ROH – “Best in the World 2017” Review 06/23/2017

Match 1: The Kingdom (Matt Taven & Vinny Marseglia) vs Ultimo Guerrero & EL Terrible

Marseglia and Terrible locked up in the early going. Neither team could gain ground as they traded headlocks. Terrible got the ball rolling with series of punches and chops. When Taven entered the match he used speed and agility to out smart his opponents. Eventually he and Guerrero would trade chops. Guerrero got the advantage and used a baseball slide to send Taven to the floor. Guerrero and Terrible would use the barricade as a weapon against The Kingdom. TK O’Ryan got involved and used his crutch to hit Guerrero. Guerrero fought back after the attack and used the crowd to get under The Kingdom’s skin. Guerrero hit a massive move in the corner and came crashing down on Marseglia. He tried for a second time, but was met with a super kick from Taven. Guerrero and Terrible battled back using aerial offense to ground their opponents. The Kingdom came back as Marseglia took out Terrible and Taven flew through the air to take out Guerrero. Taven and Marseglia looked to put away Terrible, but were unsuccessful. Guerrero saved his partner and would go on to hit the Guerrero Special on Marseglia to pick up the win for his team.
Winners: Ultimo Guerrero & EL Terrible

Match 2: Hangman Page vs Frankie Kazarian: Strap Match

The men started off the match trading punches. Page was able to avoid Kazarian using the strap in the early going. The two went back to the punches, but this time Kazarian was able to outsmart Page and flip him using the strap against him. Kazarian then would land the first use of the strap in the match. Page would go to the outside for a breather, but was met with a hurricanrana from Kazarian. Back in the ring Page continues to take abuse, this time it was back to the strap. Page is able to work Kazarian back to the floor and send him repeatedly into the barricade. Kazarian and Page battle over to the stage where Kazarian lands a massive shot with the strap. Kazarian then lands a suplex on the hard floor of the entrance. Back in the ring Page gets hung on the ropes and Lazarian tees off using the strap to his advantage. Page would battle back and try choking Kazarian. Page used the strap and went to work. Kazarian became frustrated and was hurt at this point. Page utilized the belt in a unique way as he wrapped it around hit hand and struck Kazarian in the head. Kazarian tried to slow the momentum, but Page landed a huge clothesline. Page then uses his noose to tie Kazarian to the ropes. At the this point Page hammers away on Kazarian with the strap. Page goes to the ring apron to pull out a studded belt, but Kazarian untied himself and was thrown a belt that he would quickly use on Page. Kazarian choked Page with the strap and hit a backstabber. Page won’t stay down and hits Rite of Passage. Page then hits Kazarian with the studded belt. Kazarian fights back and sends Page to the floor. Kazarian gets Page to his feet and chokes him with the belt on the ring apron. The ref calls for the bell and Kazarian wins by submission.
Winner: Frankie Kazarian

Match 3: Search and Destroy ( Alex Shelley, Chris Sabin, Jay White, Jonathan Gresham) vs The Rebellion (Rhett Titus, Kenny King, Caprice Coleman, Shane Taylor): Losing team must disband

As the match gets underway the teams brawl on the outside. The teams trade blows, but there is no advantage early. Finally the action gets underway in the ring and Gresham takes it to Coleman. Search and Destroy stand tall early on. Titus comes through for his team and takes out Search and Destroy. They are able to get Gresham in their corner, but he fights them off until King hangs him up on the ropes. White tried to make a save, but King then takes him out as well. King is able to hit a big slam, but his pin was broken up by White. The Rebellion all took turns taking out White. King continued to pound on Gresham, but still couldn’t get the three. Shelley was able to take it to Titus for moment, but that was broken up. Coleman hit three vertical suplex on the already beaten up Gresham. He tried for the cover, but Sabin was there to break it up. Titus accidentally hits Coleman with a forearm. At this point Gresham took advantage and tagged White. White stood tall taking out The Rebellion. Taylor tried to make his presence felt, but White was too much. Sabin and Shelley took out Taylor. They then finished off King with a double super kick. A pin, but Titus came In to save the match for his team. The Rebellion fought back with big offensive moves from Titus and Coleman. Taylor came and flew from the second rope, but it still wasn’t enough to put down Search and Destroy. Eventually Search and Destroy got the upper hand as all four members locked in submission holds on the members of The Rebellion. A simultaneous tap and Search and Destroy won.
Winners: Search and Destroy ( Alex Shelley, Chris Sabin, Jay White, Jonathan Gresham): The Rebellion must disband.

Match 4: Jay Lethal vs Silas Young w/ Beer City Bruiser

Before the match Lethal came through the crowd and took out Beer City Bruiser with a chair. As the match began Young and Lethal traded punches. Lethal was able to create space with a clothesline, but the two wound up back trading maneuvers. Lethal created separation, but Young would send him to the outside. The two battled on the outside where Young tried dirty tactics, but Lethal would prevail sending him into the barricade. The ref then went to the outside to try to restore order. The men didn’t listen and Lethal again sent Young into the barricade. Lethal is able to suplex Young from the barricade. He tried and elbow to follow, but missed the move. Young was able to work it back in the ring and hit a senton from the apron. Young would back Lethal into the corner and hammer away with knees and chops. Lethal tried to battle back, but Young wouldn’t let it happen. Lethal kept fighting and eventually got a series of chops going. Lethal flipped Young and landed a huge drop kick. Lethal then went through a series of two counts unable to put Young away. Lethal resorted to using the headbutt. Lethal would go on to show a test of strength holding Young in the air for a good ten seconds and follow with a suplex. Young still fought back. Lethal was able to send Young to the floor and hit two successful dives. The third dive Lethal was hit with a chair. The two made their way back in the ring where they continued to trade blows. Young would eventually go to the outside and grab Beer City Bruisers Keg. He brought in the ring and tried to use it, but the red stopped it. On the distraction Lethal rolled him up and picked up the win.
**** After the match Beer City Bruiser returned to ringside. They dropped Lethal on the keg and then drove his body into the keg that was then placed in between the turnbuckles. If that wasn’t enough Beer City flattened Lethal sending him through a table.
Winner: Jay Lethal

Match 5: Dalton Castle &a The Boys vs The Briscoes (Mark & Jay) & Bully Ray (c): 6 Man Tag Team Championships

Mark started the match off with a hot head trying to attack The Boys. Jay had to come in and get him back on track. Jay and Castle grabbed which saw Castle getting an early advantage. Jay fought back and got Castle in a headlock. The Boys would interfere and try to protect Castle. Castle would taunt Mark and then called for Bully Ray to enter the match. Bully comes in hot and backs Castle to the corner. Castle tried to chop him, but he was unfazed. Bully comes with his signature punches, but misses the last one and is stared down by Castle. Bully gets in on the fun and starts dancing. At this point The Boys came in to fan Castle. With Castle on the outside Bully grabbed The Boys and threw them in the ring. He chops them and then tags Mark. Mark wanted a piece of them, but one of The Boys kicked him in the groin. The Boys then take it to Mark and Castle came in to land a series of suplexes. Castle landed a huge knee, but even the grounded Mark Briscoe fought back. Castle is stunned with a headbutt, but cand back strong with a standing drop kick. Castle tried for another suplex, this time though Mark reversed and it and slammed himself and Castle to the mat face first. Jay gets the tag and takes out The Boys. He then suplexed Castle and went for the pin, but The Boys broke it up. Bully then comes In and Jay lands a headbutt to the groin of one of The Boys. Mark came from out of nowhere and flew threw the ropes to take out The Boys. After that move The Boys fled the scene, but Castle didn’t need them as he rolled up Jay and got the win for his team and the championships.
Winners: Dalton Castle & The Boys & New 6 Man Tag Team Champions

Match 6: Marty Scurll vs Kushida(c): ROH Television Championship

In the early going the two men traded move after move after move. The crowd was split as theses two worked reversals. Scurll tried to taunt Kushida in order to slow down the pace. Scurll looked for the test of strength, but instead used it to hip check Kushida. Throughout the early stages these two showed a great display of chain wrestling. Kushida was able to lock in an arm bar, but Scurll broke it up getting to the ropes. Scurll would fight back with a choke hold, but Kushida this time would back him into the corner to break the hold. Kushida would take out Scurll with a springboard kick. Scurll fought hard and caught Kushida with a neck breaker on his knee. Scurll moved to calculated moves working the wrist and arm. Kushida didn’t go quietly as he battled back with kicks. Kushida landed one of the bigger moves of the match as he hit an arm drag from the top rope. Scurll would then go back to the wrist of Kushida. Scurll filled it with a kick from the apron and a knee with a finishing pile driver. Not quite finishing as Kushida got out at two on the attempted pin. Kushida fought back and hit a rolling ddt. Kushida then was able to lock in a form of a Kimura Lock. Scurll showed disrespect to Kushida as he flipped him off. Scurll locked in a tight submission, but Kushida battled through it and the quick roll up that followed. Kushida landed a huge kick. From the top rope Kushida slammed Scurll. Kushida hit Back to the Future to pick up the win.
Winner: Kushida & StIll ROH Television Champion

Match 7: The Young Bucks (Matt & Nick) vs War Machine (Hanson & Ray Rowe) vs Best Friends (Beretta & Chuckie T): ROH World Tag Team Championships

As the match began The Young Bucks were dominated. War Machine looked hungry after taking down Best Friends. Beretta and Taylor took it to Matt Jackson. War Machine had other plans as they entered the ring and sent Best Friends to the outside. Rowe suplexed Matt Jackson, but came and battled War Machine. He the. Hit a super kick on Taylor. Matt Jackson came back to life and back flipped onto Beretta and Rowe. The three men got back to their feet and were taken out again, but this time by Taylor who dove off the stage. Hanson joined in on the fun as he took everyone out with a dive from the top rope. In the ring Rowe slammed Hanson onto Taylor. Young Bucks would come and even the odds. This gave Best Friends a chance to comeback. They’d slam Hanson, but the pin attempt was broken up. The Young Bucks started a superkick party and everyone went down. The teams tried to battle down The Young Bucks, but ultimately they couldn’t do it. The Young Bucks had one more superkick party left in them and it would give them the victory as they retained their championships.
Winners: The Young Bucks (Nick & Matt Jackson) & Still ROH World Tag Team Champions

Match 8: Cody vs Christopher Daniels: ROH World Champion

A lockup to start and Cody got the advantage with a side headlock. Daniels was quickly taken down. Daniels called for the test of strength and Cody uses it to gain control as he drove his hip into Daniels gut. Cody would get another headlock in and follow with a shoulder tackle. Daniels fought back and showed Cody disrespect as he stepped on him as Cody was down on the mat. Daniels would get a side headlock of his own, but only to have it reversed by Cody. Daniels fights back and flips Cody. The men eventually made it to the outside where Daniels would drive Cody into the barricade. Daniels came at him with a series of chops, but Cody would come back and take Daniels to the outside again only this time to send him into the barricade. Cody caught him with a kick and sent him to the mat. Daniels a fighting champion came back with elbows on his own. Daniels went to the top, but was stopped in his tracks by Cody who jumped up the ropes and hit a huge deep arm drag. Daniels missed a drop kick and was sent into the barricade. Cody would end up being pushed into the ref. With the ref down Cody took advantage and kicked Daniels in the groin. Daniels and Cody would battle with the ref down. Daniels fought hard and cody down for a six count, but with no ref it meant nothing. Cody was brought to the mat again, but this time he slapped Daniels. Marty Scurll came down to the ring with a chair. Daniels took the chair and stomped the mat to create a big thud. He then tossed it to Cody and laid down. Luckily the ref didn’t call for the bell and the match continued. Cody was sent to the apron and Daniels caught him with forearms. The two battled until Daniels put Cody through a table with a back body drop. They made it back into the ring after a long count. They traded punches and battled. Cody spit water in Daniels face and hit cross rhodes, but it wasn’t enough. Cody fought hard and was able to hit an atomic drop. Eventually cody worked his way to another cross rhodes that would lead to Cody winning the ROH World Championship!!!
Winner: Cody & New ROH World Champion

My Opinion:
This was truly Best In The World. Some of the best wrestling I’ve seen in quite some time. Every match was actioned packed and the athletes of Ring Of Honor gave everything they had.
I watched today as a production unfolded in front of my eyes. What I loved is that everyone went out and truly tried to be the best they could be. How could you not though with fans as great as ROH’s. Every move these fans hung on the edge of their seats trying not to blink so they didn’t miss a single step. You felt the energy resonating from them. The wrestler’s fed off of it and delivered.
Ring of Honor has the best of the best. After watching so many different wrestling shows and wrestling pay per views I’m truly blown away by this one. There wasn’t a single match tonight where everything wasn’t left out there.
I saw a t-shirt that said “This Is Wrestling” and it’s true it was. If you want to see world class athletes battle to be the best then this is the place for it. It didn’t matter to these guys if they went on first or last because they were all there to give it everything they had. I’m still in awe by the spectacle I witnessed.
I think what ROH does is give men and women a platform for success. It gives them a chance, old or young or rookie veteran, they all have a shot. I say you know it’s an amazing wrestling show when every match can leave an impression in your mind. For me the title of tonight meant something different, it wasn’t about who was the best individually, but instead showcasing that this is where the best overall compete.