We get some highlights of last week’s Cage match between Claudio Castagnoli and Brent Albright, where Albright won via a chair stomp to the head. Mike Hogewood and Dave Prazak pimped the main event, the Tag Team Honor Rumble. But first…
Sonjay Dutt vs. Delirious w/Daizee Haze
Hogewood put over Daizee’s training of Delirious over the past few weeks. Clean break when they tumbled into the ropes. At the bottom of the screen, the headline rolled “Jim Cornette has returned to Ring of Honor.” Back to the action-series of crisscrosses ended with Delirious arm dragging Dutt into an Indian deathlock. Dutt was able to make it to the ropes before submitting and begging off. Delirious showed the promise of his training with a couple of judo style throws. Sonjay sprung off the ropes, head scissoring Delirious to the floor. Delirious lured Dutt out, slinging Sonjay into the barricades when Sonjay went to dive. Before Delirious could lunge from on high, Sonjay pulled Daizee in front of him. This distracted Delirious, allowing Dutt to pull the worried masked man out of the ring, using a STO on the padded concrete. Sonjay tried to unmask Delirious when the action returned inside. When that failed, Dutt shoulder rammed Delirious. Delirious was able to avoid whatever Dutt had in mind, using the never-ending clotheslines. Actually, they did end because Dutt thrust his fingers against Delirious’ throat. Neck crank by Dutt after kneeing Delirious’ abdomen. Delirious fought out of it, slamming Dutt chest first before senton splashing him. A leaping lariat sent Dutt to the floor, allowing Delirious to cross body block Dutt off his feet from the top rope. Delirious only got a near fall off the attack. Cobra clutch suplex by Delirious also got him a very close near fall. Dutt was able to counter a clothesline, slinging Delirious face first against the turnbuckle. Delirious reversed the Irish whip, only to get kicked in the face, and leg dropped on the back of his head. Dutt tried to use the ropes for leverage in his pin attempt, but the referee saw it. This distraction allowed Delirious to roll Sonjay up, leading to a couple of near falls. Delirious floated over into the cobra stretch, but couldn’t get the submission. Panic Attack by Delirious had Dutt in position for Shadows Over Hell. Dutt leapt while Delirious was in midair, using an ace crusher as a counter. Daizee jumped on the apron for some reason, actually allowing Delirious to get choked out by his own tassels in the Camel Clutch. Dutt grabbed of Haze before being chased off by Delirious.
We hear from Eddie Kingston, who proclaimed he isn’t done because he’s still breathing. And the person he’s fighting tonight will get the brunt of Kingston’s wrath the will be aimed at Chris Hero when they meet up again.
Eddie Kingston vs. Myles Matthews
Before he could be introduced, Eddie hit the ring, beating poor Myles. Big overhead belly to belly suplex ended with Eddie asking for Chris Hero. Matthews fighting back just angered Eddie more. All of Kingston’s offense ended with Eddie calling for Hero. Myles avoided an attack in the corner, firing off a couple of forearms that ended with Myles getting suplexed again. Backdrop Driver wasn’t the end for Myles. A sick Spinning Back Fist was. SLAP THE PORPOISE!
Like the Royal Rumbles of old, we hear some words from the participants in tonight’s Honor Rumble. First up, The Briscoes. Jay spoke his team, saying they are the bar in ROH tag team wrestling. Steenerico, well, actually Kevin Steen said that they’re the best team. The Young Bucks proclaimed ROH to place to prove their worth as a tag team. Erick Stevens talked about how much Brent Albright’s experience will help them be a formidable unit. Dark City Fight Club want to become the top tag team in ROH, and plan on doing so, whether you like it or not. Then there are the champs, The American Wolves, who dominate because they can.
Next week, it’ll be KENTA vs. Chris Hero.
In the back stood Kyle Durden with Chris Hero. Hero quickly shot down the possibility of another match with Eddie Kingston before telling KENTA his future of being knocked out by Hero’s fierce elbows.
Roderick Strong vs. Joey Ryan w/The Embassy
Before the match could get underway, Nigel McGuinness came through the crowd to reiterate how the fans get too much power in wrestling. And a prime example of that-according to Nigel-is Roderick Strong, who sacrifices the body of himself, and his opponent’s for the fans’ adulation. Ryan was able to get the jump on a distracted Strong. Strong quickly fought back with those signature chops. Big dropkick from Strong. Strong pitched Ryan to the floor so he could chop him some more. Strong was softening up Ryan’s back. Strong was just chopping Ryan for his own enjoyment. Strong went for a running attack, but “Magnum” dropkicked Strong’s left leg from underneath him. Strong recovered, back kicking the incoming Joey after being whipped into the turnbuckles. Ryan jumped to his feet after a near fall, clotheslining Roderick to turn the tides. Strong hit the ropes after fighting out of the headlock, only to run into a spine buster. Strong stopped the Mustache Ride, catching Ryan with a series of high impact moves. Ryan elbowed his way out of the half nelson backbreaker, but not the uranage version. Joey stopped the Stronghold by making it to the ropes. Ernie Osiris distracted Strong long enough for Ryan to recover and pumphandle suplex his opponent for a two count. Spear by Ryan, then a spinning neck breaker, but nothing could put Strong away. Roderick reversed the Irish whip, missing that running enzuguri right after. Joey almost got a three count off the missed attack. Strong countered the butterfly suplex, kicking Ryan in the face. Superplex by Strong couldn’t get Roderick the three count. Roderick shook the shock away, executing the gut-buster. Strong was about to pin Joey when Prince Nana pulled him out of the ring. Strong pushed Nana into the crowd before reentering. Ryan super kicked the entering Roderick, using it to small package Strong for the win. The furious Strong unleashed his running big boot, laying out Joey. Strong yelled at the camera, promising to break both of Nigel’s arms.
Backstage, the World champion stood with Kyle Durden for Austin Aries’ big announcement. That announcement being the return of the Austin Aries Lucky Lottery next week after so many rave reviews. Durden brought up the possibility that the A-Double L-Double might be rigged. Aries made Durden look like a poor lawyer before leaving.
Tag Team Honor Rumble: ROH World Tag Team champions The American Wolves vs. The Briscoes vs. Kevin Steen & El Generico vs. Kenny King & Rhett Titus vs. Erick Stevens & Brent Albright vs. Dark City Fight Club vs. Jimmy Rave & Ernie Osiris vs. The Young Bucks
If you know about the Royal Rumble, you know about this one. The only difference is both members of the team must be eliminated before the team is out of the match. Jimmy Rave and Ernie Osiris picked the first number. The Young Bucks got the second entry spot. Rave and Osiris jumped the brothers after an honorable handshake. The Bucks stopped a double elimination, springboard dropkicking Rave before stereo dropkicking the stunned Osiris. A double super kick sends Osiris into elimination. Before the Bucks could grab Rave, Dark City Fight Club hit the ring as our next entrants. Dark City Hart Attack on Matt Jackson. Double team face plant on Nick Jackson by the DCFC. Rave didn’t do too well against Dark City either, getting pitched into a sidewalk slam. Next out is Kenny King & Rhett Titus, marking our halfway point. Instead of coming to the ring immediately, the two showcased for the ladies at ringside. Rave used this momentary lapse in judgment against King and Titus. Instead, Rave ran into the inverted atomic drop/clothesline combo by King and Titus. Nana coached Rave as Kory Chavis prevented his own elimination. Brent Albright and Erick Stevens rushed to the ring as the next entrants, lighting in on everyone, specifically Rave, who they eliminated, officially ending The Embassy’s night. The Bucks decided to single out Dark City. It didn’t work too well, avoiding elimination, but not a beating. Titus saved himself from being tossed out by Brent Albright as Steenerico’s music hit. Generico came flying off the top rope, taking down Stevens and Titus. Generico tried to help Albright send King to the floor. On the other side of the ring, Jon Davis and Kory Chavis lost their grip of The Young Bucks, allowing The Bucks to double dropkick them into elimination. King hung Matt Jackson of The Bucks on the top rope, allowing Titus to dropkick Matt into elimination. Chavis and Davis ran over to attack the prone Matt, causing Nick to dive off the top rope on top of Dark City, thus eliminating himself, and his team.
The Briscoes entered the building as the DCFC and The Bucks continued their fight on the floor. Mark manned up on Steen, getting his brother to help him. On the other side of the ring, Brent Albright pitched Titus over the top, to the floor. Before Brent could turn around, King sent him packing with Titus. Stevens tried to avenge his partner, but ended up getting kicked in the back of his head and eliminated by Kenny. King gloated over his actions before realizing he was stuck in the ring all alone with The Briscoes and Steenerico. Generico yakuza kicked King into elimination just as The American Wolves ran down the aisle. We have a three team brawl going on in the middle of the ring. Generico hit the ropes, only to run into The Wolves’ Alarm Clock. Eddie and Davey turned around to get super kicked by Jay and Steen respectively. Steen spun, forearming the unsuspecting Jay Briscoe. Jay countered with a spine buster. Generico ran across the ring, yakuza kicking Jay in the corner. Generico tried to follow up with an attack on Mark, but ended up feeling an ace crusher. Davey jumped to his feet, running into two exploder suplexes by Mark. Eddie saved Davey from whatever Mark had in mind with a running knee strike. Davey got tossed over the top, hitting the floor, but the referee didn’t see it due to Sara Del Rey distracting them. Davey slipped back in, dumping Steenerico to the floor. It’s down to The Wolves and The Briscoes. Enzuguri by Eddie sent Jay off the top rope, into elimination. The Wolves pounced Mark. Just as it seemed Mark was on the verge of elimination, Jay tripped up Davey, allowing Mark to clothesline Davey out of the ring for an official elimination. Eddie tried to dump Mark out with his partner, but Mark held on. Springboard dropkick from Mark set up kung-fu theater. Both men went counter for counter until Eddie ended up on the apron. Mark jumped up, kicking Eddie in the face to win it for his team.