Site icon Slam Wrestling

ROH: The master teaches the student as Shibata makes an appearance

Boris Roberto Aguilar

Greetings and Salutations! Its Thursday and that means its another episode of ROH and we have a full card that includes three title matches. Without further ado, let’s get to the action.

The Kingdom (Matt Taven & Mike Bennett) (w/Maria Kanellis-Bennett) VS The Infantry (Carlie Bravo & Shawn Dean)

Taven was cut off from Bennett to start the match. Eventually, Bennett got the hot tag in and Bravo ate a Brainbuster and Frog Splash combo for a nearfall. The Kingdom is ready to hit Just The Tip but Bravo dodges it and tags Dean in. Dean gets tripped up by Maria and Taven hits him with a Spin Kick and then The Kingdom hit The Proton Pack for the win.

Winners: The Kingdom (Matt Taven & Mike Bennett) (w/Maria Kanellis-Bennett)

Skye Blue VS Trish Adora

Adora gets the early advantage and hits a Big Boot for a 2-count. Adora charges Blue but Blue moves out of the way. Adora still manages to get Blue tied up in the ropes and hits a Backbreaker followed by a Suplex for a 2-count. Blue surprises Adora with an Inside Cradle for a nearfall. Blue followed that up moments later with a Rising Knee and a Running Boot for another nearfall. Blue wanted t continue her momentum but Adora caught Blue and hit a Wheelbarrow Suplex for another nearfall in this match. Adora sets Blue up for a Suplex, but Blue escapes and hits Adora with Two Superkicks and a Code Blue for a damn close 2.9-count. Blue immediately hits a Lariat and a Skyfall for the win.

Winner: Sky Blue

Stu Grayson & The Righteous (Dutch & Vincent) VS The Dark Order (Alex Reynolds, Evil Uno & John Silver)

Grayson has no problem fighting the Dark Order. Reynolds and Silver double team on Vincent. Reynolds gets distracted by his former partner, Stu Grayson and this gives Vincent the opening to throw Reynolds off the apron where Dutch was waiting for him to hit a Black Hole Sun. The Righteous maintain control of the match for a bit. The match eventually breaks into pandemonium. Dutch hits a Dive over the top onto Silver and Reynols. Uno and Grayson trade punches but Vincent distracte Uno which allowed a hesitant Grayson to hit Nightfall. Vincent is in and steals the pinfall for his team.

Winners: Stu Grayson & The Righteous (Dutch & Vincent)

Dasha is with the NJPW World TV champion, Zack Sabre Jr and the ROH TV champion, Samoa Joe. Joe says he lead his team to victory last week. Sabre admitted they are more similar than he thought and calls them The Island Boys. Each claims to be the best TV  champ.

Diamante VS Promise Braxton

Quick match that eventually saw Braxton connecting with a Gutbuster and following it up with a Meteora to the back of the head of Diamante for a nearfall. Braxton with a Fisherman’s carry but Diamante elbowed out of it and hit a German Suplex. Diamante locked Braxton in a straitjacket and got the win.

Winner: Diamante

Brian Cage (w/Prince Nana) VS Willie Mack

Mack hits Cage with a Running Kick and Cage comes right back with a Side Suplex. Cage threw Mack to the corner and unloads punches on him and finishes this senseless attack off with a Suplex for a 2-count. Mack slowly comes back into the match with some heavy handed chops to Cage and follows that up with a Jumping Knee and a Snap Suplex. Mack is still in control as he hits a T-Bone Su0lex and a few Running Boots to Cage who was in the corner catching his breath. Cage falls and Mack hits Cage with a Cannonball. Cage gets back into it and pushes Mack off fromt he attack and goes for an F-5 but Mack kicks Cage in the head. Both men give each other German Suplexes and end up clotheslining each other. Mack hits Cage with a Stunner and Frog Splash but that wasn’t enough. Cage somehow gets a Pumphandle Suplex and hits a HUGE Lariat for the win.

Winner: Brian Cage

NJPW World Television Title Match: Zack Sabre Jr. (c) VS Rocky Romero

At the 10 minute mark, Romero was in control of the match as he hit Sabre Jr. with a Tornado DDT, Jumping Knee, and Sliced Bread for a near fall. Romero goes for a second Sliced Bread, but Sabre Jr. reverses it and locks Romero up in a creative submission. Romero turns this into a pina attempt so Sabre Jr is forced to let go of the hold. Romero hits the Diablo Armbar on Sabre Jr, but this is turned into a Calf Killer. Sabre Jr turns that Calf Killer into a Ground Cobra for a tap out win.

Winner: AND STILL NJPW World TV Champion, Zack Sabre Jr. 

Action Andretti & Darius Martin defeated The WorkHorsemen (Anthony Henry & JD Drake)

After some back and firth action that saw a stalemate in the match to this point, Drake goes for a Rebound Forearm but Martin avoids it but Henry is right there to Dropkick Martin. Martin took a beating from The WorkHorsemen leaving him far from his tag team partner. Martin manages to sneak away from the beating to get the hot tag to Andretti who clears the ring but goes for one too many springboards as the last attempts is thwarted by Henry and hits him with a German Suplex. The Workhorsemen hit an End of Days but Martin breaks up the pin attempt. Andreddit and Martin get Henry alone and hit a Pendulum Slam for the win.

Winners:  Action Andretti & Darius Martin

Kip Sabian & The Butcher And The Blade (The Blade & The Butcher) (w/Penelope Ford) VS Bryce Saturn, Jakob Austin Young & Shogun

Sabian hit the Anarchist Suplex and then Butcher and the Blade hit a double Powerbomb for the win in as long as it took me to write this sentence.

Bandido, El Hijo del Vikingo & Komander defeated Spanish Announce Project (Angelico & Serpentico) & Jack Cartwheel (w/Luther)

Angelico with armdrags to kick this entertaining match off. Bandido and Serpentico go back and forth ending with Serpentico catching Bandido with a huge Boot to the face. Cartwheel and Vikingo are in and Cartwheel pulls his best Cobra Kai impression as he sweeps the legs of Vikingo and hits a Corkscrew Senton for a 2-count. Luther blocks a bunch of dives and Cartwheel hits a Sasuke Special. Later in the match, Serpentico stops Bandido from doing the one-armed Guerilla Press and Vikingo does a Huracanrana from the apron to the flooe on Angelico. Bandido, Vikingo and Komander all do Topes to the outside. Cartwheel takes a beating from the luchadores. Luther even got Press Slammed by Bandido. Vikingo and Cartwheel were left in the ring, where Vikingo hit a second rope poisonrana. Vikingo followed that up with a beautifil 630 for the win.

Winner: Bandido, El Hijo del Vikingo & Komander

ROH Pure Title Match: Katsuyori Shibata VS Alex Coughlin

This was a great match, maybe even match of the night. Coughlin used his first rope break quick into the match after Shibata hits an Armbar. Shortly form there, Coughlin is forced to use his second rope break after Shibata catches Coughlin in a Triangle Choke. Shibata proved that he is still the master and the student wasn;t ready for him through the early stages of the match.  Shibata tried to catch a double wristlock, but Coughlin hits a Suplex on Shibata. Shibata with a Gutwrench Suplex but Coughlin with a reversal but Shibata with a reversal of that reversal and ends up locking in a Triangle Choke but Coughlin picks up Shibata and powerbombs him to force Shibata off the choke. Coughlin showing the teacher what he has learned and goes for a Suplex but Shibata rolls out and locks in a Sleeper Hold, then hit the Penalty Kick for the 3-count and win.

Winner: AND STILL ROH Pure Champion; Katsuyori Shibata

ROH Women’s World Title Match: Athena VS Kiera Hogan

Hogan with some great offense early on but Athena eventually avoids a Curb Stomp and hits Hogan with a Arm Wringer slamming Hogan hard on her shoulder to the mat. The women end u outside and Athena threw Hogan into the barricade shoulder first and gets back into the ring to get the Count out win. Hogan barely gets back in before the twenty count and Athena was waiting for her and hits a Hammerlock Suplex. Athena with slaps on Hogan, just toying with her at this point.

Athena hit an armbreaker and then transitions that into a Fujiwara armbar, that Hogan rolled through onto Athena’s back for a nearfall. Athena lifted Hogan to the top rope, but Hogan caught her with a Hurricanrana. Athena is seated in the corner so Hogan hits a Hip Attack followed by a High Kicks and a Satellite DDT for a very close 2.0 count. Hogan struggled with a Side Supplex as Athena is squrmish. Hogan with an O’Connor roll attempt but Athena gets a pin and holds the tights to win and retain.

Winner: AND STILL ROH Women’s Champion; Athena 

3.5

ROH TV: June 1, 2023

This was a much better edition of ROH TV but I maintain my stance that if they only put content that progresses stories, this show would be great. Being able to watch Shibata on ROH TV is always a treat. His title defense was for sure match of the night.

Exit mobile version