ROH Masters of the Craft Review
4/15/18
Columbus, Ohio
Express Live
The stream began about 19 minutes late, so not sure what I missed, but the first thing on screen was the introductions for the TV title match and it appears BJ Whitmer, Caprice Coleman and Ian Riccaboni are on commentary to start the show.
The Dawgs vs. Coast to Coast
The stream had not started, but Coast to Coast defeated the Dawgs to start the show.
ROH TV Title Match
Silas Young(c) vs. Cheeseburger
Cheeseburger off to a hot start against Young, attacking him right as the bell went out. Burger sent Young to the outside with a Shotei to a seated Young. The challenger stayed on him outside, but Young turned the tables and sent Burger back inside. Burger took advantage of Young’s cockiness and flew to the outside, gaining a brief advantage. Whitmer and Coleman then discussed that Burger is more of a mascot and that the fans would not be behind him if it weren’t for his underdog status as Young took control and slowed the pace down. Cheeseburger got some licks in after reversing a suplex, hit a couple of Shoteis, but couldn’t keep Young down. After a springboard DDT of sorts Burger hit yet another Shotei, but as he crawled over for the pin, Young locked him in a crucifix pin to pick up the win and hold on the ROH TV title. Assuming that was the opener there were some spots the crowd got behind, but Cheeseburger was never going to win this and there were a few spots, particularly the springboard DDT attempt that were sloppy.
Winner: Silas Young
Bully Ray come out to the ring and ran down Cheeseburger again, much like he did at Supercard of Honor. Apparently, they are close enough for him to call him by his first name, Cheese. Ray then said that Burger never paid his dues and he would be the one to make Burger pay those dues. Burger asked for the mic and stepped to Bully Ray, calling him an a**hole, to promptly be chokeslammed. Flip Gordon ran out for the save and tried to Shotei Ray alongside Burger, but they got a double clothesline for their troubles as Ray showed his Hall of Fame ring off. Bully Ray then started with some fans, getting in their faces and calling them punks.
Sumie Sakai, Tennille Dashwood, & Deonna Purrazzo vs. Madison Rayne, Jenny Rose & Brandi Rhodes
Mandy Leon joined for commentary, replacing Coleman for the match. Rayne and Dashwood started off, exchanged hammerlocks and reversals early on. Rose and Sakai were in next, with Sakai getting a number of two counts off of creative roll ups, before Purrazzo and Rhodes made their way in. Rhodes gained an advantage after Burnard grabbed Purrazzo’s leg to a chorus of boos. Dashwood did get back at Burnard, kicking him right in the head. All the faces took turns launching to the outside, with Sakai getting the best of everyone. As Sakai celebrated Rhodes tried to roll up Sakai, but only got a two count. Rhodes went for a Cross Rhodes, but Sakai slipped out and his Smashmouse to pick up the pinfall victory for her team. Post-match Purrazzo grabbed a mic and pointed out that she lost in the WOH tournament and that Kelly Klein also did. As Purrazzo put Klein down, Klein walked out and Purrazzo challenged her right on the spot. Klein declined and said that they would face off in Miami, but Purrazzo corrected her, calling her an idiot for not knowing the match is in West Palm Beach.
Winners: Sumie Sakai, Tennille Dashwood, & Deonna Purrazzo
Christopher Daniels, Frankie Kazarian, Scorpio Sky, & Shane Taylor vs. The Young Bucks, Adam Page, & Flip Gordon
Coleman rejoined commentary for this match. Daniels and Gordon started the contest off. After some brief jockeying, Gordon avoided a number of strikes by flipping away, ultimately tagging out to Page as Daniels made way for Kazarian. Kaz and Page laced into each other and continued the narrative of their hatred for one another. There was a headscissor congo line that Page was left out of, so he tried to apply a Boston crab, turning everyone over to do so. Gordon took most of the punishment here, as SoCal and Taylor took turns keeping him on their side of the ring, working as a well-oiled machine. Gordon was dumped over the high railing for Taylor and he took the opportunity to launch himself onto the apron, clotheslining Daniels before moonsaulting off the second turnbuckle to the outside. Kazarian applied a single leg crab to keep him in but Gordon escaped and tagged out to Page who cleared house, almost winning the match with a dropsault onto Sky. Things broke down and there was a tons of action here, but the end came when Gordon, Page and the Bucks hit a quadruple superkick on Daniels before combining for a Super Indytaker/Rite of Passage. Post-match Gordon offered Page his hand and after some hemming and hawing, Page hugged him. Really fun match here, easily the best on the night so far.
Winners: Adam Page, Flip Gordon, & The Young Bucks
ROH World Tag Team Championship
Mat Fitchett & Davey Vega vs. The Briscoes
The Besties in the world apparently earned a tag title shot on a Future of Honor episode. Once the bell rang they immediately were beatdown by the Briscoes and sent out of the ring. The match settled into a normal tag match, with Jay and Mark tagging in and out as they worked Fitchett over. Mark had a camel clutch variation applied, but Fitchett was able to reach the ropes to break. As Mark complained to the ref, Fitchett was able to hit a dropkick and tag out, but Vega was quickly felled by a stiff lariat from Jay. Mark ended the match by hitting Vega with a side Russian leg sweep that he transitioned into a rear naked choke for the submission victory. Basic squash match here, but the Besties did look good and played their role well in this brief match.
Winners: The Briscoes
Jonathan Gresham vs. Jay Lethal
The two started out with a scientific tilt as was to be expected and Gresham quickly took control, applying various submission, including a double hammerlock that he used to try and pin Lethal. Lethal eventually did escaped and targeting Gresham’s knee and sending him to the outside. Lethal followed him outside and continued to work om the knee before sending his opponent back inside. Gresham stood toe to to with Lethal and the two traded strikes, but Lethal went back to the knee to floor Gresham. Coleman and Whitmer really added a lot on commentary during this one, calling each move well and adding in reasoning behind how and why gresham was applying moves. Gresham continued working on Lethal’s arm and tried to suplex him, but Lethal was able to hoist him up. Gresham tried to fight his way out and the two tumbled to the outside. Back inside, the two nursed their injuries as they went for the finish. Gresham locked an Octopus Stretch on Lethal and prevented him from grabbing the ropes, but Lethal struck the bad knee enough times that he slipped out and applied the figure four. Gresham seemed on the verge of tapping but he slipped out and locked on an armbar that Lethal had to reach the ropes for the break. Lethal went for a Lethal Injection, but crumbled because of the bad arm. Gresham rushed him and went to roll him up, but Lethal countered and hooked the bad leg for the leverage to win the match. Fantastic match from these two here. Gresham and Lethal seemed made for each other and this match harkens back to old ROH mat based excellence. Lethal put Gresham over after the match, thanking him for bringing the best in him. Gresham then challenged Lethal to another match in the future and Lethal agreed.
Winner: Jay Lethal
First Blood Match
Matt Taven vs. Cody
Despite having her come down the ring, Cody asked Brandi to go backstage as Taven begged for her to say so that she could see her husband bleed. O’Ryan applied some vaseline to Taven, but referee Paul Turner wiped it away to take away the advantage. Cody offered Taven a chance to kiss the ring, but O’Ryan ambushed Cody to prevent it. Cody punched O’Ryan with the ring still out and then sent Taven to the outside with a springboard kick. Taven took his time getting back inside as the camera zoomed on O’Ryan bleeding profusely. Taven then sent O’ryan to the back before Taven slid back in. Taven then took the ring from Cody, but was quick;y suplexed and then clotheslined to the outside. Back inside Taven was able to take control and hit Just the Tip, but alwas, there was no blood. Taven removed the turnbuckle cover but was tossed into himself. Cody grabbed a chair and the two traded chair shots until Taven set a table up. He placed Cody on the top rope but was knocked back and right in front of the table. Cody jumped off the top but missed Taven and went through the table. Taven took one of the shards and went to carve Cody, but was cut short and the two men were floored. Vinny Marseglia popped up from under the ring and pass Taven his ax in the ring. As Taven went to use the ax, Brandi ran out and low blowed Taven, taking the ax and chasing Marseglia backstage. Taven missed cracking Cody with the CMLL title and was then planted with a Cross Rhodes, but again, no blood. Cody went to punch Taven but the Kingdom leader was able to block it with the title. As Cody laced into Taven’s face with punches, the match was called, as he had cut his hand open on the title. Taven taunted Cody as he walked away the winner here. Taven and Cody work really well together and try to out-heel each other at every time and this was no different. Not a technical marvel, but definitely an entertaining battle between the two.
Winner: Matt Taven
Defy or Deny Match
Dalton Castle(c) vs. Marty Scurll vs. Punishment Martinez vs. Beer City Bruiser
Scurll, Martinez and BCB all went after Castle from the start, but couldn’t stay on the same page. BCB took Martinez out with a senton to the outside, allowing Castle and Scurll to scuffle in the ring, Castle’s right hand was heavily taped and his strikes were limited. Martinez and BCB then had the ring alone briefly, but BCB cycled outside as Scurll and Castle came in and tried to take Martinez out. Punishment went for a double check chokeslam, but Scurll and Castle fought him off until BCB came in and avalanched Martinez in the corner. After some hard-hitting action, Martinez hit a South of Heaven Chokeslam on BCB for the first elimination. Martinez tried to put Castle away right away but found himself into the Bang-A-Rang and was the second elimination. Scurll ran in right away and targeted Castle’s right hand. Castle recovered and went for a Bang-A-Rang, but Scurll was able to reverse into a victory roll for the pinfall victory, earning himself a future title shot. The match was a bit formulaic with the cycling early on, but it really picked up near the end. The eliminations could have been a bit more spread out, but this was good and the ending sequence that saw Scurll earn a title shot was solid.
Winner: Marty Scurll
Final Thoughts: B-/C+
This was really a tale of two shows. The delayed opening because of streaming issues and then a weak undercard really got this show off on the wrong foot. Once the show returned from intermission, it was like night and day. Gresh and Lethal put on one of the most entertaining technical matches that I have ever seen. The 8-man tag was a hoot-all eight worked really well together. Taven and Cody in the First Blood match was strong and ended cleverly, leading to a well worked main event that saw Scurll sneak away with a win. This was not a major PPV, but there were some really enjoyable matches on the card and it’s certainly worth a watch.