ROH 05/12/18 War of the Worlds Tour Night 3 Review
Royal Oak Music Theatre
Royal Oak, Michigan
Ian Riccaboni and Colt Cabana welcomed us to the show for ROH’s debut at the Royal Oak Music Theater.
EVIL vs. Shane Taylor
As EVIL made his way to the ring, commentary spoke about how EVIL has scored two pinfalls on the tour. No code of honor adhered two as EVIL kicked Taylor in the gut before the two traded shoulder blocks. EVIL raked Taylor’s eyes, but the advantage didn’t stop Taylor from being driven to the mat with a shoulder block. Taylor worked EVIL over in the corner. The two traded chops and as Taylor tried to kick EVIL, his leg was sent towards Paul Turner, allowing EVIL to score a kick of his own. Taylor was able to recover and take EVIL down with an elbow, but only scored a two count. The crowd started a Cleveland sucks chant, prompting Riccaboni and Cabana to discuss the Drew Carey show theme as Taylor asserted his dominance. EVIL was able to turn the tables and as Cabana said, it seemed that Groove is in his Heart and we got our first 90’s music reference of the night. Taylor slingshot EVIL’s throat on the bottom rope, following with a leg drop on the apron. Taylor used the time to grab a chair and sit EVIL on as he grabbed another. Turner wrestled the chair away from Taylor, allowing EVIL to toss a chair at Taylor and then place one on his head and crack him with another while Turner recuperated. Taylor avoided the countout but positioned himself in the corner and EVIL hit him with a buster that went for a two count. Taylor clotheslined EVIL but missed a second rope splash. EVIL then dropped Taylor with an impressive Samoan drop. EVIL connected with a clothesline and then hit an STO to pick up his third win of the tour.
Winner: EVIL
Tenille Dashwood & Jenny Rose vs. Sumi Sakai & Stella Grey
Rose and Sakai started off for their teams and after not adhering to the code of honor, Rose slapped Sakai to start. Sakai got the best of Rose and quickly tagged out to Grey. Rose quickly gained control with a spinning sidewalk slam and made way for Dashwood. Dashwood made quick work on Grey and demanded Sakai tag in. Dashwood and Sakai quickly traded pinfall attempts, with Dashwood coming out of the exchange in control, delivering a butterfly suplex before tagging out. Sakai was able to escape with a double clothesline and tag out herself. Grey was able to score a near fall with a fisherwoman suplex, but Rose showed some veteran presence by kicking out quickly and tied up Grey in a submission. Rose released the hold and tagged out to Dashwood, who continued the assault on Grey. Sakai tagged in and was dominant, but tagged out to Grey who was quickly taken down with a uranage by Rose to pick up the pinfall victory. Post-match Rose handed the belt to Sakai, but the tension between the two necessitated a pull apart. This was a much better tag match than the night before the post-match antics continued the issues between Rose and Sakai, setting up their TV taping match on the final night of the tour.
Winners: Dashwood & Rose
Punishment Martinez vs. Adam Page
Page ambushed Martinez from behind and cracked him with a chair a few times before he set up a table against the ring post and drove him through it. Martinez seemed to be knocked out and referee Paul Turner sent Page to the back. With Page’s reported injuries, this was a nice way to keep the issues going between the two while saving the blow off for later. Martinez woke up and swung at officials as he staggered to the back.
Winner: No Contest
4 Corner Survival
Kenny King vs. Matt Taven vs. SANADA vs. Marty Scurll
As the four sized each other up, Taven walked out of the ring, only to have King launch himself over the top rope with a tornillio that floored Taven. In the ring, SANADA and Scurll squared off until the other two came in and he offered everyone a hand, getting kicked in the face instead. Scurll was sent outside, followed by Taven who was tossed out. King and SANADA settled into a one on one. Taven crept behind them and scored with a double dropkick then hitting Scurll with a springboard kick to the face. As Taven argued with Sinclair, King took the opportunity to hit a spinebuster. SANADA and Taven then took turns trying to suplex King off the top until they decided to work together. They couldn’t manage to take him down and Scurll came over to complete the tower of doom spot. Scurll went on an offensive spurt, ultimately working on Taven and calling for the Chickenwing. Taven managed to avoid the move and then floored an attacking King with a drop toe hold. Taven went for a surfboard on King, but Scurll locked in an abdominal stretch of sorts as SANADA locked a crossface on King. SANADA then tied Taven and King up like pretzels. Scurll went to do the same to SANADA, but couldn’t figure out to do it and asked SANADA how to do it, using Sinclair. The two grabbed an umbrella and Taven’s cane, attempting to pierce their opponents, but thankfully Sinclair stopped it. The action really picked up and in the end, King had SANADA locked in a Last Chancery. Taven hit Scurll with the Climax, but Sinclair didn’t see the pin and he grew frustrated and pushed Sinclair, allowing Scurll to kick Taven in the ding-ding and win the match via a small package. This was a really fun contest, continuing the Kingdom Conspiracy and keeping Scurll hot as he marches towards his next title shot.
Winner: Marty Scurll
Motor City Machine Guns vs. The Young Bucks vs. Roppongi 3K
Sabin and Sho started off against each other, with Show gaining the advantage and double teaming Sabin with Yo. Yo slowed things down a bit, applying a chinlock. A stream hiccup later MCMG were in control and almost connected with a Skull and Bones on Yo, but Yo escaped and tagged the Bucks in, who cleared the ring. Riccaboni and Cabana then referenced the other Jacksons, even Bloodsport and finally Randy Jackson as Matt worked Shelley over. Nick tagged in, leaping off the top on Shelley’s arm and kept him in his corner, tagged Matt back in. Nick accidentally cracked Matt with a knee, giving Shelley the space to finally tag out to Sabin. Sabin used a springboard rana to take both Nick and Matt out, but Roppongi 3 K tagged in and doulbe teamed Sabin, but the veteran eluded them and tagged Matt in. Matt double clotheslined Sho and Yo before tossing the weight belt off and hit an elbow drop on Yo that went for two. Nick and Matt locked Cease and Desist on Sho and Yo, but MCMG superkicked them to break the holds. The action really picked up here, with MCMG and The Bucks squaring off against each other, leaving Sho and Yo unattended. In the ensuing chaos, Sho and Yo hit Roppongi 3K on Sabin to pick up the victory. Really fun match between these three teams here and it is incredible to see how much better Sho and Yo are.
Winner: Roppongi 3K
Silas Young & Beer City Bruiser vs. The Boys
The Boys made the mistake of trying to adhere to the code of honor, only to have Bruiser and Young attack the Boys immediately. The Boys were able to recover and string together some offense, but were quickly cut off as Young and BCB took turns working them over. BCB tossed one of the Boys outside and didn’t notice the twin magic switching, leading to him missing a frog splash from the top. The Boys then worked together to take both BCB and Young out, trying for a pinfall attempt on Bruiser that he was able to power out of. They did manage to suplex him, but it was all for naught as Young came back in and clotheslined both of them before tossing one over the top and hitting Misery on the other. BCB finished it off with a frog splash. Some fun underdog moments here, but Young winning the match here made more sense as he moves forward to defend the TV title against Aries.
Winners: Silas Young & Beer City Bruiser
SoCal Uncensored vs. Jushin Liger, Flip Gordon & Cheeseburger
Daniels started off Cheeseburger, an odd option as he was suffering the effects of Bully Ray’s attacks the last two nights. Daniels laughed Burger off, but found himself in a wrist lock early, quickly on the receiving end of chops in the corner. Daniels reversed an Irish whip to the corner but missed a splash. He managed to catch Burger’s leaping attack, but Liger assisted with a dropkick and the two posed as Daniels made way for Sky. Gordon tagged to tango with Sky, besting him with a running kick and moonsault combo, leading to Sky tagging Kaz in. Kaz demanded Liger tag in, which he would regret as his found himself in a surfboard. Kaz was able to withstand the move and sen Liger into his corner, allowing for a triple team and a tag out to Daniels. Kaz and Sky had their backs turned and Liger tricked them into wrenching Daniels arm, continuing even as Liger cheered them on from the outside. The miscommunication mid-ring by SCU allowed Gordon to gain the advantage, but Cheeseburger fell victim to an STO. In the end, Sky and Gordon brawled to the back and Daniels yanked Liger to the floor, leaving Burger alone in the ring. Daniels and Kaz then hit the Best Meltzer Ever for the pinfall victory. Post-match Bully Ray came out and gave Liger a low blow while the legend posed on the turnbuckle. He then powerbombed Burger and whipped both Liger and Burger with his chain until Gordon came out and made the save.
Winners: SoCal Uncensored
Cody vs. Hiromu Takahashi
Some posturing here to start and a bit of double-teaming from Takahashi and Daryl Jr. Cody was sent to the outside and seemed incensed. While Cody recovered Daryl and Burnard almost went at it, needing security to hold them back. Because of the fracas, Turner ordered Burnard and Daryl to the back, but Daryl sneakily stayed at ringside. Takahashi sent Cody to the outside with a spear and then connected with a flying dropkick on the outside. Takahashi took his time getting back in and Cody was able to recover and attacked with right hands before doing a few push-ups. Cody then began to stomp on the legs and went for a quick cover, posing on the turnbuckles before continuing his attack. Cody then signaled a V-Trigger, mocking Omega, but stopped short and flipped off the crowd before simply kicking Takahashi. Cody then locked on a figure four that forced Takahashi to reach for the ropes to break it. Takahashi was sent to the floor and Cody called for the Rise of the Terminators, but again just flipped the crowd off again. Cody went for a superplex but was tossed off the top and then two traded rights until Takahasi hit a running hurricanrana. Cody used the ring of honor to gain an advantage and hit Cross Rhodes, but he only scored a two count to his surprise. Cody slapped himself and then hit Din’s Fire, a vertebreaker to win via pinfall. This was good once it really got started and if the some of the shenanigans, which were admittedly fun were filled with action this could have been that much better. The false finish at the end was particularly surprising and added a lot to the match.
Winner: Cody
ROH World Tag Team Championship Match
The Briscoes vs. Naito & Bushi
Naito stuff early, hit his pose and made way for Bushi. The Briscoes took control and took turns tagging in and out, keeping Bushi on their side of the ring. This was a good back and forth contest that really showed off the Briscoes tag team chemistry and it helped that the crowd was really into Naito here as the Briscoes were getting booed louder than normal.In the end, The Briscoes hit RedNeck Boogie on Naito and Mark rolled him to the outside, leaving Jay inside with Bushi. Jay went for the Jay Driller, but Bushi wriggled out and locked Sinclair in a backslide. Jay ducked the poison mist attempt, hitting Bushi with a Jay Driller and Mark followed with a Froggy Bow for the win. This was a solid match overall and the Briscoes continue to dominate and work very well in their roles. This didn’t feel like the main event to end the tour, but was good nonetheless.
Winners: The Briscoes
Final Reaction: C+
The final show for people not attending the Chicago show had some strong matches, particularly the three-way tag team match and the four corner survival match. Taylor looked strong against EVIL even in defeat and the booking of Page was smart, building more heat between him and Martinez. Otherwise, the rest of the show was rather ho-hum. Lethal’s injury on night two called for yet another change in the card, which seemed to be the story of the tour. Castle’s injury and Lethal’s injury robbed the company of two of its top stars and although others stepped up, not having the world champion and one of the company’s former champions unavailable for all the dates on the tour took away from the big event feel that these tours often have.
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