Coverage

Mitchell’s Ring of Honor Report – Machine Guns vs War Machine!

Published

7 years ago

November 10, 2017

Steven Mitchell

OFFICIAL RESULTS

Triple Threat Tag: The Dawgs VS The Kingdom w/ Matt Taven VS TEam Coast to Coast; The Kingdom wins.
ROH World Heavyweight Championship: Cody VS ???; Cody wins and retains the ROH WHC.
ROH World Tag Team Championships: Motor City Machine Guns VS War Machine; MCMG wins and retains the ROH World Tag Team Championships.

PLAY BY PLAY

War Machine say it’s been bones, blood, guts and gold all over the world!

“Everyone knows what War Machine is capable of.” Except, it seems, ROH. The good behavior is over, the nice guy acts are gone, War Machine is after world domination!

Triple Threat Tag: The Dawgs VS The Kingdom w/ Matt Taven VS Team Coast to Coast!

Big Dawg Rhett & Lil’ Willie, the Sassy Wild Horse & Mr. Inksanity, as well as Shaheem Ali & “Human Rocket” Leon St. Giovanni all want at the ROH World Tag Team Championships, this match will go a long way to determining who is deserving. The Kingdom’s leader joins commentary to enjoy this match and also make fun of Ian Riccaboni, “The Mayor of Melvinville.” Triple threat tag rules, only two men start, so The Dawgs both sit out while The Kingdom’s T.K. O’Ryan and C2C’s LSG start. The bell rings, they tie up, O’Ryan backs LSG to ropes. Ropebreak honored, but O’Ryan gets in LSG’s face about being “TKO!” And a slap! LSG slaps back! O’Ryan backs off, Will Ferrara tags in. But he gets a dropkick from LSG, then tag to Ali. C2C whips Ferrara, into the Tu Lo Sabes! Cover, TWO, Ali gets Ferrara up for forearms. Ali whips Ferrara, O’Ryan tags in, turns Ali around but Ali is ready, he blocks, punches and whips O’Ryan, Ferrara dumps him out. Ferrara gets dumped, and C2C coordinates to build speed, Ali FLIES! Ali gets O’Ryan and Ferrara, LSG wants to run but Titus clobbers him with a dropkick. The Dawgs regroup in the ring, Ferrara is used as a projectile weapon to topple O’Ryan and Ali down! Vinnie Marseglia gets in and catches Titus with a bicycle boot! Titus is sent out, Vinnie goes to the apron, springboard senton onto C2C & The Dawgs! The Kingdom regroups and high fives, but they don’t see LSG preparing for lift-off, LAUNCH! Everyone down, C2C and the fans are fired up! They get Vinnie in the ring, Ali hits a big forearm smash as we go to break. We return, The Kingdom has taken control of Ali, Vinnie runs adjacent for a forearm smash into him. Then he blasts LSG off the apron with a forearm smash, then back to Ali. Ali is bounced off buckles, double back suplex is escaped, Ali dropkicks both Kingdom members down and out! The Dawgs are the only ones there, they both want a tag. The problem is, The Kingdom trips up both Dawgs to deny tags! O’Ryan in with Ali, European Uppercut sends him to the Kingdom’s corner. Assisted whip gets a boot, Vinne gets a back elbow, The Kingdom both run in but Ali ducks them to tag LSG! LSG rallies, uses Vinnie against O’Ryan, roll and handspring for a double lariat! The fans fire up as LSG is reversed in a whip, but he turns that into a springboard forearm! O’Ryan comes in, gets a cradling gutbuster, LSG keeps moving to then give a big dropkick. LSG runs at Vinnie but gets a knee, Vinnie runs but is tripped up by Titus, who rebounds to lariat and then feed Vinnie to Ferrara’s tornado DDT to the floor! Ferrara is sicked on LSG, then Titus gives him one helluva kick! LSG fed into the BLL, hammerlock lariat, then double Dawg kicks. Big Dawg whips Lil’ Dawg for a shoulder tackle into LSG at the corner, then Titus picks up Ferrara to use his feet as a battering ram. Ferrara tells Titus to put him down, Titus drops Ferrara. Ferrara gets up and the two Dawgs shove each other, Dawg catapult splash! Titus covers, Ali breaks the pin. Ferrara goes after Ali but he’s sent out. Titus swings but is spun for a bicycle boot and lifting complete shot. Back elbow and uppercut for Ferrara, hoisted to the top rope and put in a Tree of Woe. Fans rally as LSG and Ali get in position. They take aim, take flight, Double Coast2Coast! That impact took a lot of out of C2C, too, they pry Ferrara out of the Tree but The Kingdom pounces. Stiff left takes out Ali, Vinnie puts LSG in a fireman’s carry, O’Ryan comes over to fireman carry Vinnie, Death Valley plus rolling senton! Or as Taven puts it, Sassy Murder! The Kingdom win! Matt Taven really was telling commentary all along, is it only a matter of time before the inaugural ROH Six Man Tag Champions become the next two man Tag Team Champions?

But they’re not done yet. Matt Taven joins them in the ring and they take to the mic. “Everybody knows that there’s a Kingdom Conspiracy here in Ring of Honor Wrestling,” but there’s also an undeniable fact: The Kingdom pinned and beat Search & Destroy, the current ROH Tag Team Champions. Not only that, but O’Ryan broke his leg, came back, and have yet to get a Six Man Tag title rematch! That sounds like the conspiracy in a nutshell. Luckily for The Kingdom, the three of them are top talent, and fear no conspiracy. They demand that “T.K. and Brother Vince the Horror King” get a real shot at the World Tag Team Championships. Will The Kingdom get their way? Or are they right about ROH being against them?

The American Nightmare and The Peacock have issue with each other.

ROH World Heavyweight Champion, Cody, has been offering open challenges left and right but has denied Dalton Castle at every turn, then escalating to injuring Castle to keep him away. So when he was healthy enough to return, Castle managed to get close to the champion by posing as a fan at Global Wars, then unleashing his rage! How much longer can Cody duck Castle’s ambitions for gold?

Flip Gordon has had enough of The Bullet Club.

“Welcome to ROH. Where do you think you’re going? Harmless ribs.” The Young Bucks and their club are going to meet #FlipArmy. Gordon is going to recruit guys who have nothing to lose and everything to gain, just like Flip. Can Flip’s army finally get the bullying Bullet Club to back off?

ROH World Heavyweight Championship: Cody VS ???

Belt and ring in hand, the champion promises another great title opportunity. “If you tell one lie, all your truths become questionable.” Cody told us that we were going to get a world championship match “because there’s a certain guy, a colorful individual, a ROH faithful”, that fans want to see face Cody. Fans cheer for “Dalton Castle!” because that’s the guy they expect. Cody wants Ian Riccaboni to come into the ring for a second. Is he the guy? No, he’s not. But perhaps Ian is interested in seeing Cody face. Go ahead and say it. “Dalton Castle.” Is that who the fans want? Yes! And right now? Yes! Well he’s not here tonight. But someone who is here is… Philadelphia’s own, Ryan Nova! No one legitimately believes the young wrestler normally featured on Future of Honor to be the #1 Contender, but it’s still happening. Big opportunity for Nova to make his ROH TV debut in a title match like this, in his hometown, will we see a miracle upset? Firstly, Cody wants Nova to #KisstheRing! Nova takes Cody’s hand, to slip the ring off Cody’s finger and into his mouth! A ballsy move from the newbie, but Cody makes him pay for it by kicking him in the stomach to spit the ring out. Cody picks it back up, roll up from Nova, TWO! Cody makes Nova pay for that with a knee and being put in a corner. Cody runs in corner to corner, Nova goes up and over to school boy kick! Nova runs in but gets caught, Cross Rhodes! TWO, only because Cody let Nova up. Cody moves Nova around, and puts on the American Deathlock! Nova endures, reaches for ropes, Cody keeps him away, Nova taps and Cody wins. Cody retains, but Nova is far from the Peacock’s level. But wait, what’s this? Dalton Castle IS here! Seems Cody lied, we go to break as Castle grabs his custom microphone.

Dalton Castle speaks.

“Is that it?” That match? Is that what ROH’s “most expensive contract in history is paying for?” Cody, Castle speaks for everyone that “we’re not mad. We’re just disappointed.” Because to Castle, Cody is a good- no, great- no, just a good wrestler. But as ROH WHC, Cody has been lackluster. Why keep doing whatever that was when you could give everyone here “the match they really want to see”? Cody finally responds, saying “Is this wrestling 101? I have my match, you walk out here, apparently you’re the next contender?” They’re in Philadelphia, this is a smarter crowd. They don’t need to do “this”. And Cody will explain why. With Cody’s lineage and connections, he can help Castle. He can guarantee Castle won’t win. Castle has built this reputation so why waste time? Cody can make some calls to “Paul”, and get him “one of those developmental contracts”. Think about it, Castle. “One call to Paul and you can go ‘develop your skills’, then come back when you’re ready.” All his friends left to do the same thing, taking that “little bitty guaranteed developmental contract”. Cody is going to walk away, because he can see it’s what Castle wants. Just do Cody a favor, and think about it. Cody gives Castle a pat on the shoulder before heading up the ramp, but Castle pounces from behind! He throws Cody around the ramp and then into the ring, BANGARANG! Castle takes down Cody, and the fans are fired up for him! Castle finishes speaking by saying “I thought about it. Nah, I love it here and I’m gonna take your title away.” Offer rejected but challenge accepted, can Castle end The American Nightmare’s reign?

Bully Ray Dudley is still unsure about his future in wrestling.

Bully Ray always knew that he wanted to be in ROH, that ROH and Bully were a perfect fit. But most of the fans know, “it’s about that time.” Bully thanked God that he got to even be in ROH. The fans said “Thank you, Bubba!” as part of a heartfelt good-bye. Is this truly good-bye for the living legend?

Jay Lethal speaks.

Lately, The Franchise Player has been asked the same question: “What is next for him in ROH?” He’s already done so much, what’s left to do? There are some things even Lethal hasn’t done yet. He hasn’t been ROH Tag Team nor Six Man Tag Team champion, but the real answer for that question is “being the greatest wrestler in the world.” And there’s only one thing that says you’re the best in the world: having the ROH WHC. “The wrestling world looks to you when you have the most prestigious title in all of professional sports.” Lethal wants that title once again, will he make it back? Who will be holding the title when he does?

ROH shows us the night Mark Briscoe injured his elbow.

Global Wars night two, in Pittsburgh, in a match against Hiromu Takahashi. Mark simply went up and over to cartwheel, nothing over the top, but that elbow just gave out. Match over, Mark was taken to the back, frustrated with himself. Briscoe speaks to us, arm in a cast. “Now damn it, I know y’all done heard the news.” The ROH World Television Championship match was cancelled due to Mark’s injury. But he’s telling us he earned that shot! He demands he still get his shot, next week, ROH episode 321, because he is owed what he earned! But Jay Briscoe asks what he’s talking about. Mark demands his title shot. A singles title? Going singles? Damn right! He’ll be TV champ, like how Jay was two time WHC. But with that bad arm? Yeah! You damn right! How many times has Mark tried and failed? What is Jay’s problem? They’re a tag team, that’s his problem.

ROH World Tag Team Championships: Motor City Machine Guns VS War Machine!

Two tested teams with bonds that are long and strong, but the champions will be the ones who are tougher and more determined! The bell rings, Rowe runs right at Chris Sabin for a Superman Punch! Hanson kicks Alex Shelley off the apron and then climbs up, Rowe has Sabin in position, FALLOUT! Rowe hurries to a cover, Shelley hurries up top, Shelley breaks the pin with a missile dropkick! Hanson puts Shelley in a corner and boxes away with body shots. Hanson is backed down by the ref, Hanson runs in but Shelley dodges, Hanson hits buckles. Shelley tags in, Sabin boots Hanson back, Shelley goes up but jumps over, Rowe puts Shelley in a corner with double shotgun knees. Hanson becomes a human weapon, running hip attack toss! War Machine is fired up and so are the fans, Shelley slumps down from the impact. He sparks back to life as fans rally but War Machine isolate him. Forearm, tag to Hanson, Shelley is fed to one knee strike then another, down he goes. He puts up his guard but Hanson is upon him with half-nelson knee strikes. Shelley reaches for Sabin but can’t get away as Hanson uses his #WarBeard to scrub and rake the face of Shelley. Hanson brings Shelley up and into the corner, tag to Rowe. Hanson whips Rowe in for a corner splash, Hanson bumps Sabin off the apron, Hanson hits a big splash on Shelley. They’re not done there, Hanson becomes a weapon again for a scoop slam senton! Rowe covers, Sabin breaks that up. Sabin gives forearms but Rowe responds with knees and a discus elbow. Rowe has Sabin, whips him at Shelley but Shelley puts him to the apron. Rowe rushes in, back elbow keeps him back, Shelley hops up and jumps, only to be caught. Sabin hops up and uses a missile dropkick to give Shelley the edge and take Rowe down. Sabin goes after Hanson, is punched away. Shelley tries, he’s also punched away, but then becomes a step stool for Sabin’s dropkick, Hanson is knocked off the apron to the ground. The fans fire up for MCMG, they go after Rowe with a kick vice from the apron. They goad Hanson into running in and dump him out. Sabin builds speed, Shelley opens up the ropes, Sabin DIVES onto War Machine! Both Rowe and Hanson go down, the fans cheer for “Motor City!” Rowe is put in the ring, fans start dueling now as Shelley lines up the shot. Rowe fights back but Shelley keeps him down with a knee. Sabin is perched while Shelley drags Rowe up, Rowe tries to fight back again, but is caught into the missile dropkick complete shot. Cover, TWO, Shelley is frustrated. He keeps focus as fans rally again, he fishhooks Rowe’s jaw. He lets go at 4, then brings Rowe over for two boots to Rowe’s head. Tag to Sabin, double arm wrench elbows and crisscross to back elbows and synchronized knee drop and back senton. Cover, Hanson breaks it, then haymaker for Shelley. Hanson runs, Shelley tries a drop toehold but Hanson’s pretty big, so Sabin comes in to add on a bulldog! The champions are in control as we go to break. Back again and it’s still MCMG. They take Rowe to a corner, double whip corner to corner, whip but Rowe dodges Sabin to go after Shelley. Shelley dodges Rowe, do-si-do with Sabin, back elbow then step stool for Sabin, but Rowe catches Sabin to slam him onto Shelley! Both MCMG and Rowe are down and a ten count starts. Rowe crawls his way over, tag to Hanson, Hanson rallies on MCMG with big hands and big boots. MCMG are in opposite corners, Hanson gets going on that endless clothesline train! TEN big corner clotheslines and the fans are loving it. Hanson feeds off the chants as he whips Sabin corner to corner into Shelley, Hanson runs in, Shelley gets Sabin clear so that only he takes Number 11! Sabin enziguri rocks Hanson, Rowe back for Ace Ten Mao! Shelley gives Rowe a complete shot into buckles, Hanson runs and Shelley dodges, Hanson hits a springboard back elbow! The fans give a standing ovation just for the insane athleticism because “This is awesome!” Shelley is punch drunk but up on his feet, Hanson fireman’s carry but Sabin mule kicks Hanson. Shelley is safely on his feet, and adds a SUPERKICK, then enziguri SUPERKICK combo! Hanson falls down, Rowe is up and he headbutts forearms away. Rowe spins but gets caught into the Dream Sequence: atomic drop, low dropkick, neck bridge, low dropkick! The MCMG target Hanson, kick vice in the corner. Hanson gets Sabin away and rocks Shelley off the top rope. Hanson cartwheels to dodge, Sabin mule kicks in, Rowe returns to feed Sabin to Thor’s Hammer! Then Hanson DIVES on Shelley! Hanson returns while Rowe gets Sabin up, Hanson climbs… “Great match guys!” The Addiction appears to ruin the fun, again! Christopher Daniels sprays silly string into Hanson’s face! But Daniels pays for it as Rowe yanks him into the ring with him! Hanson and Rowe take more silly string but clearly no effect, Rowe decks Daniels with a stiff right. Hanson clotheslines Daniels out, but while Rowe chases The Addiction off, Sabin rolls up Hanson! Jackknife cover, the MCMG win and retain! Shelley & Sabin aren’t complaining, but War Machine is furious with The Addiction. Daniels & Kazarian have a chance to become #1 contenders to the tag team titles, will Hanson & Rowe work to ruin their fun back?

My Thoughts:

Another great episode here. Great opening triple threat tag, all three teams are indeed very promising in ROH, but The Kingdom goes over as they are the strongest team and some very strong Heels. They’re also Heels that make good points, they should eventually get an ROH Six Man Tag rematch, but that might be a bit much too soon if they also want ROH Tag Team titles, putting five belts on three guys is too much for The Kingdom and even for The Bullet Club, since the Young Bucks had to give up their tag titles to MCMG in order to have the Six Man titles with Adam Page. Mark hurt his elbow back in mid-October, but he still wants his ROH WTV shot, he’s definitely got heart. Glad to see that even this injury feeds into the Briscoe VS Briscoe story, their program can still happen even if it is delayed, and I look forward to a match between them.

Cody did amazing work in his segment. Not the match with Nova, Nova was all feeding for Cody’s ego. His promo on Castle and NXT was the incredible part, shooting on Triple H and the former ROH stars over there now. Castle gets to lay him out to show his loyalty to ROH as well as his own pride, and Castle also did well to poke at Cody’s pure wrestling talent not being that high. Their coming match is going to be incredible for just story elements alone. The main event was great, even if The Addiction ruined it for War Machine, but the heat they got for it was exactly the point. The Addiction kept Hanson & Rowe winning, probably because The Addiction feels they can’t defeat those two super hosses but can definitely defeat The Best Friends — Chuckie T and Trent Barretta — to then defeat familiar foes in the MCMG. As I’m guessing, War Machine might return the favor to screw over Daniels & Kaz, and we’ll get a grudge match of War Machine VS The Addiction at Final Battle to go alongside Best Friends VS MCMG, two great tag team match-ups right there. A bit surprised The Addiction is getting a part in the contenders match as they’ve only been either losing matches or ruining them for others, perhaps that can even feed into the Kingdom Conspiracy story that’s building for The Kingdom.

My Score: 8/10

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Up Next

Mitchell’s WWE Monday Night Raw Report! (11/13/17)

Don't Miss

Mitchell’s WWE 205 Live Report – 11/7/17 – Enter The UK Talent!

Coverage

Mitchell’s WWE Raw Results & Report! (9/9/24)

It’s the Raw Season Premiere!

Published

10 mins ago

September 9, 2024

Steven Mitchell

WWE Week begins on USA Network!

For the next THREE weeks, WWE dominates USA Network, and it all starts with this Raw Season Premiere! But who wins big to face Bron Breakker for the Intercontinental Championship?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

Mixed 8 Person Street Fight: The Wyatt Sick6 VS Team American Made; win(s).
Dominik Mysterio VS Dragon Lee; wins.
Six Woman Tag: Pure Fusion Collective VS Zelina Vega, Lyra Valkyria & ???; win(s).
WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships: Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill VS Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn; win and
WWE Intercontinental Championship #1 Contender’s Fatal 4 Way: Jey Uso VS Pete Dunne VS Ilja Dragunov VS Braun Strowman; wins and will challenge Bron Breakker for the title.

PLAY BY PLAY

This season premiere’s first hour will be COMMERCIAL FREE!

About Chairshot Radio Network

MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)

TUESDAY - Musical Chairs (music) / Hockey Talk (NHL)

WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)

THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)

FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)

SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast

SUNDAY - The Front and Center Sports Podcast

CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS

Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)

TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends

Patrick O'Dowd's 5X5

Classic POD is WAR

Chairshot Radio Network Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts... Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!

All Shows On Demand

Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!

Coverage

Mitchell’s NJPW Road to Destruction Results & Report! (9/8/24)

This road is paved with gold!

Published

20 hours ago

September 8, 2024

Steven Mitchell

Will Yota Tsuji have his 15 minutes of fame?

As NJPW heads for Kobe, we will be getting title match main event after title match main event, and Jeff Cobb VS Yota Tsuji will set the tone! But will the Imperial Unit’s season continue? Or will this become The Gene Blast Show?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

Kickoff – Masatora Yasuda VS Daiki Nagai; Time Limit Draw.
Six Man Tag: The United Empire VS Tiger Mask, Shoma Kato & Katsuya Murashima; The United Empire wins.
Shota Umino & Jado VS Ren Narita & Yoshinobu Kanemaru; Ren & Kanemaru win.
Tomohiro Ishii & Tomoaki Honma VS Gabe Kidd & Jake Lee; Gabe & Jake win.
8 Man Tag: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Toru Yano, Boltin Oleg & Ryusuke Taguchi VS The House of Torture; The House of Torture wins.
DOUKI & Taka Michinoku VS Taiji Ishimori & Gedo; Taiji & Gedo win.
Tetsuya Naito & BUSHI VS Zack Sabre Jr. & Kosei Fujita; ZSJ & Fujita win.
Hiromu Takahashi & Shingo Takagi VS HENARE & Francesco Akira; Hiromu & Takagi win.
NJPW World Television Championship: Jeff Cobb VS Yota Tsuji; Time Limit Draw, Cobb retains the title.

PLAY BY PLAY

Tetsuya Naito & BUSHI VS Zack Sabre Jr. & Kosei Fujita!

While the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship will be on the line in Kobe, the Uncontrollable Charisma is willing to give a free sample of what could be! Will Los Ingobernables de Japon keep things tranquilo on this Road to Destruction? Or will The Front Man and Ichiban Young Punk prove The Mighty Don’t Kneel?

The teams sort out, and while LIJ fist bumps, TMDK, uh, start the fire? The fans applaud the low finger wiggling, but then ZSJ trolls Naito but letting Fujita start! Naito asks for ZSJ, “onegaishimasu.” ZSJ says alright and he steps in. The bell rings and the fans cheer as we get the showdown of World Heavyweight Champion and G1 Climax winner! The two circle, the fans duel, and it is already red hot in Korakuen. Naito and ZSJ slowly feel things out, but then Bushi attacks! Naito sucker punches Fujita, the fans are torn, but LIJ whips. ZSJ wrenches them both to DOUBLE PELE the arms! ZSJ UPPERCUTS Bushi out of the ring!

Naito catches ZSJ, spins him, but ZSJ dodges the lariat to BOOT Naito down! The fans cheer, and ZSJ tags Fujita in. Fujita brings Naito up, CHOPS, then whips. Naito reverses but Fujita ducks ‘n’ dodges, to RANA! Naito tumbles out, the fans fire up, and Fujita builds speed. Naito moves, but Fujita goes to the apron! PENALTY KICK! The fans fire up again while Naito falls! Fujita drags Naito up, puts him against railing, and CHOPS! Naito staggers away but Fujita follows, to CHOP him again. Fujita puts Naito in, waistlocks and deadlifts, but Naito fights with elbows! Fujita ducks an elbow to CHOP! Fujita runs, but Naito kicks low!

Bushi runs in and he sunset flips Fujita, and then rewinds him into Naito’s basement dropkick to the leg! Bushi dropkicks ZSJ’s legs out, too! Naito brings Fujita around by his leg, tags in Bushi, and LIJ splits the wishbone! Fujita writhes, but Bushi brings him up to bump off buckles. Bushi DOUBLE CHOPS, puts the bad leg in ropes, then DROPKICKS the leg! Bushi pushes Fujita over, covers, TWO! The fans applaud but Bushi drags Fujita up to snapmare, and KICKS him in the back! Fujita writhes but Naito tags in to grab the leg. Naito steps through, FIGURE FOUR! Fujita endures, the fans rally, and Fujita fights around.

ZSJ coaches Fujita on, but Naito puts on the pressure! Fujita drags Naito along to the ROPEBREAK! Naito claims he needs help, so the ref helps undo his figure four. Naito then drags Fujita up, but Fujita fires a forearm! It doesn’t do much, so Fujita throws more forearms. Then a CHOP! Naito SPITS at Fujita, then kicks his leg out! And kicks it again! Naito grabs the leg, but Fujita fights the lift with a headlock. Fujita throws elbows but Naito ROCKS him. Naito whips, Fujita reverses and GAMANGIRIS! Naito falls and the fans fire up! Fujita crawls over, hot tag to ZSJ! The fans fire up as ZSJ runs up to BOOT Naito!

ZSJ whips, Naito reverses, but ZSJ catches Naito to a COBRA TWIST! The fans fire up, Naito powers out to HIP TOSS! Naito grabs at ZSJ but ZSJ bridges up, snapmares, and NECK TWISTS! ZSJ dropkicks Naito, then mocks Naito’s pose, adding deuces to it. ZSJ taunts Naito as the champion, then UPPERCUTS! And UPPERCUTS! And UPPERCUTS again! ZSJ scoops but Naito fights free! Naito arm-drags, then sidesteps ZSJ to ELBOW him down, and basement DROPKICK! Naito brings ZSJ around, holds on, and then NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! The fans rally up, but Naito kicks ZSJ around.

ZSJ stands, but Naito throws those heavy elbows! ZSJ shakes his head, and he dodges an elbow, but Naito avoids the Pele! ZSJ avoids the enzigiri and body scissors Naito into the JAPANESE LEG CLUTCH! TWO!! Naito escapes but ZSJ PENALTY KICKS! ZSJ whips, Naito reverses, TORNADO DDT! The fans fire up while both men are down! Naito crawls, hot tag to Bushi! Bushi storms up to CLUB ZSJ. Bushi whips, dropkicks ZSJ’s legs, but Fujita is in! Fujita kicks, CHOPS and whips, but Bushi reverses to dropkick the legs out! Bushi BLASTS ZSJ off the apron, then builds speed! Bushi DIVES and ZSJ hits railing!

The fans fire up and Bushi encourages them to get louder. The fans do rally harder, and Bushi puts ZSJ in. ZSJ goes to a corner so Bushi whips corner to corner. Bushi runs up to ELBOW ZSJ, then FISHERMAN- NO, ZSJ spins through the screw to GUILLOTINE FACELOCK! Bushi endures, but he is caught in body scissors! Naito storms in to step on ZSJ’s face! ZSJ still holds on, and Fujita springboard MISSILE DROPKICKS! ZSJ drags Bushi up, scoops, ZACK- NO, Bushi slips free to backslide! ZSJ rolls through, Bushi avoids the kick to dropkick legs! Bushi trips ZSJ, ties the legs, FABLE, but ZSJ turns right over! BOW ‘N’ ARROW HYBRID!

Bushi endures, reaches out, but then ZSJ adds a CROSSFACE! Bushi TAPS, TMDK wins!

Winners: Zack Sabre Jr. & Kosei Fujita, by submission

The Submission Master continues to innovate, even in a split second moment like this! Will such savage creativity ensure he becomes the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, no matter who meets him in Ryogoku?

Hiromu Takahashi & Shingo Takagi VS HENARE & Francesco Akira!

Speaking of coming title matches, The Ticking Timebomb is going to battle the Face of Fury for his NEVER Openweight Championship tomorrow night! Will the Rampaging Dragon help the Best of the Super Juniors build some momentum? Or will The United Empire show LIJ what’s in store for them this week?

LIJ fist bumps, the teams sort out, and Hiromu starts against Henare. The bell rings and the two run in to RAM shoulders! Hiromu staggers back but Henare gets moving! Hiromu ducks ‘n’ dodges to RAM Henare, but he bounces right off! Henare eggs Hiromu on but Hiromu just grins. Hiromu CHOPS, but Henare ROCKS him in return! Hiromu CHOPS again, Henare forearms again, repeat! Hiromu fires up, the fans rally, and Henare eggs him on. The CHOPS and forearms keep going, and Hiromu staggers back. Henare eggs Hiromu on, so the CHOPS and forearms just start again! Hiromu staggers, but he comes back for more!

Henare fires up now, and he ROCKS Hiromu! Hiromu CHOPS, Henare ROCKS, repeat! The two go forehead to forehead, then they BLAST the tag partners! Then they RAM into each other! Hiromu staggers to ropes while Henare flexes. Hiromu steps up to CHOP, but Henare ROCKS him again! The CHOPS and forearms keep going, and now Hiromu wobbles! Hiromu still CHOPS, CHOPS and CHOPS! Henare KICKS! The fans fire up while Hiromu staggers to ropes. Hiromu comes back to CHOP, CHOP and CHOP! Henare just snarls, then KICKS! Hiromu staggers around again, but he still comes back to CHOP, CHOP, and CHOP!

Hiromu eggs Henare on now, and Henare grits his teeth. Hiromu blocks the kick, and the haymaker, to DRAGON SCREW! The fans fire up and Hiromu smiles as he hurries to tag Takagi. Takagi brings up Henare to put the bad leg on ropes. Takagi kicks that leg, then lets off to CHOP! And JAB! And whip corner to corner, for a LARIAT! Takagi snap suplexes, then drops a BIG elbow! Cover, TWO! The fans fire up as Takagi brings Henare around. Takagi facelocks Henare, tags Hiromu, then Takagi BLASTS Akira! Hiromu CHOPS, CHOPS, and Takagi JABS! LIJ double whip to DOUBLE SHOULDER TACKLE!

The fans fire up as Takagi and Hiromu flex! Hiromu drags Henare up to CHOP! Henare goes to a corner, Takagi JABS him again. LIJ double whips Henare corner to corner, Hiromu runs in, but Henare dodges him! Henare RAMS Takagi, then fireman’s carries Hiromu! Henare SMACKS Takagi with Hiromu, then WASTELAND SLAMS and SENTONS! The fans fire up, and Henare drags Hiromu back up. Henare whips Hiromu hard into the corner and Hiromu bounces off buckles! Tag to Akira and the fans rally up. The clean shaven Fireball drags Hiromu up, but Hiromu CHOPS! And CHOPS! Akira CHOPS back!

Akira brings Hiromu up onto the top rope, puts him in a Tree of Woe, and while the ref reprimands him, he sneaks mule kicks! The fans are torn but the ref gets Akira to stop. Akira runs corner to corner to basement DROPKICK! The fans fire up and Akira dumps Hiromu out of the Tree. Cover, TWO! Akira drags Hiromu up while fans rally, and Akira tags Henare. Henare brings Hiromu up to fireman’s carry, and SAMOAN DROP! Cover, TWO! Hiromu stays in this, the fans rally up, but Henare DECKS Takagi! The ref reprimands but Henare goes to a corner. Henare aims, roars, and stomps the mat! Hiromu rises, Henare runs up, into a KICK!

Henare takes swings, Hiromu bobs ‘n’ weaves and mule kicks! Hiromu whips, Henare comes back, RAMP- DDT! Hiromu crawls, Henare drags him back! Hiromu dodges to wheelbarrow and COMPLETE SHOT! The fans fire up while both men are down! Henare and Hiromu crawl, hot tags to Akira and Takagi! Takagi runs up, Akira dodges to BOOT then ENZIGIRI! Akira runs to LARIAT! Then he comes back to UPPERCUT! Akira whips but Takagi blocks! Takagi breaks free, Akira fires forearms, but Takagi eggs him on! Akira mule kicks, whips, but Takagi blocks again! Takagi reverses, KNEES low, then runs.

Akira dodges Takagi to RANA! The fans fire up as Takagi bails out, and Akira PLANCHAS! The fans fire up again, and Akira puts Takagi in. Akira says, “Korakuen, IKU ZO!” The fans fire up as Akira goes up and up, to CROSSBODY! Cover, TWO! The fans fire up and Akira rises. The fans rally for “A! KI RA! A! KI RA!” Akira is copying Takagi as he looks around for cameras. He tells Korakuen, “Akira wa… TOKI GA KITA!!” The fans fire up but Takagi is mad! Takagi fireman’s carries, but Akira fights free! Akira CLUBS Takagi, shoves, follows, but into an ELBOW! JAB! YUKON feint and DDT! Hiromu runs in to BOOT Henare!

The fans fire up, Hiromu CHOPS Akira to a corner, and Takagi joins in. The fans rally as LIJ double whips Akira corner to corner. Hiromu runs in to LARIAT! Takagi runs in to LARIAT! Takagi feeds Akira to a SUPERKICK! Then Takagi PUMPING BOMBERS! Cover, Henare breaks it! Henare blocks a superkick, Hiromu ducks ‘n’ dodges haymakers, then SHOTGUNS! Down goes Henare and the fans fire up again! Takagi starts up the “OI! OI! OI!” and he powers up. Pump handle, but Akira fights the lift! Takagi knees low, but Akira victory rolls, STOMP 182! The fans fire up again and Akira sits Takagi up.

Akira roars, runs, but Takagi LARIATS! Takagi runs, but Akira slips around! Takagi stays up in the crucifix, but Akira shifts to SUNSET BOMB! Cover, TWO!! Takagi rises, into a SUPERKICK! ROUNDHOUSE! Takagi staggers back, swings, but Akira dodges! Only to run into a POP-UP DEATH VALLEY! And PUMPING BOMBER!! Cover, TWO?!? Akira survives and the fans fire up! Takagi roars and says “TOKI GA KITA!” Now it’s Takagi’s time as he pump handles and lifts, MADE IN JAPAN!! Cover, LIJ wins!

Winner: Hiromu Takahashi & Shingo Takagi, by pinfall

The Rampaging Dragon was fireproof and he takes down Akira! But Henare still taunts Hiromu with the NEVER Openweight Championship. Who will stand tall with that belt in just under 24 hours?

NJPW World Television Championship: Jeff Cobb VS Yota Tsuji!

When The Imperial Unit finally took this title from Zack Sabre Jr, it proved that third time’s the charm. However, The Gene Blast has been on the doorstep of making history quite a few times already. Will this be when Yota knocks down the door? Or will Cobb make sure Yota’s 15 minutes of fame end with him?

The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and time to see who’s the star of the show!

The bell rings and we’re on the clock! The fans rally as “YO~TA! YO~TA!” grins at “COBBU! COBBU!” Cobb and Yota, circle, approach, and Yota dodges to kick. Yota whips, Cobb reverses, but Yota flips to RANA! The fans fire up as Cobb goes to a corner. Yota runs in, but Cobb avoids the splash! Cobb comes back, Yota BOOTS him, then goes up to FLYING RANA! Cobb tumbles out of the ring, the fans rally up, and Yota encourages them. The fans get a little louder, then Yota builds speed. Yota DIVES, and he sends Cobb into and over railing! The fans fire up as the front row gets Cobb in their laps! Yota takes a lap to get the fans even hotter!

Yota comes back for Cobb, drags him up and over, and then drags Cobb up to put in the ring. Yota fires up and the fans cheer, but Yota has to remember the time is running. Cobb BODY BLOWS at the ropes! Cobb frowns and he drags Yota up. Cobb suplexes but Yota slips out! Yota ducks ‘n’ dodges, tilt-o-whirls and arm-drags! Then he RUNS Cobb over! The fans fire up again and Yota paces. Yota covers, ONE! The fans applaud as Cobb stays in this, and Yota drags him up. Yota wrenches to wristlock. Yota YANKS the arm, then clamps onto the other arm for a motorcycle stretch! Cobb endures and the fans rally up.

Cobb powers up, but Yota pulls him into a BACKSTABBER! The fans rally while Yota paces, and he grins. Cobb eggs Yota on, and Cobb fires body shots! Yota ROCKS Cobb, and then drags him up. Cobb fights the suplex, Yota still tries, but Cobb suplexes Yota! To then TOSS him! The fans fire up at the feat of strength, but Cobb clutches his shoulder. That might’ve taken a bit out of him, too. Cobb goes to Yota, drags him up, and ROCKS him with a forearm! Then CHOPS him to the corner. Cobb pulls Yota’s hair, to then CLUB him down! Red Shoes reprimands but the fans rally up. Cobb drags Yota up, but Yota fires forearms!

We pass five minutes as Cobb knees low. Cobb whips, scoops, and ATHLETIC- ARM-DRAG! Yota turns things around, kicks low, then runs, but he fakes Cobb out! Cobb’s dropkick gets nothing but air, and Yota jackknife bridges! TWO as Cobb tips to one side! Yota pushes Cobb down, TWO as Cobb tips the other way! Yota powers him down again, TWO as Cobb bridges up! The fans fire up and Cobb spins Yota around to backslide! Yota rolls through, but Cobb blocks the knee! Cobb CLUBS Yota’s leg, then jumps up to DROPKICK! The fans fire up for the athleticism, and Yota tumbles out of the ring!

The fans rally up, Cobb goes out to fetch Yota, and he CLUBS Yota hard on the back! Yota staggers around the way but Cobb pursues, to CLUB him again! Yota barks in pain as he goes around the corner again. The ring count starts, Cobb HEADBUTTS Yota in the back, and then stands on Yota’s back! Cobb uses Yota to surf, and he says crowns up to Great-O-Khan on commentary. Khan applauds his teammate, and Cobb even crosses his arms like Khan. Cobb hears the count hit 13 of 20 and hurries back inside. Cobb then goes back out, refreshing the count. Cobb says he’ll get Yota in the ring, choto matte! <Just wait!>

Cobb puts Yota in, the fans applaud, and he drags Yota up. Cobb fireman’s carries, then he puts Yota up top. Cobb HEADBUTTS Yota in the side again and again, then climbs up after him! The fans rally as Cobb gut wrenches! SUPER GUT WRENCH PLEX! The fans fire up while both men are down! Cobb crawls his way over to cover, TWO! The fans cheer as Yota stays in this, and Cobb reminds Yota that he has to beat Cobb. Cobb stands on Yota’s hand, but lets off as Red Shoes reprimands. Yota still coughs and sputters, but Cobb steps up. Yota fires body shots, but Cobb HEADBUTTS him back down!

The fans rally while Cobb paces around. Cobb stands on Yota’s chest, Red Shoes says that’s not a cover, so Cobb steps off and apologizes. Cobb wrenches Yota, then short arm LARIATS! Cover, TWO! Another cover, TWO! Cobb is annoyed so he wraps on a rear bearhug! We pass 10 minutes so time is on Cobb’s side! Cobb sits Yota up to KNEE him in the side, then he stands Yota up, only for Yota to fire forearms! Cobb ROCKS Yota back, eggs him on, and the forearms start flying! The fans rally up and Yota gets the edge! But Cobb fires a flurry in return! Cobb locks ‘n’ loads, but Yota catches him to BACKBREAKER! FLATLINER! CURB- NO! Cobb stays up!!

The fans fire up as Cobb denies the Gene Combination, but Yota KICKS Cobb in the face! Then Yota runs to basement dropkick! The fans fire up while both men are down again! Yota catches his breath, heads over and fires up. Yota reels Cobb in, and manages to suplex high and hard! Cover, TWO! Cobb stays in this but Yota fires up more! The fans rally, but time is still ticking away. Yota storms back up to Cobb, brings him up, and puts him right up top! Yota CHOPS Cobb, then climbs, and the fans rally again. But Cobb fires body shots at the three minute warning! Cobb slips under Yota, to AWESOME- RANA!!

The fans are thunderous as Yota gets up, to GENE TRIGGER! And then fireman’s carry!? 17 CROSS! Cover, TWO!! The fans are thunderous again, and Yota drags Cobb over to a corner. Yota goes up and up for MARLOWE- Cobb catches him!?! ATHLETIC PLEX!! The fans are thunderous and Cobb stalks Yota. We hit the two minute warning and Cobb decides to go up and up, and steal MARLOWE CRASH!! Cover, TWO!! Yota survives Cobb’s take on his move, so Cobb tries the other! Cobb powers up, runs up, GENE- ROLL THROUGH! And deadlift into a Canadian Rack! But Cobb slips free, to GENE BLASTER!!

The fans are electric while both men are down again! Cobb crawls his way over, covers, TWO!!! Yota survives Cobb’s parody, and we’re under 60 seconds! Cobb whips, scoops, TOUR OF- CRADLE!! TWO!!! Cobb escapes, but Yota runs up! INTO A LARIAT!! Cobb hurries to drag Yota up! 30 seconds, Cobb whips, GENE- BOOT!! Cobb stops the blaster at the last second! But Yota rises!? 20 seconds!! POP-UP into F5 THOUSAND!!! TEN SECONDS!! Cobb crawls, covers, TWO?!?! AND TIME’S UP!!

Time Limit Draw; Jeff Cobb retains the title

The fans are still thunderous, even as this battle uses up all 15 minutes! Cobb survives, this is still his show, but he isn’t satisfied. Will he and Yota give us a sequel in the near future? WAIT, REN NARITA RUNS IN!! DOWN2DIE!! The wicked knee drop drops Cobb! The fans boo but this Souled Out Son of Strong Style continues to be an S O B! And he uses his pushup bar to CLOBBER Yota!! Ren ruins the moment, and he takes the mic for his own. “Oi, Jeff… I beat you in the G1, but you gave him a title match first? Don’t screw with me!” Ren picks up the NJPW World TV Championship and the fans boo more than before.

The fans now tell Ren to go away, go home, get outta here! But Ren tells Cobb, “Listen up. This belt rightfully belongs to ME, dumbass!” Ren drops the belt on Cobb, then “puts one out” before leaving. The fans boo more, but Cobb sits up. The fans cheer as Cobb grabs the mic, and Cobb says, in Japanese, “Yota… Happy Birthday.” The fans applaud, it’s the thought that counts. And then Cobb tells Narita, also in Japanese, “I will CRUSH you!!” Mic drop and the fans cheer that idea! When and where will the Imperial Unit take Ren on a Tour of the Islands?

My Thoughts:

Another great night for NJPW with… Actually, this is the second night of Road to Destruction, but the very first night was all just fun tune-up tag matches, and then they had Takagi’s 20th Anniversary night. But here, the real Road to Destruction begins as we get a title match and some more build. Good stuff in the matches I skipped, but very easy results to call. There are almost always “fall guys” in those matches, because they take the loss and all that. I probably could’ve made time for Douki & Taka VS Taiji & Gedo since that feeds the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship match in a few days, but even then, Taka was the “fall guy” and Taiji has momentum. Douki & Taka can probably even things in another tune-up, keeping us guessing on the math going into their title match.

Very good matches that followed, as well. ZSJ was of course winning to keep his momentum going from the G1 Climax win, but likewise, Naito can turn things around before he faces Khan in three weeks. Actually, I feel like we should be getting a rotation of such tag matches. Naito & Bushi VS Khan & Akira, then Khan & Akira VS ZSJ & Fujita. And speaking of Akira, he of course took the loss for his team, that keeps Takagi strong, and then Hiromu and Henare are fairly even going into tomorrow’s title match. It would be pretty big if Hiromu won the NEVER Openweight title, but it doesn’t feel like that’s happening here.

And great NJPW World Television Championship match. It was a great move to go with the time limit draw, that protects both guys and leaves things open for more later. After all, Cobb had a time limit draw with ZSJ and that only made us want more, which we eventually got. Ren of course had to interject, but I’m pretty sure Cobb wins within the time limit there. Though, the House of Torture probably throws as many cheats as they can in those 15 minutes and that’d oddly be a lot of fun.