ROH 5/26/18 Honor United London Review

ROH 5/26/18 Honor United London Review
Crystal Palace Sports Centre
London, England

Ring of Honor presented Honor United, headlined by Dalton Castle defending against EVIL. Ian Riccaboni and BJ Whitmer welcomed everyone to the show before the proceedings got underway.

Mark Briscoe vs. Jay Lethal
Briscoe attacked lethal before Lethal could hit the ring, dropping him on the apron before rolling Lethal inside. Briscoe took his time and that gave Lethal the chance to recovered and dropkick Briscoe to the arena floor. Lethal then followed with two tope suicidas before depriving us on the third and rolling Briscoe back inside. Lethal peppered Briscoe with right before the pace picked up. Lethal hit a cartwheel dropkick, but Briscoe took control after distracting Sinclair with a chair and kicking the second rope, catching Lethal between the legs. Lethal had a first figure four attempt reversed into a small package and then had his second attempt reversed into a Rear-naked choke. Briscoe released and had Lethal set up for a superplex, but Lethal sent him to the mat, going for Hail to the King. Lethal changed his mind and locked on a figure four, but Briscoe was able to reach the ropes to break the hold. Lethal attempted a Lethal Injection, but Briscoe reversed into a rear naked choke, but Lethal was able to reach the ropes to break the hold. Briscoe went for a Fisherman Buster but his knee gave out, allowing Lethal to hit a Lethal Injection for the win. Good match here, the right guy won, but Mark wrestling singles here is a nice change and was a good opponent for Lethal on his road to redemption.

Winner: Jay Lethal

Shane Taylor vs. Toru Yano

Taylor dominated early, until yano got his schtick going and exposed the turnbuckle pads. Taylor was sent into the exposed buckle, but it wasn’t enough and Yano went for a low blow, which taylor blocked. Taylor hit a ripcord judo throw followed by a big splash, but Yano managed to kick out. Yano then used the referee as a shield, spinning him around so he could hit a low blow and roll Taylor up for the win. Post match, Taylor was confronted by security and he knocked one out with a punch before hitting a second row splash on the other. Taylor worked well as a heel, but the crowd seemed to really only be into Yano and if that’s up your alley, there were fun moments, but Taylor could be used in a better spot than this.

Winner: Toru Yano

Tenille Dashwood vs. Kelly Klein
Brandi Rhodes joined commentary before the match began. Crowd was firmly behind Dashwood to start here, as Klein backed Dashwood into the corner before tossing her down to the mat. Klein kept control until Dashwood surprised her with a drop toe hold, sending her face first into the bottom turnbuckle. As Dashwood stayed in control, Brandi shared that the two are friends outside the ring, often riding roller coasters together. Dashwood hit Taste of Tenille, but Klein rolled outside and yanked Dashwood down by the legs. Dashwood seemed to injure her knee and Klein zeroed in on it. Despite the injury, Dashwood launched off the top rope with a cross body, injuring the knee further. Dashwood gutted it out and applied the tarantula, but it’s effectiveness was comprised by the weakened leg. Dashwood went for a spotlight kick, but her knee gave up, allowing Klein to hit a chop block. Klein then hoisted Dashwood up in a fireman’s carry, but Dashwood wiggled out and won the match with a sunset flip. An interesting story told here, not sure why Dashwood would sell an injury and steal the win from Klein, as opposed to Klein being injured and losing only for the second time ever due to injury. Commentary sold Dashwood being in line for a title shot after this weekend.

Winner: Tenille Dashwood

Mark Haskins w/ Vicky Haskins vs. Jay Briscoe
The London fans seemed to enjoy Jay’s anger and surliness, unaware of the danger they were in as he walked to the ring. Vicky distracted Jay, allowing Haskins to attack him and hit an early suicide dive. Haskins went to capitalize off the top rope, but Briscoe clotheslined him in mid air and hit a Spicolli driver before using his shirt as a weapon. Haskins tried to do everything he could to keep Briscoe down, but simply could not. Vicky distracted Briscoe, allowing Haskins to hit a double stomp from the top before a pumphandle slam, but only got a two count. Briscoe was able to hit a clothesline and then a Jay Driller for the win. This was a really great match. The crowd was into it and there was a palpable sense of desperation on Haskins’s behalf here. This was a tough, hard-hitting match that really got the crowd into this.

Winner: Jay Briscoe

ROH World Television Championship Four Corner Survival Match
Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Silas Young(c) vs. SANADA vs. Punishment Martinez
Martinez dominated early, splashing all three men in the corner before squaring off with Young mid-ring. Young tried to take it to Martinez, but needed SANADA’s help before Martinez was sent to the outside.Tanahashi hit a splash to the outside and then all three men took turns trying to pin Martinez. Young organized the group to focus on Martinez before Tanahashi and SANADA turned on him. SANADA quickly turned on Tanahashi and rolled him up for a quick two count. All four men then brawled on the outside-Young worked on Tanahashi, tossing him into the barricades as Martinez had SANADA down on the inside. Young lowered the top rope, sending Martinez to the outside and then tried to sneak a victory over SANADA, to no avail. Young then broked a deal with Martinez, but quickly rolled him and ended the alliance. SANADA applied the Paradise Lock all around, leading to a finisher sequence from all four. As Martinez and Tanahashi fought over a chair, Young rolled up SANADA to retain. Originally announced as non-title, the fact that this became a title match changed the dynamic a bit. Young winning by the ski on his teeth made sense here.

Winner: Silas Young

Bully Ray vs. The Boys
Upon the return from intermission, Bully Ray came out and threatened Ian Riccaboni, before demanding that the match be a handicapped match. Bully Ray was in control at first, then went to use his chains, allowing for twin magic. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough and Ray powerbombed both Boys and pinned them both to win via pinfall. Bully being Bully.

Winner: Bully Ray

Cody vs. Kenny King
King grabbed a mic and challenged Cody to allow him to be booked for All In if King were to win. Cody then agree, stipulating that Fli Gordon couldn’t be handed King’s chance, but eventually relented and agreed that both would be all in in King won the match. The action was even to start here and when King was on the outside, Brandi seemed apprehensive. King then grabbed a rose and went to offer it to Brandi. Cody was displeased and hit King with a tope suicida, grabbing the rise and offering it to his wife. Back in the ring, Cody clotheslined King but quickly found himself on the receiving end and rolled to the outside to grab a drink. Cody spit the water into King’s face before the two went back inside. King missed shotgun knees, giving Cody an opening to hit a powerslam that went for two. King was in control and was distracted by Brandi, who stepped on the rose. King hoisted Cody up for the Royal Flush, but Cody wiggled out and hit a Cross Rhodes to pick up the win and seal the door yet again on Gordon being booked. A good match between these two with a crowd that was really into this one. Brandi was great in her role outside. Cody got on the mic afterwards and was interrupted by Nick Aldis. Aldis made it clear that he respects Cody, but that he was upset that Cody did not challenge him directly. Cody challenged him directly and then Aldis agreed, as long as Cody puts the ROH title on the line should he win at Best in the World.

Winner: Cody

ROH World Championship Match
Dalton Castle(c) vs. EVIL
As Castle made his way to the ring, commentary spoke about his back injury and he sold it even as he entered the ring. Castle hit a very early peacock pose as EVIL gathered his thoughts on the outside. EVIL took control here, slowing things down and punishing Castle, who would intermittently be able to create space, but the injury continued to stop him from keeping control for prolonged periods of time. EVIL snuck a chair into the match behind Sinclair’s back and used it to drive Castle into the ring post. Then we got a referee bump, as Sinclair was squished in the corner. EVIL grabbed the title until the Boys got involved. Castle hit the Bang-A-Rang, but with Sinclair down, couldn’t win the match. EVIL hit Castle with the title and got a two count, only to have Castle reverse the STO and roll him up with a small package. Kudos to Castle for wrestling injured here and putting on a gutsy performance, but the shenanigans at the end were not really needed. The injury itself added drama to the match and EVIL has been on quite a winning streak in ROH, so not winning the title here would not make him look weak.

Winner: Dalton Castle

ROH Six-Man Title Championship Match
The Kingdom vs. Socal Uncensored vs. The Hung Bucks
Taven started off against Daniels, with Taven quickly grabbing a side headlock and shoulder blocking Daniels to the mat. Fast and furious to start here between the two, making way for O’Ryan and Sky, followed by Page and Kaz who brawled like they never forgot their feud. They of course spit at each other, because that’s what they do. Then we get a mini-rumble as everyone hit the ring, only for Nick to hit everyone “like wrecking ball” (all credit to Riccaboni for that one.) The middle of the match was a blast, with dives everywhere and fast-paced action. The Hung Bucks hit a Meltzer/Rite of Passage on Sky, but the referee was pulled outside and Nick then accidentally kicked him from the apron. Daniels hit Page with a BME, but there was no ref. A referee finally slid in, but Taven pulled him outside and then Daniels hit an Arabian Moonsault on both Taven and the new referee. Taven floored Daniels and then Marseglia popped a balloon in Kazarian’s ear and lured him under the ring. The Kingdom hit Rockstar Supernova on Daniels, cue Riccaboni Oasis reference. A New ref slid in, but it was Cody and he stopped counting. Cody hit a Cross Rhodes on Daniels and took the Kingdom out, allowing the Bucks to hit a Meltzer Driver. The original referee stopped the count and Taven hit Daniels with his cane before pinning him for the win.

Winners: The Kingdom

Final Reaction: C+
This show was stronger than Edinburgh, the crowd felt invested in almost everything here and a strength has been that even if these shows don’t necessarily move the needle in terms of storylines, there is a real effort to built on what is being done. The main event was the best match of the night, but Haskins and Jay Briscoe had a real sense of drama here and the crowd was very invested in it, making each near fall exciting. The main event was fun, but the preponderance of referee stuff was really not needed in a match that included 9 men to begin with.

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