue to duke it out on their own as the rest of the both teams continue to brawl on the outside. Back in the ring, Williams sets up a chair; PCO attempts to wriggle out of his grasp only for Bandido to assist Williams in tossing him into the corner.
Scurll and King send Williams and Bandido to the outside; Haskins responds by sending Scurll to the outside and throwing rapid-fire strikes and kicks at King, who asks for more. Haskins tries to oblige only to be met with a chair shot from Scurll, which prompts King to plant him with a spinning side slam onto said chair. Bandido hits King with a corkscrew crossbody as Williams attempts a diving kendo stick shot to Scurll, who dodges only for Williams to connect the second time around.
Williams then hits King with two shots of the kendo stick before wrapping his left arm up with it in a bastardized cobra clutch of sorts. PCO enters the ring to give Williams and Bandido each a chair, begging them to hit him. Williams and Bandido get a couple shots in before PCO clotheslines both to the outside. King hits them with a cannonball off the apron, then PCO follows up with one of his own. Back in the ring, Scurll and PCO hit Haskins with a boston crab/leg drop combo; King joins in with a kendo stick shot before following it up with a dual Scurll/chair-assisted jumping senton to Haskins.
Bandido and Williams come to aid Haskins, pelting PCO and Scurll with kendo stick shots. With an assist from Haskins, Williams and Bandido powerbomb King off the top rope through multiple set-up chairs. Scurll comes in to crack both of them with a kendo stick, then fires up PCO before setting up Haskins on an outside table. Bandido blocks the attempt, allowing Haskins to scurry away before driving PCO through the table with a super hurricanrana.
Back in the ring, Scurll is alone with Williams and Haskins, who dodges a kendo stick shot and puts Scurll in a sharpshooter; Williams aids Haskins with a kendo stick-assisted crossface on Scurll. King breaks it up and sends both Haskins and Williams to the outside. He connects with a somersault tope onto his opponents, followed by PCO. Bandido sneaks into the ring to superkick Scurll, then ascends to the top rope to hit a corkscrew plancha of sorts to the outside. Back in the ring, Bandido hits PCO with a chair-assisted shotgun dropkick.
After hanging PCO up on the ropes with a Go 2 Sleep, Bandido sets up a chair in an effort to spice up his 21-Plex finisher. He connects, but is unable to follow up with a cover as PCO rolls out of the pin attempt. Scurll and King set up a table in the corner, only for Williams and Haskins to come at them with a flurry of kendo stick shots. Scurll responds with his umbrella and unloads upon Lifeblood; he then sets Bandido on the table and ascends to the top rope. Bandido comes back and puts Scurll through the table with a moonsault fallaway slam to secure the victory for Lifeblood.
An excellent match, probably one of the better matches ROH has put on this year. Ever since its inception, Villain Enterprises has proven it excels in chaotic, no-rules brawls, and this one was no exception. But don't leave Lifeblood out of the conversation, as they proved they can get just as dirty. It's hard to pick an overall MVP of the match, as seemingly every participant got their fair shot in. To make it easy, I'll say Bandido. He provided the best spots while simultaneously taking as much damage as his Lifeblood counterparts, proving his endurance. While not the exact definition of tag-team wrestling, it was nonetheless an immensely entertaining brawl with one of ROH's rising stars going over in a big way. I don't really see a downside to this, in all honesty.
A great show hampered by a nothing-ass middle. The fatal 4-way was a nice way to kick off the show, and the main event was an exceedingly fun brawl from start to finish. The only thing that really hampered this show was the SOS, but that's just me being nitpicky. Trust me when I say seek this one out ASAP.
After taking some time off, we're back to covering ROH week to week (probably). Tonight should prove to be a good show as Matt Taven defends his ROH World Championship against Tracy Williams in the main event. We'll have lots of hopefully great content coming our way, so let's not waste any more time and get right into it.
The Kingdom (TK O'Ryan & Vinny Marseglia) vs. The Bouncers (Brian Milonas & Beer City Bruiser)
The match starts out with Milonas pummeling O'Ryan, dishing out plenty of heavy-duty punishment. O'Ryan tries to wear Milonas down by running the ropes, but's it all for naught. Bruiser and Marseglia are tagged in and Marseglia immediately tries to cut down his larger opponents with a series of well-placed knees and bicycle kicks. They little to no effect, however, as The Bouncers go to work on their opponents with some tag-team offense, culminating with a Bruiser cannonball to the outside.
Bruiser tries to get Marseglia back in the ring, but Marseglia counters and tosses Bruiser into the ring post, then the barricade. Back in the ring, Marseglia grounds Bruiser and taunts him for a bit before hitting him with a series of running elbow strikes, then a spinning shiranui off the second rope. Bruiser blocks a double flapjack attempt then connects with a double sidewalk slam. Milonas gets the hot tag and makes quick work of O'Ryan & Marseglia. Milonas attempts a second-rope superplex, but Marseglia sneaks around to push Milonas' legs out from under him. O'Ryan lands on top to get the pin and secure the W.
A decent way to kick off the show with an interesting finish. Both teams played their roles well (The Bouncers being lovable hosses and The Kingdom being opportunistic heels), and played off each other well, creating some pretty good sequences. I love that Bruiser and Milonas are getting over with the crowd, and I especially love how they're being booked (despite other objections I have with ROH's booking, but that's another story for another time). Both teams looked strong (both in-ring and character-wise), and the finish added the proverbial cherry on top of the overall story being told. Not too much more to say here.
Brian Johnson vs. Josh "The Goods" Woods
Johnson puts up a surprising fight against Woods, using trickery in an effort to halt the momentum of Woods, who's been absolutely dominant as of late. After a quick clothesline, Johnson manages to ground Woods and works the left arm. Woods fights back with a bevvy of forearms, then a jumping corner knee strike followed up by an overhead belly-to-belly suplex. Countering a snapmare, Woods hits Johnson with a running knee strike, then his Seismic Toss finisher to pick up the victory.
Surprisingly longer than most Woods matches as of late. About the same quality, though. A fun squash and I like Woods' finisher. That's about it.
Tracy Williams vs. Matt Taven (c), ROH World Championship match
It's a battle for leverage from the beginning as Taven and Williams exchange a series of holds and counters, with Taven taunting Williams throughout. Williams manages to get the early advantage with a combination of holds, throws and strikes. Taven attempts a comeback, but Williams answers back with a corner 619, then a wrecking ball dropkick. Williams works Taven over for a bit on the outside, then tries to get him back in the ring, only for Taven to respond by tossing him into the ring post, then the barricade (holy deja vu, Batman).
Taven tries to leave the match but Williams refuses, throwing more hard strikes before delivering a jumping elbow smash off the entrance ramp. Back in the ring, Williams attempts some top-rope offense; Taven counters and delivers a super russian legsweep to Williams, then a wrecking ball dropkick of his own. Taven tries some trickery back in the ring as he removes the padding from the corner. Williams attempts a top-rope double stomp and Taven dodges, cinching in a sleeper hold attempt.
Williams fights out and answers back with a attempt of his own. He ascends to the top rope once again, only for Taven to hit him with an enzuguiri. Taven attempts a backpack stunner, only for Williams to wriggle out and go to the top rope again. Taven connects with another enzuguiri, then perches Williams up on the top rope before delivering a stiff chop. Williams counters a superplex attempt with a single-arm DDT on the turnbuckle, then follows up with a diving DDT.
Taven then counters a sunset flip attempt with a running knee. After a brief rest, the two go right back at it as Taven hits Williams with a step-up enzuguiri and Williams answers back with a discus clothesline, transitioning into a crossface shortly after. Taven tries to get to the ropes as Williams tries to pull him back with an ankle lock then an STF attempt. The two men exchange sunset flip and finisher counters, then Williams dodges another Taven knee strike. Taven manages to connect with his Climax finisher, only for Williams to kick out.
Taven goes to the top rope for a frog splash attempt, only for Williams to block then hit Taven with a one-armed piledriver. After a referee distraction, Taven tosses Williams into the exposed turnbuckle, then plants him the Climax to retain his title.
A great match and an excellent way to end a show. Both men gave it their all from bell to bell, trying and succeeding at giving us a great title match. The styles presented from both men (Taven's flashy flamboyance with Williams' no-nonsense ring dedication) blended smoothly, giving us superb chemistry and well-executed sequences and counters throughout. Both men looked strong throughout this whole match, and got in their fair share of offense. As far as I'm concerned, this is a win-win from both sides. Taven gets another worthy challenger and Williams proves his worth with another excellent in-ring performance. Both wrestler's stock rises as performers, and we as an audience get treated to an excellent main event. Needless to say, this was a damn good match.
Given that I've missed the past two weeks of ROH TV, I'm probably not as good of a judge as I could be. But given what I've recently seen, this is probably one of their better episodes. The matches were good (if not great) and the booking was intelligent (which is surprising, given the BITW results). I'd definitely recommend giving this a watch ASAP.
STUNNER! THE STUNNER! 1,2,3, IT'S OVER! Something we've heard 1000 times before (in some variation) and will likely never get tired of hearing. Whether it's the Stunner, the RKO, the Pedigree or even the Atomic Leg Drop, finishers have always fascinated me. To see wrestlers use a variety of moves before determining one specific hold/strike/etc. in particular will be the Coup De Grace (pun intended) is just the most intriguing shit to a nerd like me who obsesses over the mechanics of wrestling. When watching a match or a YouTube move compilation, one starts to wonder: Why is THAT the end of the match? Where did these epilogues to such campy, machismo-fueled stories come from and how did they evolve? What do they look like? What's the difference between the good and the bad, and why the hell am I asking you all of this?
With that being said, I'd like to take a deep dive into the entire ethos of finishers. What their history is, their mechanical components and whether this is 100% subjective or there's an instance of a particular move being objectively perfect or absolute trash. So allow me to beg your indulgence, as I'm about to go balls deep (or at least attempt to) in the nerdiest way possible.
The History
To really understand the full components of a finisher, it's absolutely necessary to trace their lineage. And given I'm on Steven Spielberg levels of historical nerdiness, you can imagine I'll take great pleasure in this section. In the days of yore, wrestling finishers were never anything particularly theatrical or mesmerizing. For the most part, they were simple holds done in the tradition of Catch Wrestling, innovated in late-19th century England. From there, it was adapted further when traveling carnivals relied on such grapplers like Farmer Burns, Frank Gotch, George Hackenschmidt and the like to wow their patrons with a variety of brutal holds that felt realer-than-real for the time. Whether it was Hackenschmidt's bearhug, Evan "Strangler" Lewis' neck yoke (later known as the rear naked choke) or Ed "Strangler" Lewis' (no relation) side headlock, fans were treated to the most realistic grappling possible.
In other words, the crux of wrestling finishers at the turn of the century were basically the culmination of men in their underpants squeezing each other REAL HARD until one of them gave up. They were very methodical and plodding, and were definitely of their time. But times change, and with that comes a new audience craving something for something new to really dazzle them. The impetus, as far as American professional wrestling goes, is none other than the man himself Lou Thesz.
When you're heralded as one of the greatest to ever don a pair of tights and lace up a pair of boots, you've got to be an absolute game-changer. Thesz accomplished this in spades, innovating some of the unique finishers of the time, and what would later become commonplace staples of professional wrestling. They include: the powerbomb, the STF (yours still sucks, John) and the aforementioned Thesz Press (it eventually became more of a setup as opposed to a finisher, but important for its time nonetheless).
And while there were numerous innovations to be had in American professional wrestling, something else was brewing across the border. In the world of Lucha Libre, grapplers from all parts of Mexico were injecting an extra dose of speed and agility into wrestling, coming up with some of the most unique finishers in wrestling, influencing the business in both technical and high-flying aspects. For the first part, I'd be remiss not to mention one of the influential performers in all of professional wrestling, and that man is Gory Guerrero.
A feared heel technician in the world of lucha libre, there were few as innovative and influential as Guerrero. Proof of this lies within two particular holds: the La de a Caballo and the Gory Special. Literally translated to "on horseback," this move would come to be known as the Camel Clutch by way of The Sheik, and as such became the trademark for many a wrestler with a Middle Eastern gimmick. As for the Gory Special, it was certainly a unique move for the time; working the opponent's arms, shoulders and back simultaneously, this submission move has since utilized and adopted in various ways, be it a facebuster, a piledriver, a powerbomb or even a flatliner.
As far as lucha technicians go, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention one of Guerrero's contemporaries Rito Romero. Innovating a double leg-hook/double armbar combo dubbed "La Tapatia," it would come to be known as the Romero Special, utilized by many a mat technician, be it Bryan Danielson/Daniel Bryan or Jushin Thunder Liger, among others. There were many other technical innovations from lucha libre (La Magistral and the Dos Caras Clutch in particular), but if you're like me, you remember the high-flying aspects of lucha libre the most. As for the man who popularized it? Well, you'll see him below.
The man, the myth, the legend. Mil Mascaras was certainly ahead of his time and then some; while known more as a mat-based technician in his native Mexico, he became known as a high-flying innovator, dazzling Japanese crowds with his Plancha, which came to be known as a diving crossbody, utilized by many a wrestler from there on out. And much like how Guerrero was the impetus for technical lucha innovation, Mascaras was the impetus for high-flying innovation. We see this with Mando Guerrero's moonsault, La Fiera's frog splash and Huracan Ramirez' hurricanrana, among many others.
So at this point, you'd probably figure I'd be covering Japanese Puroresu here. Well, to be honest, I was somewhat wary of it. Reason being is I've always felt the puro style as a whole was much more influential to modern professional wrestling as a whole than the singular finishing manuevers. Drawing influence from various martial arts (judo, jiu-jitsu, karate, etc.) as well as traditional American wrestling, most finishers were just a hard suplex, simple submission or a quick strike after beating the tar out of each other for some 30-40 minutes.
And that's where Riki Choshu comes in. You see, one of the most heralded debates the IWC has is who performs the sharpshooter better: Bret Hart or Sting? Sting being the one to introduce it to American audiences, Hart being the one to deepen the popularity. But we wouldn't be having this conversation had it not been for Choshu. Dubbing it the Sasori-Gatame, this unique combination of a boston crab and a cloverleaf was unique for its time, and would later become one of the biggest game-changers in wrestling history. Without it, some of the most memorable events in wrestling history may not have happened (or would've happened differently): the Hart/Austin double turn at WrestleMania 13, the Montreal Screwjob (the starting point of the Attitude Era) and the birth of Corporate Rock. While not I'm saying it was the sole reason for any of these things happening, it was nevertheless an important piece of storytelling and gave us a special aesthetic of wrestling lore.
So where are we at now, as far as wrestling finishers are concerned? It's really a unique combination of styles. We have English Catch, American traditional, Mexican Lucha Libre and Japanese puro, all intertwined in a bizarre web that somehow meshes all of these styles in various ways by various performers. But now that we have the history intact, let's pick apart a finisher's anatomy how a college biology professor picks apart a fetal pig: slow, methodical and if you don't have the stomach for it, you may vomit. Probably not, but if you're still reading this, you're just as much of a nerd as I am about this shit and you'll most likely stick around to see where it goes. And for that, I thank you.
Finisher Anatomy Part I: Practicality
When determining a finisher, one really needs to consider the following: Is it a move you can do well? And is it a move you can do well on any opponent, regardless of size? While there are some finishers that look great and are performed well, there are certain finishers which can really only be done to opponents of a similar size (e.g. Petey Williams' Canadian Destroyer); as a result, the aesthetic overweighs the practicality. While I love moves like these, I can't honestly be convinced it could take down someone the size of Kane/Undertaker/Big Show/etc., especially if you're not of comparable size/stature.
This why moves like Triple H's Pedigree (pictured), the Stunner, the RKO, the Rock Bottom, etc. all superbly work as finishers. Not only is it a move they're well-versed in performing, it's something they can perform on virtually any opponent they face, and in no uncertain terms be the deciding factor towards victory. This also holds true for top-rope moves, albeit with a caveat. In this situation, it's all about what you can do beforehand. As long as you can believably get your opponent down on the mat, be it a series of well-placed strikes, crisp throws or a hearty slam, then there's no reason to why you couldn't finish off an opponent with a moonsault or a frog splash or some other flippy-do whathaveyou we all know and love.
Part 2: Impact
Though it's blatantly obvious, it bears repeating that regardless of what your wrestling moveset looks like, your finisher needs to be the strongest-looking one out of the bunch. For example, if you use a lot of springboard/top-rope attacks and roundhouses regularly throughout your match, your Coup De Grace (this time, pun unintended) has to be something more than just a superkick or a tornado DDT in order to really provide a cathartic effect. Case in point, the video above. PAC (formerly known as Neville in the WWE), and many wrestlers similar to him, has a vast moveset that begs for a breathtaking finisher; using a corkscrew shooting star press dubbed the Black Arrow (formerly the Red Arrow), PAC is able to distinguish this move from the rest of his repertoire as the end-all, be-all of a match.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, we have wrestlers employ size over innovation as a means to an end. I'm talking about guys like Diesel, Big Show, Kane and the Undertaker (pictured above). Their moveset is often times limited, making up for the lack of flash with sheer brutality. We see this Taker/Kane/Big Show's chokeslam, Taker & Kane's tombstone and Diesel's Jackknife Powerbomb. Admittedly it's easier for wrestlers of this size to come up with a truly impactful finisher because of their typically limited moveset. \
Regardless, every wrestler or wrestling fan knows, or at least should know that you need a finisher which provides the best epilogue to the story. Whether it's by size or innovation, a finisher needs to give us some twisted form of closure. Simply put, if what you're doing at the beginning or middle of the match is more cathartic than the ending, you're doing it wrong.
Part 3: Innovation
Another important factor we need to consider for what makes a good finisher is the overall aesthetic. If it was silhouetted, would we able to recognize it? There are plenty of finishers I could list, but for now, I'll just talk about Kenny Omega's One-Winged Angel. A wrestler with already a very unique moveset, he managed to craft a move that stands alone from the rest. Clean, yet brutal, and it looks cool; it pretty much checks all of the boxes. You see, any jabroni can take a superkick or a DDT and call that their Coup De Grace, but it takes a wrestler with enough panache to come up with a move that people can really call their own. This is where Omega, and many other wrestlers like him, thrive.
Though I'd be lying if I said this was the most important part of a finisher. While necessary, there's a fine line when it comes to finisher innovation. Much like my writing process, creativity should never be forced; when it is, it over-complicates the story you're telling.The reason why the One-Winged Angel works so well is that it's a compromise of sorts. It separates itself from the rest of the field, yet it doesn't alienate viewers from the overall story being told in the ring. Like a fine digestif, a finisher should be bold, distinguishable and flavorful. You want to leave a meal feeling impressed and satisfied, but not overstuffed.
Examples of where innovation may be overdone come in the form of Brian Cage's Weapon X (a Gory Special/Flatliner combo) and whatever the hell Marty "The Moth" Martinez had for a brief respite (some sort of double-arm flipping codebreaker? yeah, I'm pretty sure that's what it was). These are moves that look cool and unique in their creativity, but the amount of setup required for it can leave some turned off by the move; it leaves them feeling as though creativity and innovation overtook general impact. As a result, the finish can produces somewhat of an empty feeling.
But then again, this whole beautiful mess is entirely subjective, so not everyone's going to be impressed. So, for better or worse, what you choose to get the "1-2-3" or the tapout should stand head and shoulders of whatever else; something that truly deserves to be put before the "FIN" title card.
Part 4: Escalation
And while we're taking a look into the very essence of a finisher, we have to discuss versatility. If you really want to make crowd pop, a finisher should be styled in a way that can tell a story from multiple angles. It should have the ability to signalled, reversed in various ways or appear out of nowhere. Judging by the thumbnail above and the previous strands of words I typed, I've made it blatantly obvious the next finisher I'm going into detail on.
Randy Orton's RKO has stood the test of time and serves as a gatekeeper for finisher and meme lore, and arguably the biggest reason for this is its incredible malleability. Orton bends and twists the RKO in order to suit whatever in-ring narrative is being told. It can be long and drawn out or snapped off in an instant as well as easily reversed/used as a reversal easily; it checks off all the boxes of versatility, and as a result, it's timeless. Along with Sweet Chin Music, the Stunner, the Sharpshooter and a plethora of other examples, finishers like these are an excellent example how to provide the ultimate catharsis for any match. In order to best tell an in-ring story in any situation, finishers need to be fluid and free-forming.
Part 5: Character
This one's going a little tough for me to go into, as I could either make this one short and sweet or as a detailed as humanly possible. Quite honestly, it's the most important, fundamental part of a finisher. If it doesn't reflect who you are and what you do as a wrestler, then why even bother? From the days of yore to where wrestling is now, this has been truer than practically any other tenet of "How-to" wrestling lore.
But how, you may ask? I will tell you! One such example is Bret Hart and the Sharpshooter; being such a heralded technician, this intricate, painful-looking submission is a direct reflection of that (insert Kurt Angle, *Redacted* and Zack Sabre, Jr here as well). And from technical to high-flying, we have Rey Mysterio's 619. Flashy, quick and innovative, it portrays him as a wrestler better than the rest of the moves in his arsenal: as a plucky, high-flying babyface who uses his speed and agility to overcome his larger opponents. And if we're talking about size-dependent powerhouses, we have to mention Diesel/Kevin Nash and his Jackknife Powerbomb; given you're being dropped back first up from 7 feet in the air, it's a finisher that perfectly reflects his status as a looming giant.
And you might think the more eccentric the gimmick/character, the harder it is to find finisher that best reflects. Consider Kane; a demonic, single-minded entity born of violence and vengeance, the Tombstone Piledriver and the Chokeslam (much like The Undertaker) are perfect mirror images of the cartoonish character he portrays. Kane, Taker and several other examples that I'm for whatever reason drawing a blank on are proof that even with a silly gimmick, there's always a finisher to perfectly reflect it.
The Line Between Good And Bad Finishers
The history. The anatomy. As far as the discussion of finishers, what else is left? As much as I dread to dwell on it, I have to bring up what makes a bad finisher. Because what good is discussing a sect of popular culture if you don't take at least a small modicum of time to shit on things other people like, am I right?
There are finishers that meet (at least in some aspect) the community standards of what a finisher should be but fail to live up to the other standards. For example, The Worm. Employed by Scotty 2 Hotty, this theatrical displaying of a falling throat chop is almost universally derided by the IWC. And in all honesty, I can't say the criticism is without merit. Technically speaking, it doesn't look like the most impactful move and it doesn't really seem like something which you could end a match with. However, it's unique and it fits the character; plus, it can pop the crowd. There's a similar finisher I'm about to mention, but before I do, let me prep my apocalypse bunker.
Aaaand, we're good. Much like The Worm, The People's Elbow has received criticism as far as its legitimacy as a finisher. Being that it's a delayed elbow drop, it's certainly understandable why one would loathe it. But consider this: The Rock's character is a theatrical one, brimming with confidence and bravado. Given his oeuvre, I'd say his finisher makes more than enough sense. And while this may be delving into the comedy wrestling territory, the same could be said about Santino Marella's Cobra or other similar-themed finishers.
But for every derided finisher that might not deserve the hate, there's always going to be one, or several, that most definitely do. Allow me to shift into my Corey Graves impression as I go into my "Bully Byron Saxton" mode. When it comes to wrestling finishers, I've yet to find someone who would defend Saxtonation as a legitimately good finisher outside of shitposting reasons. It's really not all that impactful, it doesn't serve his character well and the escalation factor is very limited. You could make an argument for innovation, but while it's different, it doesn't mean it's satisfying; just because 2 Girls 1 Cup isn't comparable to any other porno I've watched, it doesn't mean I'm going to achieve an orgasm watching it.
And while we're on the subject of innovation, it's important we discuss the danger factor. Consider the video above, where the wrestler SPYRAL BKNY performs a moonsault Styles Clash. Is it different? Sure. But considering the reputation the Styles Clash has already gotten (Roderick Strong and Yoshitatsu can speak for this), delivering it off the top rope and adding a moonsault onto it just spells a recipe for disaster; risking safety for creativity, I fail to see how this can be defended as a necessary means to an end.
Moment Of Reflection
So perhaps I may have come off as a bitter, hypocritical Cornette-esque curmudgeon in some aspects on this post. After all, I'm not the one running the ropes, so who the fuck am I to judge? I guess I'm writing this from the perspective of someone who knows what they like and is only basing this on their viewing activity. And above all else, this is entertainment, and entertainment is subjective. If a simple DDT does the job for you, cool. If you need a 450 piledriver, rad. Save for nerds like me who obsess over shit like this, as long as a finisher is entertaining and can suspend your disbelief, there isn't much need to dwell on it too much. Like what you like, and let's keep shit at least moderately friendly.
Unless you defend Saxtonation, because if you do, you deserve to be bullied.
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.
ROH continues its War Of The Worlds journey in Chicago tonight. It'll be a tag team-themed episode tonight as we'll see the best of what ROH and New Japan has to offer (Los Ingobernable De Japon, The Kingdom, The Bouncers, etc). So what exactly are we in for? Let's tune in to find out.
The Allure promo
The newest stable (Velvet Sky, Angelina Love & Mandy Leon) in ROH arrives to the ring to boast about their overall acumen and influence on women's wrestling. Sky and Love list their resumes as Women's champions, noting that such a list of accomplishments serve as the reason to why their first appearance in ROH was to crash the Mayu Iwatani/Kelly Klein Women Of Honor title match at G1 Supercard earlier this year. As Leon starts to speak, Jenny Rose interrupts her, flanked by WOH Champion Kelly Klein. The five women scuffle before it's eventually broken. Klein throws down the gauntlet as issues a challenge to The Allure: her and Jenny Rose vs. the three of them.
Honestly, really haven't been digging this angle. I respect the idea, as there hasn't been noteworthy WOH feuds as of late, but it's really come off quite awkwardly. The Allure is just the diet version of The Beautiful People (fitting, given the inclusion of Sky and Love) and I'm still not fully on board with babyface Klein. Who knows? Maybe they'll turn it around and pick up some more momentum as it progresses. But until then, it's a no from me.
The Kingdom (TK O'Ryan & Vinny Marseglia) vs. Coast to Coast (LSG & Shaheem Ali) vs. The Bouncers (Beer City Bruiser & Brian Milonas) vs. Clark Connors & Alex Coughlin
Milonas & LSG start this match off with an exchange of trash talk. LSG runs the ropes and Milonas hits him with a heavy shoulder block; Marseglia tags LSG out and tries to take down Milonas with a series of chops and kicks, but Milonas responds with a running crossbody. Bruiser is tagged in and peppers Marseglia with several jabs. O'Ryan gets his tag partner and bounces Bruiser off the ropes with a dropkick. Unbeknownst to O'Ryan, Coughlin tags himself in, who quickly tags to Connors as the two try to take out their opponents.
The action breaks down on the outside with Coughlin and C2C; Bruiser joins them with a cannonball off the ring apron. Taking advantage of the situation on the outside, The Kingdom start wearing down Connors in the ring numerous quick tags. Tagging out O'Ryan, Ali breaks up The Kingdom's momentum. Continuing where O'Ryan & Marseglia left off, C2C break down Connors even further. Connors eventually makes his way to Coughlin, who lights up C2C with chops. Bruiser then tags out Coughlin; he and Milonas start to take down each of their opponents.
C2C breaks up The Bouncers' momentum with a flatliner/russian leg sweep combo to Bruiser. Connors tags himself in as he and Coughlin take it to C2C with a series of hard chops, then a respective spear/spinebuster sequence to their opponents. O'Ryan tags in; he and Marseglia hit Connors with their samoan drop/back body drop combo, but are unable to capitalize as Ali tags himself in at the last second following a bicycle kick from LSG to O'Ryan.
Bruiser breaks up the pinfall as Milonas tags himself in. Connors tags out to Coughlin, who tries to put up a fight. It's all for naught, though, as The Bouncers hit him with their signature hanging second-rope leg drop combo to pick up the W tonight.
Fairly decent tag match here. All teams got a fair share of time to shine in the ring and provided some entertaining spots. I honestly think it's impossible for me to watch The Bouncers and not have fun, and this match proved it just like any other time. Aside from that, C2C seem to be picking up some steam as opportunistic heels and O'Ryan & Marseglia show off their underrated tag team chemistry once again. As far as exhibition tag matches, this a pretty good one.
Jeff Cobb Segment
After the match, we cut to the first of a two-part series focusing on the life and times of Jeff Cobb. Here, Cobb discusses his early years, his early interest in professional wrestling and his foray into amateur wrestling. The segment ends with Cobb highlighting his Olympic experience (competing for Guam at the 2004 Summer Games), lamenting his two losses but highlighting his overall heart and endurance in each of those matches.
This was short and sweet, providing us a glimpse into Cobb's life and letting us get to know the man behind the grappler. It was a nice brief look at who Cobb is as a person and what his overall personality is a wrestler.
Josh "The Goods" Woods vs. Maverick Boone
Woods makes lightning-quick work of his opponent, first planting him with a gutwrench powerbomb then putting the proverbial nail in the coffin with his new Seismic Toss finisher to pick up another quick W.
Not a lot to say here. It was quick and I dig the finisher. Moving on.
Satoshi Kojima & Yuji Nagata vs. Los Ingobernables De Japon (EVIL & SANADA)
Nagata and SANADA start the match off with a battle for leverage. Nagata eventually gets the starting upper hand with a series of well-placed kicks to the legs, taking SANADA down. Kojima is tagged in and tries to continue his team's momentum, only for EVIL to halt it as he slows down Kojima and works Nagata over on the outside, pushing the momentum to SANADA's favor. He hits Kojima with his Paradise Lock/low dropkick combo, then brings in EVIL in an effort to further wear down Kojima.
Out of desperation, Kojima shoves SANADA into EVIL, then spikes him with a DDT. Nagata gets the hot tag, booting EVIL out of the ring and landing a series of kicks to SANADA before nailing his signature exploder suplex. The two men then trade clubbing blows and exchange fast-paced counters before Nagata grounds SANADA and puts him in his signature seated armbar. Nagata further tries to work over SANADA's left arm, only for him to escape and hit a springboard missile dropkick. EVIL is tagged in and hits Nagata with a series of chops.
He tries to further the damage, only for Nagata to fake him out and deliver a dropkick to the knees, sending EVIL into the corner. Kojima is tagged in and he delivers his signature rapid-fire chops. SANADA tries to aid his partner, only to suffer the same exact fate. After hitting EVIL with more chops, he delivers a top-rope elbow drop. EVIL kicks out, and with some quick thinking from him and SANADA, it appears as though LIJ has regained the momentum.
EVIL and SANADA attempt their Magic Killer finisher on Kojima, only for Nagata to break it up. After an enzuguiri from Nagata, Kojima drops EVIL with a cutter, then following it up with a brainbuster. EVIL kicks out and Kojima attempts a lariat; EVIL ducks and Kojima is planted with a Magic Killer. LIJ picks up the hard-fought victory.
An excellent match and a prime example of how tag team wrestling should be. The sequences were precise, the counters were well-executed and every participant got their fair share of shots both individually and with their partner. On top of that, the ending felt earned and was paced correctly. I really wish New Japan gave more of a fuck about booking their tag team division well, because they really do deserve better.
Dalton Castle promo
Castle comes to the ring and addresses his loss to RUSH at G1 Supercard. He labels him as a cheater, remarking that cheaters need to be punished. He plans to accomplish this by challenging RUSH's brother Dragon Lee to a match at Best In The World. During his declaration, his former Boys come to the ring apron. Seeking revenge, they double up on Castle, only for The Peacock to overpower them and come out on top at the end.
So Castle/Dragon Lee sounds like a good match, I'm not sure if it necessitated a main event spot. This taking over the absolute fire tag team match we had prior to it is just a disappointment. I'm interested in a heel Dalton Castle, I just don't want a segment like this to be the closing moments of the show.
So, just throwing this out here: the LIJ/Kojima & Nagata is really the only reason to watch this episode. While the first tag match was good and I dug the Jeff Cobb segment, they pale in comparison to it. The match really elevated this episode's status from "eh" to "alright, this is pretty good." If you do check this episode out, skip everything else and watch this match (unless you want to see heel Castle and learn about Jeff Cobb, then by all means, throw those into your viewing experience).
It's the last leg of the War Of The Worlds Tour, and we're in Chicago for what should be a promising card. The Kenny King/Jay Lethal rivalry comes to a head as the two square off, plus Jeff Cobb returns to ROH TV after dropping his World Television title to Shane Taylor. What's Cobb going to do next? How will Lethal/King play out? Let's tune in.
Karl Fredericks vs. Flip Gordon
The match starts at a fairly standard pace as Fredericks and Gordon exchange a series of basic holds in an attempt to gain leverage over the other. After trading shoulder blocks, Gordon comes out on top with a hurricanrana to Fredericks to the outside, followed up by a suicide dive. Back in the ring, Gordon hits a series of kicks then goes for a springboard attempt, which Fredericks counters with a spinebuster. Fredericks is in control for the time being, switching between stomping Gordon down and chooping him in the corner.
Gordon attempts a comeback, but Fredericks nails him with a front dropkick, then a stinger splash/hip toss/elbow drop sequence. Flipped over onto the ring apron, Gordon uses his agility and evasion ability to get Fredericks prone for a springboard missile dropkick. Hanging Fredericks up on the second rope, Gordon then hits him with a slingshot blockbuster. After superkicking Fredericks, Gordon executes a wheelbarrow facebuster then makes Fredericks tap out to the STF, securing the victory.
Pretty much your standard young lion match. Fredericks got a fair portion of offense in and he ultimately took the fall as predicted. With that being said, Gordon's not a bad guy to have as a singles opponent. He's an excellent worker and does a good job bumping for his opponents. Kind of surprised he won via submission, but I guess that's part of the young lion process. Not too much more to say here.
Jeff Cobb Promo
Cobb comes to the ring and recounts dropping his title to Taylor at WOTW: Toronto, but reminding everyone that despite losing his title, he's still undefeated in ROH, having yet to be pinned or submitted. Not interested in a rematch against Taylor, Cobb proclaims he's after ROH World Champion Matt Taven. Taven comes out to gloat about his accomplishments, then chastise Cobb, claiming he isn't worried about Cobb trying to take his title away from him.
Taven then states while he's willing to defend his title anytime, anywhere, tonight isn't the night. He tosses his microphone at Taven and walks off, leaving Cobb in the ring.
Man, I am BEYOND hype for the prospect of a Cobb/Taven feud. These guys are two of my favorite in ROH right now, and the fact it'll be over the world title just makes this all the more salivating. Count me in, signed, sealed and delivered.
Silas Young vs. Baxter Belafonte
Prior to the match starting, Young states his intentions with Mr. Belafonte is not to engage in a standard match, but rather a "catch-as-catch-can" seminar of sorts. Demanding ring announcer Bobby Cruise to come to the ring, Young then displays the basics of catch wrestling, talking his way through the process. He demonstrates a wrist lock, then a basic armbar; with Belafonte prone, he displays what's frowned upon in catch wrestling such as hair-pulling and fish-hooking the opponent's mouth.
Explaining that all of this is up to the referee's discretion, he then displays another no-no of catch wrestling as he sticks a thumb to one of Belafonte's eyes; holding it for six seconds, Young explains using an illegal move for this long would result in a disqualification. He low-blows Belafonte, explaining to him this was all a part of the learning experience.
Dead serious here, Young's character work as of late has provided some of the most entertaining moments in ROH. He's really pulled off this transition from "The Last Real Man" to "The Technician Of Honor" really well, giving us great matches with Jonathan Gresham as this well as this perfectly-executed segment. He really pulls off the persona of a delusional, hypocritical supposed mat expert, and I'm on board 100% to see where this goes.
Kenny King vs. Jay Lethal
King and Lethal start the match off with a battle for leverage at the beginning, with King throwing out an impressive pinning combo. Taking a long breather on the outside, King gets back in the ring and counters Lethal's signature hip toss/cartwheel dropkick with a crossface attempt. King then tosses Lethal into the corner and throws a few chops at Lethal while dodging Lethal's chop attempts in the process.
Frustrated, Lethal starts throwing straight punches. Tossing King onto the apron, Lethal goes for a springboard dropkick, but King evades. His back turned to Lethal, King mockingly throws up Lethal's signature pose. Lethal responds with a dropkick and attempts a suicide dive; King catches him and drives him into a ring post. Seemingly having an answer for everything Lethal throws at him, King has been firmly in control from the get-go. King evades another cartwheel dropkick attempt, then a spinning kick, grounding Lethal in a camel clutch.
Back to their feet, Lethal attempts to fight back with chops, but King responds with an eye poke then sends Lethal into the corner. Lethal evades a stinger splash attempt and the two go off the ropes; King sends Lethal onto the ring apron and hits him with his own take Lethal's signature springboard dropkick. He hints at duplicating Lethal's suicide dives, only to stop and swerve the audience in the process.
King prevents Lethal from getting back in the ring, only for Lethal to plant him with a DDT. Back in the ring, Lethal seemingly gets back into the groove, hitting all of his signature spots. He then heads to the top and hits King with his Hail To The King elbow drop. King kicks out and Lethal calls for Lethal injection only for King to get to his feet and drop Lethal with a blue thunder bomb. King picks Lethal back up and attempts his Royal Flush finisher, only for Lethal to get out and hit him with a bicycle kick/spinning enzuguiri combo.
King dodges several Lethal Injection attempts, then low-blows Lethal while the ref is distracted and hits Lethal with his own finisher, picking up the first W in their Best of 3 series.
A surprising affair, but believe it or not, I actually quite liked this match for what it was. It was a nice bit of storytelling; Lethal going through the motions while King finds an answer for everything, stealing Lethal's moves in the process. Sure, they may not have been executed the cleanest, but given it was outside King's normal repertoire, there's some leeway to be had. While I'm not going to say this was an absolute game-changer, it was still quite a bit of fun. I'm interested to see what they do with this feud. It's not much, but I'm enjoying it so far.
Another solid episode from ROH. A step down from last week, but that was to be expected given it was such a momentous occasion. The top highlights were the main event and the Silas Young segment (God, I love that man). Gordon/Fredericks was an okay opener and I definitely dig a potential Cobb/Taven feud, but they pale in comparison to Young's character brilliance and Lethal/King. Peep this episode if only for those two parts.
