ROH 4/20/18 TV Review: WOH Special
4/7/18
UNO Lakefront Arena
New Orleans, Louisiana
This week was special episode, compiling the Women of Honor tournament semi-finals matches from the Supercard of Honor XII pre-show and the main card finals. After an introduction to the episode, a video package aired, highlighting Kelly Klein’s journey to the finals of the Women of Honor Tournament.
First Match: Women of Honor Championship Tournament Semi-Final Match
Kelly Klein vs. Mayu Iwatani
A video package aired, of both Mayu Iwatani and Kelly Klein speaking about their match. Right after, a Tenille Dashwood/Sumie Sakai package aired. These have been great and set the mood well. Klein took Iwatani down by overpowering her from the lock up. Iwatani used her speed to avoid Klein and went for an early submission, but Klein broke away and struck with a knee, slowing down the pace of the match. Klein worked at a methodical pace, clobbering Iwatani with a clothesline that led to a near fall. Iwatani was able to stymie Klein on the top rope, taking the momentum over with a super hurricanrana. She followed with a superkick and went for double stomp and then a frog splash, but it wasn’t enough. Klein caught Iwatani’s hurricanrana attempt and rolled sloppily into a roll up that nearly for a three count. Iwatani just couldn’t put Klein away and eventually fell into the End of the Match. Good action between these two and aside from the victory roll exchange, everything worked here and the final sequence made sense for the bought between the two (***)
Winner:Kelly Klein
Another video package aired, this time highlighting Sumie Sakai’s journey to the finals of the Women of Honor tournament.
Second Match: Women of Honor Championship Tournament Semi-Final Match
Sumie Sakai vs. Tenille Dashwood
The two traded stiff forearms to start but Tenille took control and sent Sakai to the outside with a neckbreak before launching to the outside with a cross body to the arena floor. Dashwood stayed in control for most of the match, but Sakai fought back and was able to hit her finisher smashmouth, but only got a two count. She scaled the turnbuckle, but Dashwood ending up sending her off the top rope with a super German. Somehow, Sakai kicked out, prompting Dashwood to go for a spotlight kick. Sakai avoided the maneuver and applied a crucifix roll up out of nowhere that went for the three count. Sakai moves on in the tournament in a bit of surprise here in a match that seemed to be building to Dashwood eventually putting Sakai away. Sakai told the story of simply not giving up and as one of the original Women of Honor, the show of respect here was a nice bit of recognition by the company.(**¾)
Winner:Sumie Sakai
Main Event: Women of Honor Championship Tournament Finals
Kelly Klein vs. Sumie Sakai
Sakai attacked Klein before the opening bell, taking the fight to her in retaliation for the attack earlier in the night. Klein quickly gained control and sent Sakai to the outside, following with a suplex into the End of the Match, her submission finisher. She eventually relinquished the move and the match moved to the inside, attempting to go for a fall away slam. Sakai was able to slip out and throw Klein off with a powerbomb of sorts. Klein continually tried to put Sakai away, but like the early match, Sakai simply would not be held down. Sakai went for Smashmouse and it seemed that Klein would slip out, but Sakai recovered and hit a snap DDT to pick up the win. Sakai was then presented the title and celebrated with Deonna Purrazzo and Mandy Leon. The post most celebration made it clear that this was the intended finish, but it felt sudden in an expected way. A nice throwback by the company in putting the belt on Sakai, one of the original Women of Honor. (**½)
Winner: Sumie Sakai
Final Reaction: C-
This episode is a bit odd, as in the past, WOH specials have been previously untelevised affairs. All three of these matches were part of Supercard of Honor, albeit it two were part of the pre-show on Facebook. So where in the past this episode might feel a bit more special by being shown for the first time, this one presumably had a number of people who had seen the matches previously. In the past and now, I will never been a fan of a recycled matches put together, but the theme of the tournament does make this different than times when ROH has done this in the past. The Iwatani/Klein match is the strongest of the bunch here and worth your time, as is Sakai’s celebration, as it is a nice moment. Otherwise, if you have seen these before, the episode is entirely skippable, as nothing new occurs here at all.
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