Ring of Honor
Date: May 29, 2019
Location: The Odeum, Chicago, Illinois
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Colt Cabana
We’re coming off last week’s pretty awesome 400th episode but their regular shows still need some work. A new taping cycle might help but more than that, it might be nice if we had something built up to the pay per view that is taking place later this month. That’s never stopped ROH before though and I can’t imagine it will be any different here either. Let’s get to it.
Opening sequence.
Karl Fredericks vs. Flip Gordon
Fredericks is from the New Japan Los Angeles dojo. Gordon gets taken to the mat early on and goes after Flip’s arm until an escape gives us a standoff. They trade headlocks until a hard shoulder puts Flip down. Flip’s hand walk into a headscissors sends Fredericks outside as we take a break. Back with the springboard tornado DDT being countered into a spinebuster from Fredericks as he starts in on the spine.
They strike it out with Fredericks getting the better of things and dropkicking Gordon down. Gordon heads to the apron this time for a kick to the head, followed by the springboard missile dropkick to get things more at his speed. A slingshot neckbreaker sets up the STF to make Fredericks tap at 7:04.
Result: Flip Gordon b. Karl Fredericks – STF (7:04)
Video on War Of The Worlds with Matt Taven retaining the World Title over PCO and Shane Taylor winning the TV Title in a four way match.
Video on Kenny King winning the Honor Rumble, faking blindness, revealing the fake blindness two weeks later, and attacking Jay Lethal.
Here’s Jeff Cobb for a chat. Things haven’t been great for him lately but Shane Taylor didn’t beat him to win the title. Cobb isn’t out here to ask for his rematch though, because he wants Matt Taven and the World Title. Cue Taven to call Cobb an adorable Hawaiian Buddha. Why should Taven be worried about Cobb winning this title when Cobb couldn’t hold his old title? The title match is teased but Taven uses the old “not tonight”. He does throw Cobb the mic though.
Kenny King says he was blinded and he used the chance to study Jay Lethal. Now it’s going to be a best of three series with Lethal and they should bust out the brooms for the sweep.
Lethal knows what King is up to because he’s going to have something up his sleeve. Match #1 is going to be the same as the other two: Lethal wins.
Video on the Briscoes vs. the Guerrillas of Destiny with the Guerrillas retaining the Tag Team Titles.
Here’s Silas Young with a rather skinny man for an exhibition. Silas introduces the other man as Baxter Bellafonte and says this is going to be a catch as catch can demonstration. Young shows some arm holds and demonstrates various cheating tactics, though he does let go before a five count. He adds a low blow, which would ALWAYS be a disqualification.
Kenny King vs. Jay Lethal
First of a best of three match series and King has an unnamed woman in his corner. We get a handshake to start and they take their time early on. King gets a fireman’s carry into a rollup for two and the fans seem fairly appreciative. Lethal is right back up so King bails to the floor for a breather and a break.
Back with King reversing the cartwheel hiptoss into a failed Crossface attempt for another standoff. They start slugging it out until Lethal’s signature dropkick is blocked. That’s fine with Jay, who knocks King to the floor anyway. The suicide dive is blocked as they have a firm story going here. Back in and we hit the chinlock, followed by a camel clutch. The rope gets Lethal out of trouble and we take a second break.
We come back again with King missing a splash and getting punched in his face for a penalty. King hits a springboard dropkick and teases his own suicide dive. That’s just a ruse though and the fans aren’t pleased by not getting what they wanted. That’s how you act like a heel people. King follows him out but gets dropped on his head so Lethal can take over back inside.
Now the springboard dropkick connects and Lethal hits the springboard dropkick for a bonus. Hail To The King gets two and the Lethal Injection is countered into a Blue Thunder Bomb to give King the same. Lethal is right back with some Lethal Injection attempts but the referee nearly gets bumped, allowing King to get in a low blow. King hits his own Lethal Injection for the pin at 15:52.
Result: Kenny King b. Jay Lethal – Lethal Injection (15:52)
Thomas Hall has been a wrestling fan for over thirty years and has seen over 50,000 wrestling matches. He has also been a wrestling reviewer since 2009 with over 5,000 full shows covered. You can find his work at kbwrestlingreviews.com, or check out his Amazon author page with 28 wrestling books. His latest book is the History Of In Your House.
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