We have continuing tournaments and an ROH PPV this week. How much was Andrew able to see? What made the Top 5 Matches?

Alright, it’s a holiday and it’s late, so this is gonna be a short and sweet intro. Last week, Fastlane 4-Way: Samoa Joe vs R-Truth vs Andrade vs Rey Mysterio, beat out all of the New Japan matches.

Out of the kindness of my heart, I decided to keep a tie for 5th since this week is heavily dominated by Japanese wrestling, especially with the addition of Pro Wrestling NOAH doing a free stream on their YouTube Channel.

So don’t say I never did nothing for you. Now onto the list!

5 (t). ROH 17: Rush vs Bandido

In a good move by ROH this followed a musical interlude after the World Championship match went a full 60 minute Broadway. This allowed for new commentary members (there was a rotating door with Colt in the New Japan Cup) and Dalton Castle added the flavor for this match.

What we got here was a damn good lucha libre match. Rush continues to exude Tranquilo and the Los Ingobernables way of life, and Bandido is a little more high energy. Bandido hit a Double Springboard 450 Splash on a hanging Rush for a near fall. Rush attempted the Bull Horns a few times, and when he finally landed them, it was over for Bandido. Dalton Castle challenged Rush to a match at MSG afterwards.

It was a solid match, but it’s been a long weekend so my recap is lacking.

Winner: Rush via Bull Horns

Rating: ****

5 (t). NJPW:  Kota Ibushi vs Zack Sabre Jr

From My 2nd Round Analysis:
Going into this match Kota has a 2-1 record against Sabre, even though Sabre’s lone win came in last year’s New Japan Cup. This match was a nice back and forth that showed off Sabre’s technical prowess and Ibushi’s short temper. The ending sequence was a lot of counters and transitional moves, so it was quite intense.

Winner: Sabre Jr via Orienteering with Napalm Death

Rating: ****

4. NXT: Ricochet & Aleister Black vs DIY

From DeMarco’s Analysis:
DIY wearing matching tights, and having a new Titan Tron video is such a great touch. Ciampa clutching Goldie while looking at Gargano, who “knows what he’s doing” is a level if deep subtlety that you just don’t see anymore. That’s Ole Anderson level shit.

I do need to point out that this is typical for WWE tag teams, meeting the requirements of Patrick O’Dowd’s Vicious Cycle Of WWE Tag Team Booking.

It wasn’t that long ago in WWE where this would have been the obvious TV main event two weeks before Takeover Phoenix. Ricochet looking at Aleister Black as to make sure it’s okay that he’s sitting next to him in the ring? Another great touch. Tommaso Ciampa applies the best chinlock in WWE today. Yes, this is a real thing. Randy Orton would be proud. Actually, Ciampa has stolen a good bit of his act from Randy Orton. Don’t @ me.

Gargano gets hurt, and Ciampa has to go it alone. This, of course, is a throwback to Takeover: Chicago, when Ciampa got hurt…and we all know what happened there! (Ciampa turned on Gargano.) It’s coming. It took two finishers after a 2-on-1 advantage to pin the NXT Champion. That’s how it should be. Black Flash wins, and they’ll face The Forgotten Sons in the finals. If you know anything about WWE booking, you know this ends up. #SaveTagTeamWrestling

The post-match developments with Gargano and Ciampa were nothing short of brilliant. I am not mad that Ciampa ended up hurt, at least in terms of the storyline. I’d give the show ending segment five stars, easy. A small detail is Ciampa tossing the NXT Championship–something he’s obsessed with–aside for it, showing that he has one obsession bigger than Goldie. Gargano’s smile when he stopped Ciampa’s turn–brilliant.  The whole thing–brilliant.

Winner: Ricochet via 630 Senton

Rating: ****

3. NJPW:  Hirooki Goto vs SANADA

From My 1st Round Analysis:
They did a great job at showcasing how even SANADA and Goto really were. Both had amazing flurries of offense and counters for one another’s signature moves. I really enjoyed the fan survey in the middle of the ring to start with, to see who was more favored.  Fans seemed to sway a little towards SANADA, but both got really good reactions.

Winner: SANADA via Moonsault

Rating: **** 1/4

Honorable Mentions:

NJPW: Tomohiro Ishii vs Taichi
Winner: Ishii via Vertical Drop Brainbuster
Rating: ****
ROH17: Las Vegas Street Fight ROH Tag Team Titles: PCO & Brody King vs The Briscoes (c)
Winner: PCO via PCO-sault
Rating: *** 3/4
NJPW: Satoshi Kojima vs Minoru Suzuki
Winner: Suzuki via Gotch Style Piledriver
Rating: *** 3/4
NJPW: Kazuchika Okada vs Mikey Nicolls
Winner: Okada via Rainmaker
Rating: *** 3/4
205 Live: Tony Nese vs Drew Gulak
Winner: Nese via Submission Counter Pin
Rating: *** 3/4
205 Live: Cedric Alexander vs Oney Lorcan
Winner: Alexander via Lumbar Check
Rating: *** 3/4
NOAH Hakata Star Lane Memorial: Naomichi Marufuji vs Yoshinari Ogawa
Winner: Marufuji via Rolling Cradle
Rating: *** 3/4
ROH 17: ROH World Championship: Jay Lethal (c) vs Matt Taven
Winner: TIME LIMIT DRAW
Rating: *** 1/2
NJPW: Will Ospreay vs Lance Archer
Winner: Ospreay via Stormbreaker
Rating: *** 1/2
IMPACT: Number 1 Contender Match: Tessa Blanchard vs Jordynne Grace
Winner: Grace via Grace Driver
Rating: *** 1/4
NOAH Hakata Star Lame Memorial: Kotaro Suzuki & YO-HEY vs Hi69 & Minoru Tanaka
Winner: Hi69 via Stuka Splash
Rating: *** 1/4
WWE Raw: Seth Rollins vs Shelton Benjamin
Winner: Rollins via Stomp
Rating: *** 1/4
NJPW: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Ryusuke Taguchi
Winner: Tanahashi via Dragon Suplex
Rating: *** 1/4
WWE Raw: Falls Count Anywhere: Dean Ambrose vs Drew McIntyre
Winner: McIntyre via Claymore
Rating: *** 1/4
WWE SmackDown Live: Aleister Black & Ricochet & The Hardy Boyz vs The Bar & Shinsuke Nakamura & Rusev
Winner: No Contest
Rating: ***
NXT: Forgotten Sons vs Moustache Mountain
Winner: Forgotten Sons via Reverse DDT/Stomp Combo
Rating: ***

2. NJPW: SANADA vs Minoru Suzuki

From My 2nd Round Analysis:
This match has a good bit of history from All Japan and crossover issues between Suzuki and SANADA’s mentor Keiji Mutoh (Great Muta). Going into this match SANADA only had 1 win over Suzuki out of 6 singles meetings. Suzuki dominated a good portion of this match, and just brutalized SANADA. However, SANADA showed great resiliency and the unrelenting drive to beat Suzuki. There was a good exchange of submissions in the middle of the ring with Suzuki finding Knee Twists and an Indian Deathlock to try and break Skull End, but SANADA wouldn’t give up. Suzuki basically gassed himself out, and one more Moonsault attempt was the end of Suzuki.

Winner: SANADA via Moonsault

Rating: **** 1/4

1. NOAH Hakata Star Lane Memorial: Go Shiozaki vs Takashi Sugiura

Given that the Hakata Star Lane show was special since it was the last show in Star Lanes because the building will be closed down permanently after renovations were decided to be too costly. So this show was free on YouTube but more of a house show. A few not normal match ups like Ogawa vs Marufuji, and the champion was in a tag match with his grumpy senpai. This match was special since it’s more of a throwback match with two well known stalwart names of NOAH.

Go and Sugiura always put on classic hard hitting matches. Shiozaki’s chops can be heard around the world and Sugiura’s generally irritated countenance makes for a scary collision. This match definitely delivered for the fact there was nothing on the line beyond bragging rights. Since it’s free, it’s best to just follow the link at the top and watch it yourself. It’s just brutal, hell I think Go was momentarily knocked out during the match, but finished the match.

Winner: Sugiura via Avalanche Olympic Slam

Rating: **** 1/2

Thoughts:

It’s too late to think, I think sleep wins. Yup – Yup – Yup, that’s ducky.

Okay, I’m a little sleep deprived. So I’m gonna go with my order this week. NOAH has been putting on really solid shows last few years, new management, new logo and layout, but you put in two veterans and you get classic NOAH. The colors may change, but the ass kicking stays the same.

Use Your Head! Cause I will and place it on a pillow now. Good Night.