It’s hard to complain about a show that featured Justin “Thunder†Liger and The Bullet Club, as well as Frank Kazarian and Christopher Daniels, but the same issues that plagued the first episode of ROH continued this week. While the wrestling is on par with anything on the WWE, TNA and NXT, the storyline development just isn’t there. Simply put, all of the competitors featured are involved in feuds that the viewer is unfamiliar with and ultimately doesn’t have a reason to care about.
It’s all about context and ROH, after two shows, has made it apparent that they don’t care about attracting new fans, they just want their old ones to love the new syndicated show. And we do, but the other wrestling fans deserve more. They need to be forced to care. They need to appreciate the Japanese performers that show up and to understand why Jay Briscoe and Jay Lethal are two of the best performer in the world today. Cause they are,
In the end, consider it growing pains as at least all the matches for Best in the World were teased and viewers got to see promos from both Briscoes and Jay Lethal.
Matches:
Ring of Honor Tag Team Champions Frank Kazarian and Christopher Daniels vs. Kyle O’Reilly and Bobby Fish: With Fish injured before the match, O’Reilly was forced to take on The Addiction alone and O’Reilly was up to the challenge, delivering strikes on the inside and outside of the ring, including an awesome Double Stomp on both Daniels and Kazarian- and plenty of counters. But after O’Reilly had the trio of Butterfly Suplexes and wrapped Kazarian in the Arm-Bar, Daniels nailed O’Reilly with one of the titles to get the match thrown out. After the bell, The Addiction nailed O’Reilly with the Celebrity Rehab before ACH and Matt Sydal made the save.
Dalton Castle vs. Jushin “Thunder†Liger: Using his signature moves, Liger, even at 50, can still put on a heck of a show. Although Liger was in control, Castle marveled with high-flying maneuvers of his own. After Castle nailed Liger with an Airplane Spin into a Reverse Michinoku Driver, Liger hit the Liger Bomb and then the Brainbuster for the win.
Brutal Bob Evans vs. Cheeseburger: Evans had the watch won with the Shouder Block, but want to inflict more damage. He did just that, getting the match thrown out after Evans Sideslammed Cheeseburger through a table from the apron to the outside.
IGWP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions Matt Taven and Michael Bennett w/ Maria Kanellis vs. Karl Anderson and Doc Gallows: Anderson continues to be preoccupied with Kanellis. As a result, The Kingdom was able to use high-flying maneuvers to get the advantage. That was until Anderson countered a Taven Splash from the inside to the outside into a cutter. Things then got heated as The Bullet Club brought a chair into the ring to get the match thrown out and nearly took out Kanellis, instead destroying both Taven and Bennett.
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