ROH 16th Anniversary Review

ROH 16th Anniversary Review
3/9/18
Sam’s Town
Las Vegas, Nevada

Ring of Honor presented its 16th Anniversary show, headlined by Dalton Castle defending the ROH World title against former champion Jay Lethal.

Pre Show: Women of Honor Championship Tournament Match
First Round
Sumie Sakai vs. Hana Kimura

Deonna Purrazzo joined Ian Riccaboni and Colt Cabana on the Facebook Live pre-show. Kimura came out first and took part in a special dance before the match.Although presenting as a face, Kimura invited Sakai to pose before they locked up, only to attack Sakai from behind. Kimura was in the lead early, with help from second, another member of Oedo Tai, Kagetsu.

Sakai was able to reverse a suplex into a DDT to gain a bit of space and jumpstart her offense, able to avoid and weather double teams, sending Kagetsu to the arena floor after an errant Kimura kick. Sakai connecting with a plancha to the outside and a top rope dropkick on the inside. Sakai then hit a reverse swinging neckbreaker to pick up the pinfall victory to advance in the tournament. Kimura and Kagetsu. These two really got the crowd into the opener in what was a solid match. Kimura has tons of potential and was able to connect with the crowd.

Winner: Sumie Sakai

Women of Honor Championship Tournament Match
QuarterFinals
Brandi Rhodes vs. Tenille Dashwood
Mandy Leon joined on commentary. Cabana spoke to Brandi’s inexperience, saying that she eked by Karen Q. Leon defended Rhodes, saying that she has really improved and Riccaboni spoke to her wrestling intelligence. Mandy spoke to being frustrated by someone like Dashwood just waltzing in and taking part of this tournament, while others have toiled to make the division what it is without her. At the onset of the match Brandi took early control, but once Dashwood took control, the end seemed to be near. To her credit Rhodes held on, eventually faking an injury in a call back to her last match. She used to the ruse to eye gouge Dashwood and hit the Cross Rhodes, but Dashwood kicked out at two. Rhodes followed with a second rope dropkick attempt, but missed and was hit with Spotlight, a running kick to the head, that allow Dashwood to win by pinfall to advance in the tournament. This one had its moments but was sloppy at times as well. Rhodes, like her husband, plays a heel naturally and should continue playing to that strength openly, but Dashwood moving on makes the most sense.

Winner: Tenille Dashwood

Flip Gordon vs. Hiromu Takahashi
As Flip did his usual backflip/removing of pants, Cabana and Riccaboni reference the Thunder from Down Under male dance show and Riccaboni did assert that Gordon has the body for it. Early on, Gordon nipped up and down repeatedly, so Takahashi took the time to dance. Gordon sent Takahashi to the corner with a handstand/headscissors combination. The two brawled outside, with Takahashi in control, but frustrated by Todd Sinclair, eventually telling him to “Shut Up, man” in perfect English. Takahashi then took Daryl the cat out, only for Sinclair to vehemently deny the interference and forcing Daryl to the arena floor. Gordon was able to hit a Falcons Arrow, but Takahashi did the deal and kicked out. Gordon then tried for a 450 but Takahashi moved and hit a Canadian Destroyer. Gordon was able to hit a superkick on his way down and the two traded rights as they rose to their feet. Gordon hit a Star Spangled Stunner out of nowhere, but surprisingly only got a two count. He quickly went to the top for a 450, but Takahashi got his knees up and scored a very near fall. Takahashi hit a clothesline that turned Gordon inside out before hitting a Time Bomb for the pinfall victory. Good match between the two here to start the show. A spirited bout between the two, but it never really go to that next level. A bit of surprise to see Takahashi win here, but it seems they may be trading wins to build to Gordon’s possible Super Junior inclusion this year.

Winner: Hiromu Takahashi

Punishment Martinez vs. Marty Scurll
Scurll attacked Martinez right off the bat, but Martinez recovered and the two traded control often at the onset, setting a really furious pace to the match. Martinez then took control and slowed things down a bit, until Scurll surprisingly reversed a suplex into a brainbuster. Scurll snuck outside went to use his now patented powder, but referee Paul Turner and then, oddly enough, security stopped him from doing so. Scurll stuck the powder bag into his trunks as Martinez flew over the turnbuckle onto everyone. Martinez quickly disposed on security before setting up a table on the outside and laying Scurll on it. Martinez then went for a senton over the top rope, ultimately missing and going through the table. On the inside, Scurll took advantage of Turner having his back turned to feign going for the powder, only to low blow Martinez with a kick to the groin and winning the match on a quick kick roll up. This was a good match with clear separate levels of intensity. Scurll winning the way he did protected Martinez, who was able to show off a great deal, but the manner in which Scurll one also tarnishes the win just a bit here.

Winner: Marty Scurll

ROH World Television Championship Match
Silas Young vs. Kenny King(c)
Despite not being previously announced, this match was up next, which made sense, as King is the champion and Vegas is his hometown.King in control early, Young tried the cat and mouse game to gain the advantage, but King saw it coming.Young went for a suplex near the ropes, but King reversed it and the move sent the two to the outside and almost led to a double count out. The two made it back in and King then sent Young outside quickly thereafter, hitting a tornillo to the arena floor before declaring it selfie time, trying to go for a picture with a fan. Young ambushed him but King hit a belly to belly then included Young in on the selfie. King rolled Young in and hit a great high cross body block, following with a picture perfect spinebuster, only scoring a two count.Young then dominated the match and went for Misery, but King reversed and went for the Royal Flush, only for Young to thwart that as well. Young hit the corner plunge for a very near fall and went to finish the match, but knocked referee Todd Sinclair down while hitting Misery. Young made the cover, but Sinclair delayed in making it. Young tired to roll King up, but the champion grabbed the ropes, breaking the pin. Young argued with King and left himself open to be tossed to the apron. Young tried to slingshot in, but King caught him and hit the Royal Flush for the win. Good match between the two here, as they really do seem to work well together. Post-match Austin Aries came to the ring and announced that he has been collecting belts and despite having a history with King, there was one ROH title that he has never won, the one on King’s shoulder. The two laid out belts in front of them and stared each other down.

Winner: Kenny King

6-Man Tag Team Championship Match Street Fight
Socal Uncensored (Christopher Daniels, Frankie Kazarian & Scorpio Sky) & Shane Taylor vs Bullet Club (Adam Page and the Young Bucks)
Bucks and Page got off to a hot start, as the Bucks wore their special street fighting pants, according to Riccaboni. The Hung Bucks dominated until Page went for a loaded belt, only to have Sky crack a kendo stick over his back.Sky and Kazarian used a kendo stick as a seesaw on the chair, catching Nick in the family jewels by jumping onto the stick after a springboard. This match had some really great spots here, but one of the major moments was Daniels sending Matt off the top rope through a table on the outside. This seemed to reaggravate his back injury and SoCal zeroed in on this. Eventually, Matt submitted to a dragon sleeper applied with kendo stick as Kazarian locked on a Boston crab. A Really fun romp here with some brilliant spots and the story of Matt’s back really helped here. Daniels now only months from not having his contract renewed is and ROH champion and a grand slam champion.

Winners: SoCal Uncensored

Cody vs. Matt Taven
The Kingdom ran down after the last match and attacked the Young Bucks, prompting Bully Ray to throw them out, setting up that Taven would be alone. Riccaboni put over Taven to start, saying that he really had a chance to win here. Cabana commented that Bury is from the woods, but Riccaboni corrected him, saying that is where Big Josh is from. Taven started by rolling out and playing mind games, but Cody quickly took control.Taven mocked him with a Stardust pose and then flirted with Brandi and drew Cody outside, only to run in and hit a dive over the top rope to the arena floor. Worked him over inside while Bury slid a chair inside the ring, but Turner pulled it away and allow Taven to crack his cane over Cody’s back, before hitting a Cross Rhodes. Taven only scored a two count, much to his surprise. Taven missed a frog splash and then caught a Beautiful Disaster kick, but still recovered quickly enough to hit his finisher Climax, only to get a two count. An exasperated Tavern then accidentally caused Tuner to be knocked out. The Kingdom ran down and held Cody so that Taven could punt him, but Bully Ray came out and chased them out. Cody revealed that he was wearing what Cabana called a steel cup. He then hit Taven with hit and hit a Cross Rhodes to win the match. As he celebrated with his ring, Cody was attacked by his own bear Bury, who turned out to be KENNY OMEGA! Omega sent Cody to the outside and Brandi yelled at him, daring him to hit her. She then kissed him and called him a fraud because he liked kissing her.An average match here with some great heel work and nice callback to Roddy Piper revealing the shockproof vest in his match with the Mountie. The post-match stuff was great, but the match did have a lot of moving parts here, perhaps too many.

Winner: Cody

ROH World Tag Team Championship Match
The Motor City Machine Guns (C) vs. The Briscoes
The Briscoes attacked the Guns right off the bat, but the match did settle down in a normal tag, which played to Shelley and Sabin’s strengths. Shelley busted Mark open after Jay had been deposed off outside. Shelley then took his time in working Mark over before tagging out to Sabin, although a rejuvenated Jay took the Guns out. Both teams had there runs here, but the crowd just seemed a little spent after the events of the last match and the lack of energy was a bit odd for a good tag match here. In the end,Sabin thwarted a Doomsday device and almost won, but the Jay kicked out. Mark sent Shelley to the outside, allowing Jay to hit a Jay Driller on Sabin, but the champion kicked out at two. Jay and Mark then combined for a Doomsday Device, connecting this time around and winning the tag team championships for the 9th time. A good brawl between these two teams, but it fell a little flat here. Nevertheless, a good tag team match here and the right team walked away as the winners.

Winners: The Briscoes

ROH World Championship Match
Dalton Castle (c) w/The Boys vs. Jay Lethal
Castle seemed to hurt his knee on the outside and despite trying to go for his running knee lift from the apron fell short and then Lethal hit two consecutive suicide dives before Castle snared him from behind and dropped him on the arena floor with a German suplex. Castle set Lethal up against the ring post and then missed a chop, injuring his hand and giving Lethal a chance to brawl around the ring. Castle slammed Lethal on the timekeeper’s table and rolled inside. Lethal popped up and ran in for a springboard, but hit one of the Boys off the apron instead. Bobby Cruise caught the Boy and quickly dropped him and was rewarded with a suicide dive by Lethal that sent him to the barricade. Back inside, Lethal went for a torture rack and Riccaboni made the quick Lex Luger I’ll be your hero reference.Lethal went for a Lethal Injection, but again Castle was ready and hit Lethal with a forearm. He followed with a clothesline that turned Lethal inside out and went for a Bang-A-Rang. Lethal reversed it into a roll up and after the two count immediately transitioning to a figure four. Castle was able to break the hold Lethal finally connected with the Lethal Injection, but Castle kicked out at two. Lethal tried for a cutter on the apron, but Castle blocked it and then delivered a German suplex to the arena floor, laying both men out. After a slugfest, Lethal went for another Lethal Injection, only to be scooped up for a Bang-A-Rang. Lethal managed to hold on and roll Castle up, but Castle rolled through and stood up holding Lethal, hitting the Bang-A-Rang for the pinfall victory. A really good match here between the two. The match told the story of Lethal not being able to put Castle away because the champion has too much heart to quit, There really was no need for the Bobby Cruise spot-this match was crisp, chippy and it had different levels of intensity without that spot. Marty Scurll came out at the end and quietly made his intentions known as he and Castle stared each other down, as Scurll challenged Castle.

Winner: Dalton Castle

Final Thoughts: B+
This was a solid show, from top to bottom. There were not really any surprises here in the match results, but that really is a positive. Many of the stories they have been telling came to logical conclusions and the surprises that did come into play built toward Supercard of Honor. There was not a bad match on this card, with the main event and the 6 man match being particularly good. Cody and Taven had a ton of moving parts and there were overall a few too many non-wrestler bumps during the show, but aside from those quibbles, this was a good show. The stream had some issues early on but worked shortly thereafter.

The event can be view at ROH’s website, for HonorClub members.

PWP will be fundraising for RAINN throughout the month of March! Please show support by clicking here and donating!

Please use our Highspots link (http://bit.ly/pwphighspots) or just bookmark it in your favs or toolbar and help support us whenever you make a purchase. Doesn’t cost you anything extra and helps keep the site going. You can also check out our new Redbubble store with so much more than just shirts. Thanks!

Subscribe to our Podcasts