The Bullet Club will be in action at February 19th’s Impact No Surrender as the Guerrillas of Destiny will challenge Tag Team Champions The Good Brothers while Jay White takes on Violent by Design’s Eric Young.
G.O.D. made their Impact on-screen debut on last Thursday’s Impact and issued a challenge to Karl Anderson and Doc Gallows. They made their in-ring debut alongside White and Chris Bey Thursday in an eight-man tag and after the match, Anderson, Gallows and Violent By Design combined to lay them out.
In a clip shared on Twitter, Scott D’Amore made both matches, adding that VBD is banned from ringside for the tag title match.
In other No Surrender news, Kenny King will officially join Honor No More (Mike Bennett, Matt Taven, PCO and Vincent) in their five-on-five match against Team Impact (Josh Alexander, Rich Swann, Eddie Edwards, Rhino and Chris Sabin). King debuted Thursday and took out Alexander from behind.
Here’s the current card for the Saturday, February 19th special on Impact Plus:
Impact World Champion Moose vs. W. Morrissey in a title match
Knockouts Champion Mickie James vs. Tasha Steelz in a title match
Impact Tag Team Champions The Good Brothers vs. G.O.D. in a title match
Jay White vs. Eric Young
Honor No More vs. Team Impact with the former’s future in Impact on the line
The Bullet Club trio attacked before the opening bell. Fale and Yano started off as the legal men. Yano untied a corner pad and used it as a weapon on Fale, but Fale no-sold it. Yano went for a slam on Fale, but failed.
Ishimori tagged in and got sent into the buckle. SHO tagged in for an extended sequence with Ishimori. They had a nice back and forth. SHO hit a spear, Ishimori hit a handspring kick, then both tagged out.
Eagles peppered Owens with kicks. Eagles hit a pair of meteoras in the corner. He missed a follow-up 450 splash. Owens missed a pump knee strike, but blocked Turbo Backpack.
Owens hit a Jewel Heist for a near fall. Fale tagged in for the tandem Grenade Launcher and Owens pinned Eagles.
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After the match, Yano tried to slam Fale again and failed again. Fale then destroyed Yano’s KOPW trophy with a stomp.
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Will Ospreay, Great-O-Khan & Jeff Cobb (w/Bea Priestley) defeated Kazuchika Okada, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Toa Henare (10:45)
This was good when Okada and Ospreay were in together.
Okada and Ospreay began with an intense striking battle. O-Khan and Tanahashi got tags. Henare jumped in for some tandem spots with Tana, including a double crab on O-Khan.
O-Khan cut Tanahashi off with a kneebar. Cobb tagged in and hit a backbreaker. O-Khan and Cobb each hit Tana with gutwrench suplexes. Ospreay tagged in for a 3-on-1 on Tana, hitting a missile dropkick.
Tanahashi came back with a dragon screw on Ospreay and tagged Okada. Okada hit a running back elbow, cleared the apron, hit another back elbow in the corner, then hit a DDT on Ospreay for a near fall.
Ospreay fought out of an air raid crash neckbreaker attempt. Cobb and Henare got tags and did some impressive power spots. Henare really needs to go somewhere else, he would be much higher on the card in any other promotion.
Tana jumped in for a slingblade on Cobb. Henare covered, but Ospreay broke up the pin. Henare ran into a pump kick from an interfering O-Khan. O-Khan used a kneebar on Tanahashi to neutralize the interference threat.
Cobb then hit a Tour of the Islands on Henare for the pin.
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O-Khan continued to use the kneebar after the bell. Okada jumped in to make the save.
Cobb attacked Okada. Ospreay then hit an Oscutter on Okada. Priestley tossed O-Khan a chair. O-Khan hammered away at Tanahashi’s left leg with the chair.
SANADA showed great intensity in what was more of an angle than a match.
The Bullet Club squad attacked before the opening bell. Togo dragged SANADA to the ramp and choked him out with a ligature. Young Lions and staff tended to SANADA as the match began.
Togo removed a corner pad and Shingo was whipped into the exposed buckle. Yujiro took the ref while EVIL threatened to use Yujiro’s cane on Shingo.
An enraged SANADA jumped in and went after EVIL. He took him down and hammered him with right hands. SANADA shoved the referee down and continued beating EVIL around ringside. This was the most emotion SANADA has ever shown.
Shingo hit a sliding lariat and a Last of the Dragon on Yujiro for the pin.
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SANADA continued attacking EVIL after the bell. Young Lions tried to pull SANADA off, but he tossed them aside. SANADA hammered EVIL with right hands and they brawled to the back.
In the ring, Jeff Cobb appeared. Cobb picked up Shingo’s NEVER Openweight title belt. Shingo tried to grab the belt back. Cobb hit Shingo with Tour of the Islands and stomped to the back.
So both EVIL vs. SANADA and Shingo vs. Cobb for the NEVER title look to be Wrestle Kingdom matches.
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A promo video aired for the 49th anniversary show on March 4th at Budokan.
A promo video for an appearance at Wrestle Kingdom by a Japanese comedian dressed like Don King. Apparently he is Noritake Kinashi, also known as Don Kinashi.
Ibushi and Naito began with a series of counters and teases, previewing their Wrestle Kingdom match. Ibushi hit a dropkick to establish the early advantage. Wato got a tag and BUSHI and Naito doubled up on him. Naito and BUSHI mocked Tenzan by hitting Mongolian chops.
Wato came back with a series of kicks on BUSHI, then we were back to Naito and Ibushi. Naito got the upper hand in this exchange, hitting combinacion cabron in the corner, then an enzuigiri and a DDT.
BUSHI tagged in and hit a missile dropkick and DDT on Ibushi for a two count. BUSHI hit a swinging neckbreaker for another two as Wato broke up the pin.
BUSHI hit Ibushi with a backstabber. Ibushi came back with a high kick. Naito jumped in. Ibushi held Naito up. Wato hit a springboard forearm and a tornillo to take out Naito.
Ibushi hit a jumping knee strike to the head and a Kamigoye on BUSHI for the victory.
World Tag League final: Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa (w/Jado) defeated Juice Robinson & David Finlay to win World Tag League 2020 (22:15)
This was an excellent match.
Finlay and Loa began with some simple spots — tackles, drop downs and headlocks. Juice and Tama tagged in. Jado tried to trip Juice from the floor and got ejected by ref Marty Asami.
Finlay and Juice went to work on Tama’s left arm. After a miscommunication spot by FinJuice, Loa tagged in and cut off Finlay. Loa hit a blue thunder bomb for a near fall.
Finlay went for a tag but Tama pulled him off the apron. Juice finally got a tag at the ten minute mark. He hit a plancha to Loa, then went after Tama with a clothesline and a high cross off the top.
FinJuice went for a Hart Attack. Instead, Loa speared Juice. Finlay got hit with a Tongan Twist. Loa hit a diving headbutt off the top to Juice. Tama followed with a top rope splash for a near fall.
G.O.D. called for a super powerbomb. Tama missed the setup splash in the corner. All four guys hit big moves and all four went down. Juice hit Loa with a Left Hand of God, then collapsed again.
Juice hit Tama with a cannonball and a series of jabs. Juice called for Pulp Friction but got distracted by Jado walking down the ramp. Tama used a kendo stick on Juice and made a cover. Finlay broke up the pin.
Loa used the OJK on Finlay. Tama used a sharpshooter on Juice at the same time. Juice fought to the ropes to force a break.
Jado called for a Magic Killer. G.O.D. hit the Magic Killer. Tama covered — but Juice kicked out at two.
Jado called for a super powerbomb. Tama hit a running splash in the corner. Loa tried to execute the powerbomb, but Juice hit a super hurricanrana instead.
Finlay jumped in and hit an ushigoroshi on Loa at the 20 minute call. FinJuice hit a Hart Attack. Juice covered — but Tama kicked out at two. Finlay hit a superplex. Juice hit a top rope splash. Tama kicked out again.
FinJuice teased a Doomsday Device. Loa shoved Finlay off the post. Jado jumped in with a kendo stick. Juice cut him off and broke the stick.
KENTA ran in with the U.S. title briefcase and clocked Juice with it.
G.O.D. hit the super powerbomb and Tama covered Juice for the pin.
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After the match, KENTA took photos with his phone as G.O.D. and Jado posed with the World Tag League trophies.
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Best of the Super Jrs. final: Hiromu Takahashi defeated El Desperado to win Best of the Super Jrs. 27 (30:14)
This was not your typical high-flying Hiromu match filled with a bunch of high risk moves. Instead, they told a great story and worked a NJPW strong style main event match. This was superb.
They started slowly by Hiromu standards. They traded tackles and side headlocks. Hiromu then went to intiate one of his trademark palm strike to the chest sequences. Desperado was having none of it and immediately went for Numero Dos. Hiromu forced a break.
The pace picked up from there. Desperado used an assist from an unwitting referee to hit a basement dropkick to the knee. Desperado sent Hiromu outside and sent Hiromu into the barricade.
Back in, Hiromu sold his back from being sent into the fence. Desperado hit a snap suplex for two. Desperado went after Hiromu’s legs, looking to set up Numero Dos, the same strategy he used to beat Hiromu earlier in the tournament. Desperado expossed a buckle.
Desperado forced Hiromu outside and slammed him on the floor. Desperado followed up by driving the left leg into the floor. Desperado continued working over the leg.
Hiromu used a misdirection spot to set up a hurricanrana. He landed a low dropkick, but after two spots involving running, Hiromu stopped to sell his leg at the ten minute call.
Hiromu stretched Desperado over the top rope, choking him with his legs. Hiromu hit a wheelbarrow slam on the floor, then a shotgun dropkick off the apron to the floor.
Back inside, Hiromu hit a falcon arrow for a near fall. He teased a DVD into the buckle but Desperado blocked. Hiromu blocked a spinebuster attempt and a back suplex attempt.
Desperado hit a kneebreaker. He went for Numero Dos, but Hiromu forced an immediate break by rolling to the ropes. Desperado got launched into the buckle with a release German suplex.
Hiromu went for a Dynamite Plunger. His knee gave out instead. Desperado blocked a thrust kick. Hiromu then connected with two superkicks at the fifteen minute call. Hiromu hit a DVD into the turnbuckle pad, then another in the center of the ring.
Hiromu went for Time Bomb. Desperado slid out and locked in Numero Dos. Hiromu reached the ropes, but Desperado used the full four count before breaking the hold.
Hiromu escaped Guitarra de Angel and rolled outside. Desperado teased a suicide dive. Hiromu cut him off in the ropes. Hiromu went for a sunset bomb but overshot his mark. Desperado threatened to use his Jr. Heavyweight Tag belt, but ultimately attacked Hiromu’s leg with a chair.
Back in, Desperado hit Guitarra de Angel for a two count, then immediately transitioned to Numero Dos at the 20 minute call. Somehow, Hiromu reversed Numero Dos into a destroyer. Both men were down in the center of the ring.
Desperado shoved Hiromu into the Red Shoes the ref, who took a bump. Desperado hit a low blow. Hiromu blocked a straight right by hitting a big right hand of his own.
Hiromu tore off the top half of Desperado’s mask. In a dramatic moment, Desperado tore the rest of his own mask off himself.
The two then engaged in a furious sequence of strikes. After trading, Hiromu dropped Desperado with a palm strike. Desperado answered, dropping Hiromu with a right hand. Hiromu blocked Pinche Loco and hit a headbutt.
Hiromu hit victory royal. He went for Time Bomb. Desperado blocked and used El es Culero for a great near fall.
They charged each other and hit simultaneous lariats. Desperado kicked out the left leg. Hiromu popped back up and hit a superkick.
Desperado ducked a lariat and went for Pinche Loco. Hiromu reversed into a DVD into the exposed buckle. Hiromu hit Time Bomb — but Desperado kicked out.
Hiromu hit a second victory royal. He hoisted Desperado up at the 30 minute call. Hiromu hit Time Bomb II, then covered for the pin.
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Hiromu cut a promo after the match. He called out to Desperado as he was being helped to the back. Hiromu said he won this one, but they will be facing each other until they retire.
Hiromu fought back tears as he was handed the BOSJ trophy.
Hiromu challenged the winner of the Super-J Cup. He said he wants that match before he faces Taiji Ishimori for the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight title.
Hiromu then closed the show with a babyface promo, putting over the crowd.
I’m thinking that Uemura is primed for an excursion given the way he’s been focused on the last couple of nights. He went after Suzuki yesterday, then Tiger Mask today.
Tsuji and Kidd began trading holds. Tsuji tried to out-power Kidd, but Kidd had the edge. Uemura got a tag and out-wrestled Kidd, then tagged Tsuji back in to continue working Kidd over.
Uemura and Tsuji hit Tiger with a double dropkick. Uemura used a full crab on Tiger, who finally forced a rope break. Uemura and Tiger went one-on-one for several minutes, with the story being that Uemura was giving Tiger all he could handle.
The finish saw Tiger use a cross armbreaker for the submission. After the bell, Tiger pulled Uemura up, then bowed to him.
JUICE ROBINSON, DAVID FINLAY, SHO & YOH DEFEATED MINORU SUZUKI, TAICHI, EL DESPERADO & YOSHINOBU KANEMARU
This was a standard Suzuki-gun crowd brawl. Suzuki and company attacked their opponents as they made their way to the ring, then spent several minutes working on YOH.
Juice finally got a tag and ran wild. Suzuki sold a lot for Juice which was something of a surprise. Suzuki killed Juice with forearm shots to the side of the neck. Juice hit the Left Hand of God into a double down.
Finlay tagged in. Kanemaru blind-tagged himself in. Suzuki-gun went four-on-one against Finlay. SHO, YOH and Juice saved.
The finish saw Juice and Finlay double up on Kanemaru, hitting a double flapjack. Finlay then hit the Acid Drop and pinned Kanemaru.
Honma and Goto started out. This was probably the best that Honma has looked since returning from his serious neck injury. Ishii took it easy after his war with Shingo last night.
Henare tagged in and got worked over, as Goto, Ishii and YH traded quick tags. Makabe tagged in and did some power spots with Goto, exchanging lariats.
The match broke down a couple of different times. YH hit a headhunter on Honma for a near fall. Honma nearly stole the pin twice, first with a schoolboy, then with a kokeshi.
The finish saw YH hit a lariat, then use the butterfly lock for the submission on Honma.
MANABU NAKANISHI, HIROYOSHI TENZAN, SATOSHI KOJIMA & YUJI NAGATA DEFEATED JAY WHITE, BAD LUCK FALE, GEDO & JADO
The New Japan Dads are still on a roll.
Nakanishi and White started out. White bumped all over for Nakanishi’s offense. After a lengthy segment of getting heat on Nagata, Nakanishi got back in and got Fale up for his Argentinian backbreaker, before White made the save.
Nakanishi hit a chop off the top rope, then used his rack backbreaker for the submission on Gedo, while Tenzan held White in the Anaconda Vice and Nagata held Jado in a Nagata Lock.
Nakanishi was absolutely gassed by the end, but looked as good as he possibly can at this late stage. He’ll be in there with Okada tomorrow, who I’m sure will make him look like a million bucks.
TETSUYA NAITO, SANADA & HIROMU TAKAHASHI DEFEATED KAZUCHIKA OKADA, WILL OSPREAY & ROCKY ROMERO
Ospreay and Naito started off with a crazy sequence, trading counters and reversals. When these two finally have a singles match they’re going to tear it up.
Ospreay and Okada worked over Naito for a couple of minutes. SANADA and Naito then returned the favor to Okada. Ospreay tagged in and SANADA rolled him around the ring in cradles, which Ospreay did this hilarious comedy sell for.
Romero got a hot tag and ran wild on Naito and Hiromu. Rocky looks great until he has to start running. Romero went for a hurricanrana, but Hiromu turned it into a pop-up powerbomb for a near fall.
Romero fell victim to a three-on-one, but still managed a quick cradle on Hiromu for a near fall. Hiromu hit a lariat for his own near fall, then hit the Time Bomb for the pin. This was fun.
After the bell, LIJ posed for their trademark fist bump. Hiromu then lifted Naito up for the Time Bomb. Naito slid out. They did a series of reversals, ending with both posing. This was a nice little tease for their match on the anniversary show.
NEVER OPENWEIGHT SIX-MAN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: SHINGO TAKAGI, EVIL & BUSHI DEFEATED TORU YANO, COLT CABANA & RYUSUKE TAGUCHI TO RETAIN THE TITLES
Taguchi, Yano and Cabana are three of the best comedy wrestlers alive, so of course the presentation here played into that. I enjoyed this, but if that’s not your thing, steer clear.
The storyline here was that Yano stole the titles from LIJ last month. He pulled the belts out from under the ring right at the opening bell, then teased walking out with them.
They did a lot of comedy. Yano exposed two buckles. Cabana used a Superman pin for a near fall on EVIL. Yano unwittingly assisted EVIL in hitting a Magic Killer on Cabana for a two count. Taguchi got a hot tag and hit a series of hip attacks, then used an ankle lock on BUSHI.
The finish saw BUSHI tease a belt shot on Taguchi. Taguchi used a belt to block the black mist, but BUSHI eventually sprayed Taguchi with the black mist, then used a BUSHI roll for the pin.
IWGP HEAVYWEIGHT TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: HIROSHI TANAHASHI & KOTA IBUSHI DEFEATED TAMA TONGA & TANGA LOA TO WIN THE TITLES
Tanahashi and Loa traded headlocks to start. Tonga and Ibushi then tagged in and did the same, before Ibushi started to get on a roll. Ibushi kipped up twice out of shoulder tackles, then hit a dropkick.
G.O.D. cut Ibushi off with a double team. Tanahashi got a tag and hit a somersault senton, but he too was quickly cut off. Tana came back with a crossbody off the second rope, then tagged Ibushi. Ibushi hit a springboard dropkick, then got cut off again.
Ibushi somehow ended up bleeding from a cut above his left eye.
Ibushi hit a snap rana, then tagged Tana. Tana hit Loa with a low dropkick, then got caught with a spear. Jado called for a super powerbomb. Ibushi jumped in to make the save and ate a Gun Stun from Tonga. Tana blocked the move, then hit Twist and Shout on both Tonga and Loa.
Tanahashi hit a slingblade for a two count on Tonga. He hit a High Fly Flow and went for a cover, but Jado pulled the referee out to the floor, halting the count.
Loa jumped in and hit Tana with a title belt. Tonga tried to do the same to Ibushi. Ibushi ducked, Tonga hit Loa, then Ibushi hit Tonga with a Kamigoye. Ibushi then hit a plancha to both Jado and Loa.
Tanahashi slowly climbed to the top, then hit a second High Fly Flow on Tonga for the pin.
This was a fun main event, but not an all-time classic or anything like that.
Ibushi and Tanahashi had a great celebration. Both were nearly in tears. Tanahashi then cut a promo, putting over the title win and promising to defend against a number of opponents.
Tana promised an air guitar show next time. As he was wrapping up the promo, Zack Sabre Jr. and Taichi ran in and attacked. Sabre hit the Zack Driver on Ibushi, then hit a series of dragon screws to Tanahashi, so there are your new challengers.
The Guerillas of Destiny are once again the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team champions.
Tama Tonga pinned David Finlay to reclaim the titles tonight on the last stop of the New Beginning tour in Atlanta. This marks the sixth time the duo have held the titles.
Juice Robinson and David Finlay had won the World Tag League tournament back in December, earning them the right to challenge then champions Guerillas of Destiny at Wrestle Kingdom 14. Finlay and Robinson went on to capture the titles for the first time. They ended up holding the titles for only 28 days.
Here are the full results from the final stop on the New Beginning USA tour:
Yuji Nagata and Satoshi Kojima defeated Alex Coughlin and Ren Narita
– Nagata pinned Coughlin with the backdrop hold.
YOSHI-HASHI defeated Misterioso
– YOSHI-HASHI submitted Misterioso with the butterfly lock.
Toru Yano and Colt Cabana defeated Yujiro Takahashi and Jado
– Yano pinned Jado with a schoolboy.
Chase Owens defeated Rocky Romero
– Owens pinned Romero after the package piledriver.
Hiroshi Tanahashi and the Rock ‘n’ Roll Express deated TJP, Alex Zayne and Clark Connors
– Tanahashi pinned Connors with the high fly flow.
Jeff Cobb defeated Lance Archer
– Cobb defeated Archer following the tour of the islands.
The Guerillas of Destiny defeated Juice Robinson and David Finlay to win the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team titles.
Tonight’s World Tag League finals in Hiroshima will be determined by two key matches.
There are two scenarios that could go down. If Tomohiro Ishii and YOSHI-HASHI beat Guerrillas of Destiny tonight, the David Finlay & Juice Robinson vs. SANADA and EVIL match will be winner take all.
The situation gets murkier if Guerillas of Destiny win and if EVIL and SANADA win after that. EVIL and SANADA would need to win that match or else it would end up in a three way tie, in which case there would be a playoff matches to determine a winner.
The rest of tonight’s card will feature the remaining participants complete in one final World Tag League tournament match, mostly just for rankings’ sake.
Whoever ends up winning tonight will challenge the current IWGP Tag Team champions Guerillas of Destiny at Wrestle Kingdom 14.
Join us for live coverage starting at 2 a.m. EST. There will be English commentary.
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WORLD TAG LEAGUE MATCH: MANABU NAKANISHI & YUJI NAGATA DEFEATED HIROYOSHI TENZAN & SATOSHI KOJIMA
If heart and workrate were the same thing, all Nakanishi and Tenzan matches would be great. Alas.
Tenzan and Kojima got the heat on Nagata. Kojima hit his top rope elbow. Nagata came back with a weak dropkick to the leg of Kojima.
Nakanishi and Tenzan tagged in. Nakanishi hit a spear and tagged Nagata. Tenzan hit Nagata with a mountain bomb and a brainbuster. Tenzan and Kojima hit a TenKoji cutter. Tenzan called for a moonsault, but Nagata cut him off.
Nakanishi came off the top with a chop while Nagata hit an enziguri for a combination move. Nagata used a Nagata Lock II (crossface) for the submission on Tenzan.
WORLD TAG LEAGUE MATCH: TORU YANO & COLT CABANA DEFEATED BAD LUCK FALE & CHASE OWENS
They did a total comedy match. A highlight saw Yano poke Owens in the eyes, which caused Owens to headbutt Fale low.
For the finish, Yano hit a low blow while the referee’s back was turned, allowing Cabana to use the Superman pin to get the win over Owens.
WORLD TAG LEAGUE MATCH: JEFF COBB & MIKEY NICHOLLS DEFEATED TERRIBLE & SHINGO TAKAGI
This was a lot of fun. They had a heck of a little undercard match.
Cobb hit a dropkick to Shingo, then hit a standing moonsault while Nicholls hit a fist drop. Terrible and Shingo responded to the early assault by taking the fight to the floor. There they got the heat on Nicholls.
Shingo and Terrible worked over Nicholls in the ring. Shingo hit a sliding lariat. Terrible hit a top rope splash and made a cover, but Cobb broke up the pin with a dropkick.
Nicholls made a comeback and hit a double lariat. Cobb jumped in to double up on Terrible. Cobb hit a Spin Cycle, while Nicholls hit a sliding lariat for a near fall.
Shingo hit a Pumping Bomber on Cobb. Nicholls took out Shingo with a lariat. Terrible hit some strikes, but Nicholls cut him off, then used the Mikey Bomb to pick up the pin.
WORLD TAG LEAGUE MATCH: HIROSHI TANAHASHI & TOA HENARE DEFEATED HIROOKI GOTO & KARL FREDERICKS
This was another good undercard match. Fredericks is something else, man.
Tana and Fredericks had a nice opening exchange that saw Fredericks score a near fall on The Ace. Henare and Tana used a double crab on Fredericks, then went to work on him.
Tana hit a somersault senton for a two count. Fredericks came back with a spinebuster, then tagged Goto. Goto hit Tana with a hip toss, a lariat, then used a bulldog for a two count.
Tana came back with a forearm, then used a cloverleaf on Goto, but Fredericks broke it up. Goto tried a misdirection spot, but Tana countered into a slingblade.
Fredericks and Henare got tags. Fredericks hit a huge top rope crossbody on Henare, then a dropkick on Tana for good measure. Fredericks used a hip toss and a diving chop on Henare for a two count. Goto and Fredericks hit their tandem Russian leg sweep/blockbuster on Henare, but Tana saved.
Henare hit a Samoan drop on Fredericks. Henare and Tana hit a leg sweep/slingblade combo on Fredericks, but Goto saved.
Tana took out Goto with a plancha. Henare went for a tackle but Fredericks turned it into a sunset flip for a two count. Fredericks used another quick cradle for a two count. Henare hit a lariat and Fredericks took a flip bump. Henare covered for a near fall.
Henare then hit the Toa Bottom on Fredericks for the pin.
CHRIS JERICHO VIDEO
As Tanahashi and Henare celebrated the win, the lights went out. A video played on the entrance screen.
In the video, Chris Jericho posed with an army of people painted up in his Painmaker gimmick. He told Tanahashi that time is running out and he’ll see him January 5. He said it’ll be one of Tana’s greatest matches, but also his last match.
Tanahashi then cut a promo. He said he thought Jericho would be there. He said he doesn’t plan to quit any time soon, and January 5 may be Jericho’s last match.
WORLD TAG LEAGUE MATCH: LANCE ARCHER & MINORU SUZUKI DEFEATED YUJIRO TAKAHASHI & KENTA
This was a pretty standard Suzuki-gun brawl.
KENTA went after Suzuki before the opening bell. They brawled all around the arena, with Suzuki-gun getting the upper hand. They teased a countout, but Yujiro made it back in.
Archer did his rope-walk spot with Yujiro. Suzuki and KENTA continued fighting on the floor with hard slaps. Archer hit a series of slams. Suzuki and KENTA tagged in and continued their slap-fest in the ring.
KENTA sent Suzuki outside and into the barricade. KENTA and Yujiro doubled up on Archer. KENTA hit a double stomp off the top for a two count. Archer sent KENTA outside and hit a pounce on Yujiro for a two count.
Everyone jumped in. Suzuki used a rear naked choke on KENTA, then threw him outside. Yujiro hit a sliding dropkick on Archer. Archer came back with a chokeslam. Yujiro bit Archer’s hands. Archer teased a Blackout, but Yujiro bit him again.
With Suzuki and KENTA still on the outside, Archer hit the Blackout on Yujiro. He then pulled Yujiro up before the inevitable three count. He then used the EBD claw to pin Yujiro.
Archer and Suzuki attacked some Young Lions after the match.
JON MOXLEY APPEARS
As Suzuki and Archer posed in the ring after their match, Jon Moxley’s entrance video played. Moxley then appeared in the crowd. Moxley then walked to the ring.
Archer and Moxley had a staredown. Moxley turned to leave, but then hit a Death Rider on Archer. Suzuki stepped towards Moxley, but then ate a Death Rider himself.
Moxley cut a promo and said he wants his belt back. He said he’ll take it back at Wrestle Kingdom in a Texas Death Match.
Moxley then pulled a table from under the ring. He teased sending Archer through the table, but Archer fought back. They had an intense brawl around the arena, then brawled out of the arena. The cameras did not follow them.
They built this match around a hot tag to Liger, whose appearance was the highlight of the night for the crowd. Okada played total heel here as well. The crowd clearly favored Ibushi in his confrontations with Okada, even before Okada played heel.
Ibushi went after Okada at the opening bell. He hit a running boot, knocking Okada to the floor. He hit another boot on the floor against the barricade. Back inside, Ibsuhi continued to attack with kicks. Okada came back with a flapjack, then tagged YOH.
Ibushi managed a tag to Tiger, and 3K and Okada took turns working Tiger over in their half of the ring. Tiger tried to tag Liger, but Okada pulled Liger off the apron. Liger finally got the tag.
Liger hit a top rope rana, hit both members of 3K with shoteis, and even hit a shotei on Okada. Ibushi tagged in and hit a springboard dropkick. Okada countered with a shotgun dropkick.
The match broke down and everyone hit a big move. Liger ducked a Rainmaker and hit a shotei on Okada.
Ibushi and SHO were left the legal men. Ibushi hit a Bomaye and a Kamigoye on SHO for the pin. Good match.
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Okada got in Ibushi’s face after the match. Ibushi hauled off and smacked Okada in the head with his Wrestle Kingdom briefcase. Ibushi continued to attack Okada, standing on his throat after the briefcase shot. Everyone from both teams tried to pull Ibushi off Okada. Okada was helped to the back.
On his way to the back, Ibushi attacked Okada again with a running knee. The crowd didn’t want to boo Ibushi, so they were just quiet for most of this. This was a super effective angle.
RYU LEE CHALLENGES JUSHIN LIGER
Ryu Lee (the former Dragon Lee) appeared on the screen as Liger posed in front of his hometown crowd. Liger put Lee over as being one of the best. But he said he also wants to wrestle someone else. Someone who just returned from a neck injury. He seemed to be referring to Hiromu Takahashi. He challenged both to take him on, so perhaps a triple threat between Lee, Liger and Takahashi is coming up January 5.
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WORLD TAG LEAGUE MATCH: TOMOHIRO ISHII & YOSHI-HASHI DEFEATED TAMA TONGA & TANGA LOA
They were bound and determined to get the crowd into this match, and it seemed as though they were going to stay out there until they did. They finally accomplished their goal, but it was tough.
Far be it from me to tell Tonga and Loa how to lay out their matches, but their opponents just sell, sell, sell, sell, sell for without so much as a hope spot for the first ten minutes of their matches and the crowd dies.
The Guerrillas of Destiny used a kendo stick shot from Jado on the floor to take control in the early-going. They turned the match into a crowd brawl, then worked over YH in the ring.
Ishii finally got a tag and hit Tonga with a lariat. Loa cut him off. Ishii managed a tag to YH, who scored his first significant offense of the match with a lariat and headhunter on Loa.
YH hit a codebreaker on Loa into a suplex by Ishii. YH covered, but Tonga saved at the last pssible second. YH hit a lariat on Loa for another near fall. Ishii and Tonga brawled to the floor.
Jado took the referee. Tonga jumped in and hit a low blow on YH. Loa then used the OJK on YH, teasing a submission. YH reached for the ropes, but Loa rolled through and re-applied in the center of the ring. YH pulled Loa over into a cover for a near fall.
Ishii jumped in and knocked Jado off the apron. Tonga hit a Tongan Twist on Ishii. Tonga and Loa each hit top rope splashes on YH for a near fall.
G.O.D. teased a super powerbomb. YH fought it off and hit a top rope rana. Tonga tried a Gun Stun on Ishii, but Ishii fought it off. Ishii hit a lariat, and YH used an inside cradle on Loa for the pin.
WORLD TAG LEAGUE MATCH: JUICE ROBINSON & DAVID FINLAY DEFEATED SANADA & EVIL TO WIN WORLD TAG LEAGUE 2019
Finlay scored early with some shoulder tackles on SANADA. Juice came in for the double team and hit some jabs. Juice ended up the legal man. EVIL cut him off with a trip from the floor. EVIL then tagged in and hit a shoulder tackle.
EVIL used a scorpion deathlock on Juice, who reached the ropes. SANADA tagged in and tried for the paradise lock, but Juice blocked the first attempt. SANADA got it applied on the second try, then hit a dropkick to break it.
SANADA got sent up and over the top, which allowed Juice to tag out. Finlay hit EVIL with an uppercut forearm. Juice tried to jump in for a double team, but SANADA saved with a dropkick.
On the outside, EVIL placed a chair around Finlay’s neck, then swung a second chair into the first. This was not a DQ. SANADA sent Juice into the barricade. EVIL and SANADA went to work on Finlay in the ring.
SANADA tried a standing moonsault, but Finlay rolled away. SANADA then hit a dropkick, and the assault on Finlay continued. EVIL hit a seated senton in the corner on Finlay after begging the crowd to get into the match by pounding the mat.
Finlay escaped a back suplex attempt from SANADA, then hit his own back suplex. Juice got a tag and hit SANADA with a senton. He teased a cannonball, but EVIL jumped in. Juice dispatched EVIL, then connected with the cannonball on SANADA.
Juice stacked up SANADA with a powerbomb and got a two count. He teased a Juice Box, but SANADA blocked it. EVIL jumped in to hit a quick strike, enabling SANADA to hit a backdrop. They teased a Magic Killer, but Finlay saved, then clotheslined EVIL outside.
Juice and Finlay hit a double flapjack on SANADA. Finlay hit a superplex into an immediate frog splash by Juice for a two count. SANADA landed badly on the superplex, but appeared to be okay.
Juice and SANADA each teased a finisher. EVIL hit a German on Juice. Finlay hit EVIL with a spear. SANADA hit a springboard dropkick to Finlay. SANADA tried Skull End. Juice tried Pulp Friction. SANADA blocked, then locked in Skull End.
EVIL held Finlay on the floor while SANADA held Juic ein Skull End. Referee Red Shoes really tried to sell this as a finish, but no. SANADA gave up the hold, then tried a moonsault. Juice got his knees up, and they did a double down.
EVIL and Finlay got tags and exchanged strikes. EVIL tried a misdirection spot out of the corner, but Finlay blocked and hit a uranage over his knee. Finlay hit an ushigoroshi for a near fall.
Finlay tried a cutter. EVIL blocked and hit a fisherman buster. EVIL hit a superplex, then a lariat. Finlay took a flip bump, then kicked out at two.
EVIL used a scorpion deathlock. Juice tried for a save, but SANADA cut him off and put him in Skull End. After a struggle, Finlay reached the ropes.
EVIL and SANADA hit a Magic Killer on Juice, who rolled to the floor. They tried a Magic Killer on Finlay, but Finlay used a Granby roll for a great near fall.
EVIL hit Darkness Falls on Finlay for a two count. EVIL and SANADA then hit a Magic Killer. EVIL covered, but Juice saved.
SANADA hit a plancha on Juice. EVIL tried Everything is EVIL on Finlay, but Finlay blocked and hit his own Everything is EVIL.
Finlay hit EVIL with a stunner. Juice hit EVIL and SANADA with Left Hand of God. Juice hit Pulp Friction on SANADA. Finlay then hit his Acid Drop and pinned EVIL. The last few minutes of this were exceptional.
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After the match, Cobb, Nicholls, Tenzan, Kojima, Henare, Tanahashi, Nagata, Nakanishi, Cabana, Yano, Makabe and Honma came to the ring to celebrate with Juice and Finlay. Zima is a sponsor, so the babyfaces drank Zima and gave the winning team a Zima bath.
Juice called out G.O.D. and challenged them. Tonga and Loa came to the stage. Tonga flipped off Juice, then left.
The babyfaces continued celebrating with confetti and the World Tag League trophies to close the show.
FINAL WORLD TAG LEAGUE STANDINGS
Juice Robinson & David Finlay — 26 points (13-2)
EVIL & SANADA — 26 points (13-2)
Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa — 24 points (12-3)
Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI — 22 points (11-4)
Minoru Suzuki & Lance Archer — 18 points (9-6)
Toru Yano & Colt Cabana — 18 points (9-6)
Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi — 18 points (9-6)
KENTA & Yujiro Takahashi — 16 points (8-7)
Jeff Cobb & Mikey Nicholls — 16 points (8-7)
Shingo Takagi & El Terrible — 12 points (6-9)
Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens — 12 points (6-9)
Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima — 8 points (4-11)
ROH’s SummerSlam week event takes place tonight as the Mattamy Athletic Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada hosts Summer Supercard.
The Tag Team titles will be on the line in a Ladder War. After losing the titles at Manhattan Mayhem last month, Guerrillas of Destiny will get their rematch against The Briscoes tonight.
The ROH World Championship will also be up for grabs as Matt Taven defends against the returning Alex Shelley. Shane Taylor will defend his Television title against Tracy Williams, and Kelly Klein defends the Women of Honor World Championship against Tasha Steelz.
Rush and Dalton Castle are set to continue their rivalry in a no DQ match, Jay Lethal & Jonathan Gresham will team against LifeBlood’s Bandido & Mark Haskins, Villain Enterprise’s PCO & Brody King face off with The Kingdom’s Vinny Marseglia & TK O’Ryan, there will be a CMLL trios match with Caristico, Soberano Jr. & Stuka Jr. taking on Barbaro Cavernario, Hechicero & Templario, and PJ Black will face Silas Young.
Tonight’s show will air live on HonorClub. Our coverage begins at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time.
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They did a 10-bell salute to Harley Race at the top of the show. The roster on hand was bowed in silence around ringside.
Next was a shot of the ROH Tag Team titles hanging over the ring opened the show. Fans in the first few rows look excited despite the bleacher areas looking pretty sparse.
Villain Enterprises (PCO and Brody King) defeated The Kingdom (Vinny Marseglia and TK O’Ryan)
They showed a video package of the Kingdom beating up the Bouncers in Manhattan, when Marseglia burned Beer City Bruiser with a cigar. The Bouncers were actually sitting in the first row for this match. King and PCO brought their ROH Six-Man titles with them to the ring. There was a few PCO chants early on.
O’Ryan tried slamming PCO but couldn’t; PCO countered with a Shibata low dropkick in the corner.
The hard cam positioning makes the show look pretty good on TV but whenever they cut to the ringside camera crew you can see how empty the upper tiers look.
King chopped PCO to wake him up, then whipped him into Marseglia who was in the corner. There were even more chants for PCO.
Marseglia shouted “You wanna be a monster, huh?!” at PCO. O’Ryan gouged at his eyes. Marseglia fishooked him. King came back and did a running somersault senton off the apron, then King monkey-flipped PCO onto the Kingdom but pretty much missed both.
Later, Marseglia threw PCO threw to the floor and they made it look like PCO did a suicide dive onto King. King hit the Gonzo Bomb and PCO did a moonsault on O’Ryan for the win. This felt more like the PCO Show than anything.
After the match the Kingdom and the Bouncers brawled outside the ring. Milonas threw a beer at them and it got all over the camera lens.
PJ Black and Silas Young went to a no-contest
Rhett Titus joined the commentary team before this one. Young came out and basically implied he got drunk with some fans before the match and showed a bottle he brought with him to the ring. He said he might’ve done this for a subconscious reason, because this week he talked with a “dork wrestling fan” was excited for his match with PJ Black because the fan thought it could be five stars. I assure you no dork wrestling fan was discussing that this week. Young told a fans his chants were boring and to shut up, which got a big reaction. He said Black hadn’t earned a another chance at Young because he won the TV title before (and possibly because he’s drunk).
Black got on the mic and said he was disappointed because he really wanted to wrestle tonight. He said maybe some of the unbooked tonight. He said “what about Cheeseburger?” which got a nice reaction, and then Marty Scurll’s music hit and the crowd lost it. He’d go on to take Black up on his open challenge.
Marty Scurll def. PJ Black
Good short match. They started off hot with a lot of near falls from both guys. Midway through he did a walk-up frankensteiner from the top rope followed by a moonsault press for two. He’s better than he gets credit for. It sounded like a completely different crowd from the first match. On commentary Ian Riccobani mentioned he wasn’t at the show tonight because he was doing the Edinburgh Comedy Festival in Scotland.
Black did a C4 for a two-count. He went for the Wildness quebrada but Scurll got his knees up. Scurll later did the finger snapping spot and the crowd chanted “holt sh**.” They traded nearfalls until Scurll hit the Black Plague for the win.
Women of Honor championship match: Kelly Klein (c) def. Tasha Steelz
Steelz did a tope suicida and just barely made contact with Klein, looked a little scary. The crowd tried getting into this but it sounded like they were just being polite, sometimes clapping over the bigger spots. Klein did a brutal-looking back suplex at one point. I could hear fans heckling both the ring and each other, one fan screaming “shut up!” at another. Steelz did a cutter and both were out for a minute, then Klein came back and did K-Power to win.
After the match Klein went to shake Steelz’ hand. Angelina Love from the Allure came out and took both out and did Botox Injection kicks. ROH has been doing this angle on almost every show since MSG.
Mark Haskins and Bandido def. Jonathan Gresham and Jay Lethal via submission
This went from a just-above-average match to an excellent match in the last minute. A few fans were ironically screaming “maschismo!” before the match. There sounded to be a lot of nonsense in the crowd until Haskins and Gresham got going. A few fans chanted for Haskins. Him and Gresham were awesome together if you’re into the Zack Sabre or Timothy Thatcher neo-shoot style wrestling.
People were chanting for Bandido after a few minutes of Haskins and Gresham, so both he and Jay Lethal tagged in. There were dueling chants for both but the Bandido contingency was louder. They had an awesome and really fast exchange next and the crowd loved it and started banging on the barricades.
Bandido later cut Lethal off in his team’s corner for a while, and he and later Haskins worked him over with submissions. Gresham did a deadlift German suplex on Haskins and flexed. The announcers put him Gresham over as though he has more confidence than ever and acted sort of cocky in the match. He went a little crazier later and went to bash Bandido’s head with a chair, taking everything way too far in storyline, and even shoved his partner Lethal over.
Gresham and Lethal tried a Cornette Cutter but Haskins caught Gresham mid-air and did a Death Valley Bomb onto to Lethal. Bandido did a surprisingly ugly frog splash. Lethal later put Haskins in a figure-four leg lock for a while and Gresham held Bandido off for a while until Bandido power bombed Gresham onto Lethal thus breaking the hold. The crowd chanted “R-O-H!” after this.
The finish saw Bandido busting out a few spectacular moves, including a pop-up cutter that saw him toss Gresham to the ceiling, and a crazy tope con giro to the floor while Haskins wrenched back on Lethal in the ring with a Sharpshooter for the win. Great finish to a good match.
ROH Television championship: Shane Taylor (c) vs. Tracy Williams
Flip Gordon jumped Tracy Williams during his entrance. He used an all-black kendo stick. The match has been postponed until later according to Ian Riccaboni.
No DQ match: Rush defeated Dalton Castle
Castle came out in a matador’s hat. His new “Boys” wore cow masks, which was meant to be a knock against Rush and his family. Castle tried attacking him before the bell but Rush controlled much of the match from here. One girl screamed for Castle.
Castle tried running to the back but Rush chased after him and they fought near the empty bleachers. Not the best look on camera but the live crowd was into it.
Things slowed a bit when Castle went on offense. He landed a German suplex on the floor and later bodyslammed Rush over the barricades onto a few security people. Castle got near the camera and said Rush should be in the seats. I guess he was telling him to go be a fan. Rush cursed in Spanish; Castle threw a steel chair at him. Rush power bombed Castle onto the ring announcers table but it didn’t break.
Rush threw a bin full of garbage into the ring, plus a chair or two, beat on Castle some more and then landed the Bull’s Horn dropkick for three. I imagine this is the blow-off to their feud but we’ll have to wait and see.
ROH Television championship match: Shane Taylor (c) defeated Tracy Williams
Tracey Williams came out selling his arm and called Shane Taylor out. When the match was underway Taylor basically abused him with hard chops and strikes in the corner. Williams tried to make a comeback and did hanging armbar over the ropes. Taylor came back quickly and slowed things down; he did a leg drop onto Williams’ injured arm on the apron. Taylor missed a splash off the second rope and put Taylor in a LeBell Lock. Taylor put him away a few minutes later with Greetings from 216 (Fire-Thunder driver) for the win.
—They showed a video package for Joe Hendry, the Scottish EC3, who said he’s coming to win the ROH World Heavyweight title.
Caristico, Sobreano Jr. & Stuka Jr. defeated Barbaro Cavernario, Templario & Hechicero via submission
This was a really cool match that sounded like it woke the crowd up. All action, no story or anything, but that wasn’t necessary. Everyone looked in the match looked good, too.
Things heated up a few minutes in, as soon as Caristico, Cavernario and Templario were in together. It was all high spots and dives. The rudos did three separate dives to the floor. People started chanting “lucha” after this. Hechicero used a swinging backbreaker on Soberano. Everyone looked awesome, actually. Stuka and Sobreno did simultaneous dives from the top to the floor towards the end. Cavernario tried really hard to get this crowd into the match, especially when it was him and Caristico in together before the finish. Caristico tapped Cavernario with La Mistica in the end.
ROH World Heavyweight title match: Matt Taven (c) vs. Alex Shelley
Ian Riccaboni gave us an impromptu music history lesson focused on the music of Detroit, which also happens to be where Alex Shelley is from, and likened him to the artists he mentioned, great but under appreciated performers.
Matt Taven wore a purple cape to the ring. They started slow and would mostly wrestle on the mat until Taven would get a rope break. Shelley poked Taven in the eyes and did the Ric Flair strut.
Someone was literally passed out in the front row during their match and everyone in the crowd was focused on that. Shelley took off his shoe and threw it at Taven. He went for Sliced Bread off the ring post but Taven shoved him off and Shelley went through the timekeeper’s table.
ROH World Heavyweight title match: Matt Taven (c) defeated Alex Shelley
Ian Riccaboni gave us an impromptu music history lesson focused on the music of Detroit, which also happens to be where Alex Shelley is from, and likened him to the artists he mentioned, great but under appreciated performers.
Matt Taven wore a purple cape to the ring. They started slow and would mostly wrestle on the mat until Taven would get a rope break. Shelley poked Taven in the eyes and did the Ric Flair strut.
Someone was literally passed out in the front row during their match and everyone in the crowd was focused on that. Shelley took off his shoe and threw it at Taven. He went for Sliced Bread off the ring post but Taven shoved him off and Shelley went through the timekeeper’s table.
They did a crazy slingshot to the floor spot, Shelley to Taven, but I don’t know what move it was. It was a scary botched slingshot suplex toss.
Taven returned with a big dive over the barricades onto Shelley into the crowd. The crowd was pretty into the match at this point. Shelley came back with a Bladerunner (the move he taught to Jay White) for a close two.
The last few minutes of this were really good, despite what you’re thinking. Lots of nearfalls and then Taven hitting the Climax for the finish, pinning Shelley clean.
Taven cut a promo on the crowd and called Toronto melvins. People started chanting “let’s go Raptors.” He said he’s on pace to be the greatest ROH champion of all time, then Rush’s music hit.
ROH World Heavyweight title match: Matt Taven (c) defeated Alex Shelley
Ian Riccaboni gave us an impromptu music history lesson focused on the music of Detroit, which also happens to be where Alex Shelley is from, and likened him to the artists he mentioned, great but under appreciated performers.
Matt Taven wore a purple cape to the ring. They started slow and would mostly wrestle on the mat until Taven would get a rope break. Shelley poked Taven in the eyes and did the Ric Flair strut.
Someone was literally passed out in the front row during their match and everyone in the crowd was focused on that. Shelley took off his shoe and threw it at Taven. He went for Sliced Bread off the ring post but Taven shoved him off and Shelley went through the timekeeper’s table.
They did a crazy slingshot to the floor spot, Shelley to Taven, but I don’t know what move it was. It was a scary botched slingshot suplex toss.
Taven returned with a big dive over the barricades onto Shelley into the crowd. The crowd was pretty into the match at this point. Shelley came back with a Bladerunner (the move he taught to Jay White) for a close two.
The last few minutes of this were really good, despite what you’re thinking. Lots of nearfalls and then Taven hitting the Climax for the finish, pinning Shelley clean.
Taven cut a promo on the crowd and called Toronto melvins. People started chanting “let’s go Raptors.” He said he’s on pace to be the greatest ROH champion of all time, then Rush’s music hit. The crowd started chanting “Toro Blanco,” Rush’s nickname. It looks like that’ll be Taven’s next program.
ROH World Tag Team Title match: The Briscoes (c) (Jay & Mark Briscoe) defeated Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa)
This was all weapons and high spots off tables and ladders. If that’s your thing, this was good, though their recent bout in Manhattan was much better.
Once the Briscoes made it down to the ring the two teams got into it. Mark did a dive to the floor within the first minute or so. They used lots of weapons. Tonga threw Mark onto a table and it didn’t break. The crowd got really excited when Jay Briscoe pulled a table out from under the ring.
The Briscoes set Loa onto a table and then set a ladder over him and did a senton, crowd did the “holy sh**” chant. Same fans in the front started a “this is awesome”chant. Tama Tonga did a few spots where he sprinted at a Briscoe and would just deck him with a weapon or just his arms. Tonga did a shotgun dropkick and launched Mark over the barricades into the crowd. The next spot was brutal if not worrisome and it saw Briscoe get back bodydropped onto an unfolded chair, he landed at a weird bendy angle that didn’t pop the crowd but actually silenced them.
Mark Briscoe was bleeding when Tonga powerslammed him on a ladder in the ring; Jay’s whole face was covered. Mark did a crazy-looking Blockbuster to the floor on Loa through two tables. This also elicited a “holy sh**” and “fight forever” chant from the crowd. Jay was bleeding so badly at this point. Him and Tonga started jawing at each other in the ring and then hit each other with chairs. Jay later did a Jaydriller to Tonga from the apron through a table on the floor.
Despite the building only half (or less) full, Mark Briscoe still dove from the top rung of what had to be a 20 ft. Ladder and splashed Loa through a table. He basically landed on his knees and the face he made toward the camera looked like his soul had just been ripped from his body.
Next was Tonga landing a flying Gun Stun from one ladder to another on Mark. Later he and Jay fought at the top of a ladder in the ring, punching each other until Jay knocked Tonga off. He grabbed one of the belts hanging above him and won the match for his team, and the Briscoes retain. Brutal match, total mess of a streetfight.
Final thoughts —
This was a decent show, but the standout match featured six guys who aren’t even under contract to ROH. The CMLL showcase and the Gresham/Lethal vs. Haskins/Bandido are worth checking out. Everything else on the card was fine but often felt flat, probably because of the stuffy booking, stale wrestling and a modest crowd.
The ROH Tag Team titles will be on the line in a Ladder War match at Summer Supercard.
ROH has officially announced that The Briscoes (Jay & Mark Briscoe) will defend their Tag Team titles against Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa) in a Ladder War at Summer Supercard in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on Friday, August 9. The Briscoes won the titles from Tonga & Loa in a New York City street fight at Manhattan Mayhem last weekend.
The finish of the NYC street fight was The Briscoes hitting a Doomsday Device on Tonga, with Mark Briscoe jumping from the top of a ladder and sending Tonga through a table. Tonga & Loa appeared at ROH’s Mass Hysteria show the next night and took part in an angle where they attacked The Briscoes.
Before losing the titles at Manhattan Mayhem, Tonga & Loa retained against The Briscoes at War of the Worlds: Chicago in May, with Jay Briscoe getting pinned after being hit with a title belt.
Tonga & Loa are NJPW’s current IWGP Tag Team Champions.
Summer Supercard will air live on HonorClub. It’s being held at the Mattamy Athletic Centre on the Friday of SummerSlam weekend.
Here’s the updated card:
ROH Tag Team Champions The Briscoes defending against Guerrillas of Destiny in a Ladder War
ROH World Champion Matt Taven defending against Alex Shelley
Women of Honor World Champion Kelly Klein defending against Tasha Steelz
Caristico, Soberano Jr. & Stuka Jr. vs. Barbaro Cavernario, Hechicero & Templario
The ROH Tag Team titles changed hands at Saturday night’s Manhattan Mayhem event at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City.
The Briscoes won the titles by defeating Guerrillas of Destiny in a New York City street fight in the main event of last night’s show. The finish of the match was The Briscoes hitting a Doomsday Device, with Mark Briscoe pinning Tama Tonga after jumping off the top of a ladder and sending Tonga through a table while Tonga was on Jay Briscoe’s shoulders.
This is The Briscoes’ 11th reign with the ROH Tag Team titles.
Before losing the titles last night, Guerrillas of Destiny had been ROH Tag Team Champions since defeating PCO & Brody King, EVIL & SANADA, and The Briscoes in a four-way match at G1 Supercard this April.
The NYC street fight was set up after Guerrillas of Destiny retained against The Briscoes at War of the Worlds: Chicago in May. In that match, Tonga rolled up Jay Briscoe after Tanga Loa hit Jay with a title belt.
ROH was at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City on Saturday night for their Manhattan Mayhem TV tapings. Six of the matches were broadcast live on the HonorClub streaming service.
Quick results —
Dragon Lee defeated Jonathan Gresham
The Bouncers defeated Soldiers of Savagery and Coast 2 Coast in a three-way match
Rush defeated TK O’Ryan
ROH World Champion Matt Taven defeated Kenny King and Jay Lethal in a three-way match to retain his title
LifeBlood (Bandido, Mark Haskins, Tracy Williams & PJ Black) defeated Villain Enterprises (Marty Scurll, Flip Gordon, PCO & Brody King)
The Briscoes defeated Guerrillas of Destiny in a New York City street fight to win the ROH Tag Team titles
Dragon Lee defeated Jonathan Gresham
Great opener. They shook hands before the match, but Gresham was hesitant in doing so. He tried to swing himself into an octopus hold, but the two instead went into a really quick exchange of counters and strikes and the crowd began to percolate.
Gresham has been teasing a heel turn since his match with Silas Young at the last PPV. He’s gotten way jacked since seeing him at Best in the World last month. These two had a match in NJPW’s Best of the Super Juniors last month and the first few minutes of this were more heated than that one.
These two slapped the hell out of each other both on the chest and in the face until the ref turned his back and Gresham landed a very unsportsmanlike sack-tap that elicited tons of boos.
Gresham slowed things down for a while, bullying Lee and stretching him. It reminded me of Daniel Bryan when he went heel with the Wyatt Family a couple years ago, when he modified his style to make it less flashy and more mean.
Lee made a comeback and hit the Shibata running dropkick in the corner. They started trading tons of high spots and more strikes. They both wrestled on the top rope until Dragon Lee was able to land the tree of woe stomp and later an exposed running knee to Gresham’s temple to grab the win. Really good, and that’s crazy to say considering the quality of the G1 this week.
– Matt Taven came out wearing a Red Sox jersey. He recently threw out the first pitch at a Red Sox game and talked about that. He said it was the greatest moment of his life and people booed. He said tonight the rivalry between him and “that Melvin” Jay Lethal comes to an end. He said he’s going to prove the critics wrong because he’s Matt Taven. It was a good quick promo.
– Kenny King came out and called Taven’s jersey lame. He said he didn’t care who he beat because the last time he was in Manhattan he beat Jushin Liger and Great Muta. He insisted on being in Taven’s match with Jay Lethal. The crowd screamed “Noooooooo” and then started chanting “shut the f**k up” at him.
Taven basically said he was Matt Taven again and King called him more names as he went to the back. King was now in the ROH World Championship match.
Jay Lethal stormed out and got in Taven’s face. They got into it and started punching each other until “security” and referees came out and broke them up. The crowd was lukewarm at first but then started chanting “let them fight.”
The Bouncers (Beer City Bruiser & Brawler Milonas) defeated Soldiers of Savagery (Moses Maddox & Jasper Kaun) and Coast 2 Coast (LSG & Shaheem Ali) in a three-way match
The Bouncers drank beer in the crowd and Beer City Bruiser came out with a cigar in his mouth. Is he doing a Crusher parody?
LSG and Bruiser started off. Bruiser did the “I can’t bite — I ain’t got no teeth!” spot and it bombed yet again. You could here one guy chuckling as production zoomed in on Bruiser’s face.
Milonas and Moses from Sons of Savagery were in next. Milonas ironically called Moses “fat boy.” SOS are huge dudes and remind me of guys you’d see in EVOLVE or NXT these days. The big guys hoss’d out and exchanged shoulder blocks and punches.
LSG tagged Milonas as he ran the ropes and Moses then tagged out to Jasper. They later chokeslammed Bruiser through the timekeeper’s table, so referee Brian Hebner ejected them from the match. The crowd booed and started chanting “bullsh*t.” They perked back up when The Bouncers landed the Closing Time (the Smoking Gunns’ Sidewinder) on LSG to win.
Vinny Marseglia and TK O’Ryan attacked The Bouncers with chairs after the match. People booed — but aside from one girl with pink hair in the front row it felt like cold heat.
Marseglia smoked Bruiser’s cigar. The Kingdom sat on the chairs and talked about how they thought they should’ve been the Tag Team Champions long ago and then burned the cigar out on Bruiser’s chest. TK O’Ryan said he liked whiskey better. This segment was borderline embarrassing. No one seemed to care.
Rush defeated TK O’Ryan
O’Ryan stayed in the ring and called out Rush, who then made his entrance. He wrestled at Arena Mexico on Friday night. People were way into Rush but didn’t react much to O’Ryan.
O’Ryan wore new tights tonight so I guess he’s updating his look. The crowd was really quiet when he was on offense unless he cued the audience to boo for him. He did the Eddie Guerrero rolling vertical suplexes and did the Eddie shimmy to the crowd for some reason.
Rush spit on O’Ryan and started no-selling all of O’Ryan’s chops, then did a snap dragon suplex (like his brother Dragon Lee did in the match before). People started going nuts when Rush started whipping O’Ryan into the barricades.
This quickly turned into a disaster when Rush went to do a surprise back kick to O’Ryan, but Rush completely whiffed because O’Ryan was out of place. He sat up before Rush could see him and the camera caught the whole thing. Maybe on the side opposite the hard cam it looked okay because Rush smacked his thigh — but wow, that didn’t look good.
Rush then tried doing a belly-to-belly into the bottom turnbuckle, but it looked atrocious and O’Ryan bumped short and on his side. The crowd barely reacted. Rush obliterated O’Ryan with the Bull’s Horns for the win moments later. It looked crazy. He was extremely over with this crowd, but they really didn’t care about O’Ryan and it was stark.
Rush posed with fans in the front row and did the LIJ pose. One “fan” wearing a glittery Pierroth mask attacked him. It was Dalton Castle and they did the Jericho/Rey Mysterio or Jericho/Naito angle. Castle did his own Bull’s Horns and took the mask off before they cut to a promo package about Jay Lethal.
ROH World Champion Matt Taven defeated Kenny King and Jay Lethal in a three-way match to retain his title
Alex Shelley was on commentary for this match. They played up Lethal’s ties to NYC and how bummed out he was to lose the ROH title at MSG. Half the crowd was for Lethal and just about half were for Taven, but everyone seemed to hate Kenny King.
Once this got going, it was pretty good. It didn’t feel like there were any awkward transitions between any of the guys. King was a little clumsy in how he does some moves. He makes up for what he lacks in the ring as a decent heel and his ability to rile the crowd up.
Taven and Lethal started slapping each other in the corner. King broke things up and then he and Taven got into it. King was trapped in the corner when Lethal put Taven in a tree of woe and dropkicked Taven, then King. Taven and Lethal went pretty hard at each other and it looked real crisp.
King later took both Taven and Lethal out with a double lariat and everyone sold on the mat after that. King then did a capoeira kick to Lethal on the apron and Taven dropkicked king to the floor. Taven did a few dives, then Lethal did a few too. The crowd really heated up here. The rhythm was sort of fractured before but from here it felt like things began to cook.
Taven frog splashed Lethal as he tried locking on a figure four on King. All three traded submissions and about three guys in the crowd chanted “fight forever.”
King landed a double blockbuster for two on both Lethal and then Taven. When Lethal hit the Lethal Injection on Taven, the place actually went nuts. It’s so strange because they weren’t making a sound just a few seconds earlier.
King snuck in and landed his version of the Lethal Injection and a Royal Flush on Lethal, but Taven came from the corner and spiked King with the Climax. He then pinned Lethal to win the match. This was pretty good.
LifeBlood (Bandido, Mark Haskins, Tracy Williams & PJ Black) defeated Villain Enterprises (Marty Scurll, Flip Gordon, PCO & Brody King)
Good match with an excited crowd, especially towards the end. Villain Enterprises all came out in gear that looked like a steampunk remix of Demolition’s old ring gear. Williams and Scurll were in first. The crowd was hot for Scurll and chanted his name over and over. All four got in the ring and squared off a minute later.
Bandido and Gordon were in next. Ian Riccaboni said these two could be a main event anywhere. I think that might actually be true. Gordon tagged out to King, who did crazy lucha spots on the ropes.
Haskins and Scurll were solid together. Bandido later dove off the top rope and double-stomped Scurll’s left arm.
Later, King did a huge tope con giro to the floor, then Scurll back body dropped PCO onto everyone else outside. The crowd was freaking out. PCO looks huge and was great here. He has the one-strap top, old school style.
Bandido legitimately caught PCO mid-air and powerslammed him. What the hell? Then he did a dive from the top to the floor and Colt Cabana said he didn’t even know that was a move. I didn’t either. It was a crazy twisting delayed moonsault thing. He’s nuts.
PCO did a giant moonsault onto everyone and the place lost it. Bandido did a running Canadian Destroyer, but the timing was botched and PCO landed awkwardly near the edge of the apron.
King went on a tear and almost pinned Haskins when everyone started chanting “This is awesome.” Bandido hit the 21-Plex and Black landed a 450 to win the match. Black celebrated with LifeBlood afterwards.
The Briscoes (Mark & Jay Briscoe) defeated Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa) in a New York City street fight to win the ROH Tag Team titles
This was relentless. Wow. The crowd chanted “G-O-D” over and over when Tonga and Loa came to the ring. They sounded like the biggest stars on the show so far. People started chanting “New Japan” when they stepped through the ropes. Yikes.
When the bell rang, things got out of control quickly. This all felt like FMW meets Crossfit, if that makes any sense. There were always at least three chairs in the ring at all times.
The Briscoes pulled out a bunch of weapons from under the ring. They got into a rapid-paced brawl and didn’t let their feet off the pedal until the finish. Tonga did a crazy missile dropkick on the floor and landed on his back.
They beat the tar out of each other with chairs and kendo sticks. Mark Briscoe put Loa through a table, or rather down onto it, and onto the floor. Loa later body slammed him through the table and finally split it into pieces.
This just never let up. Loa dropped Mark off the apron onto a pile of chairs on the floor. Loa destroyed him with chair shots. This all had the same vibe as Jon Moxley’s G1 matches this week, raw and violent with none of the guys in the match holding back in the least.
Guerrillas of Destiny super powerbombed Mark onto Jay Briscoe off the apron through a table and the crowd freaked again. As if things couldn’t get more nuts, Mark dragged a ladder out from under the ring. Jay was cut open and was juicing everywhere.
Just as Loa and Mark were atop the ladder, the HonorClub stream cut out. It wouldn’t be a proper HonorClub show without the stream going out. Thankfully it didn’t miss the absolutely most insane finishing spot I’ve seen all year.
Mark and Tonga fought on the top of the ladder and there was a table set up in one corner of the ring. Jay came from underneath Tonga and put him on his shoulders and they did a high-angle Doomsday Device through said table and got the win. It looked crazy. The Briscoe Brothers are now 11-time ROH Tag Team Champions. Well deserved.
We’ll be back tomorrow covering ROH’s next HonorClub show, Mass Hysteria.
The IWGP Tag Team titles and Revolution Pro Wrestling British Cruiserweight Championship will be on the line in matches at NJPW Southern Showdown in Melbourne, Australia this Saturday.
NJPW has announced that IWGP Tag Team Champions Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa) will defend their titles against Juice Robinson & Mikey Nicholls in Melbourne. El Phantasmo will also defend the RevPro British Cruiserweight Championship against Rocky Romero.
Both matches were announced as non-title when the card for Southern Showdown was first revealed.
Robinson & Nicholls defeated Tonga & Loa in a non-title match at NJPW’s Kizuna Road show this Tuesday. After the match, Robinson & Nicholls said they wanted the Tag Team titles.
Phantasmo retained his British Cruiserweight title against Ryusuke Taguchi at Tuesday’s Kizuna Road show. In his post-match comments, Phantasmo said the British Cruiserweight title would be on the line against Romero.
Phantasmo vs. Romero is a rematch from this year’s Best of the Super Juniors. Romero defeated Phantasmo in their tournament match.
Southern Showdown in Melbourne is airing live exclusively as an iPPV on Fite TV at 5 a.m. Eastern time on Saturday morning. It will then be uploaded to New Japan World 72 hours after the event.
Here’s the card for the show:
Kazuchika Okada & Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Jay White & Bad Luck Fale
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Will Ospreay defending against Robbie Eagles
IWGP Tag Team Champions Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa defending against Juice Robinson & Mikey Nicholls
RevPro British Cruiserweight Champion El Phantasmo defending against Rocky Romero
Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI vs. Yujiro Takahashi & Chase Owens
ROH has announced when Guerrillas of Destiny and The Briscoes’ Tag Team title rematch will be taking place.
Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa defending their ROH Tag Team titles against The Briscoes in a New York City street fight is set for next month’s ROH Manhattan Mayhem television tapings. The show is being held at the Hammerstein Ballroom on Saturday, July 20.
Guerrillas of Destiny won the ROH Tag Team titles by defeating PCO & Brody King, EVIL & SANADA, and The Briscoes in a four-way match at G1 Supercard this April. Tonga & Loa are also the current IWGP Tag Team Champions in NJPW.
Guerrillas of Destiny retained the ROH Tag Team titles against The Briscoes at War of the Worlds: Chicago in May. Tonga got the win by rolling up Jay Briscoe after Loa hit Jay with a title belt while the referee was checking on Mark Briscoe.
Following that match, ROH posted video of a promo where The Briscoes challenged Guerrillas of Destiny to a rematch and said they wanted it to have no rules this time.
The Briscoes are facing Nick Aldis & Colt Cabana at ROH’s Best in the World pay-per-view on June 28.
Jay Lethal challenging for the ROH World Championship is also set for Manhattan Mayhem. Matt Taven will defend the ROH World title against Jeff Cobb at Best in the World.
The social media back and forth between Guerrillas of Destiny and The Briscoes is leading to a match on ROH’s War of the Worlds tour.
ROH has announced that ROH & IWGP Tag Team Champions Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa) will face The Briscoes at the War of the Worlds show in Villa Park, Illinois on Sunday, May 12. The show is an ROH television taping.
If Guerillas of Destiny are still ROH Tag Team Champions, the titles will be on the line when they face The Briscoes. Guerrillas of Destiny are also defending the ROH Tag Team titles against Jay Lethal & Jonathan Gresham at War of the Worlds: Buffalo on May 8.
Guerrillas of Destiny became the ROH Tag Team Champions by defeating PCO & Brody King, The Briscoes, and SANADA & EVIL in a title vs. title match at G1 Supercard.
Tonga tweeted about the angle with The Briscoes and Enzo & Cass that took place after their match at G1 Supercard: “I love the fact that Enzo and Cass came and jumped the losers of our match. @ringofhonor booking at its finest.”
The War of the Worlds tour also includes stops in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on May 9 and Grand Rapids, Michigan on May 11. Guerrillas of Destiny, Yuji Nagata, Satoshi Kojima, Hikuleo, and SANADA & EVIL have been announced for all four events. Hirooki Goto will be wrestling at the shows in Toronto, Grand Rapids, and Villa Park.
A match for both the ROH and IWGP tag team championships has been set.
At this morning’s Honor Rising event, the Guerrillas of Destiny defeated EVIL and SANADA for the IWGP tag team titles. The Briscoes also won their match, retaining the ROH tag team titles against Juice Robinson and David Finlay in the main event.
After the main event concluded, Jay Briscoe got a mic and challenged GoD to a title for title match on April 6 at the G1 Supershow. GoD then came out, with Tanga Loa accepting the challenge on behalf of his team. The four then had a staredown, lifting both sets of titles in the air.
A few days later, New Japan officially confirmed that both champions will face one another. The ROH tag team championships will be defended on the ROH 17th Anniversary show, with the Briscoes defending against Brody King and PCO. The winners of that match will likely face GoD.
This would be the first match officially set for the G1 Supercard, which will take place at Madison Square Garden. It was announced earlier this week that the winner of next month’s New Japan Cup tournament will face IWGP Heavyweight champion Jay White for the title.
