ROH 6/16/18 State of the Art Dallas Review
Gilley’s Dallas
Dallas, Texas
Ring of Honor presented State of the Art, headlined by an ROH TV title Proving ground match. Ian Riccaboni, Colt Cabana and Sumie Sakai welcomed everyone to the show before the proceedings got underway.
Thunder Rosa vs. Tenille Dashwood
Rosa attacked Dashwood from behind before the bell went off, clearly establishing herself as a heel early on. After Dashwood assured Sinclair that she was good to start he rang the bell and Rosa took her down with a double leg takedown right away. As Rosa posed and taunted, Dashwood recovered and took her down, sending her to the outside. Dashwood beat Rosa about ringside, but they only briefly returned to the ring, as Rosa avoided the Taste of Tenille. Rosa then slipped out of Dashwood’s grasp on the apron and went to work in the ring, really working over Dashwood over, locking on submissions and mixing it up with strikes. Dashwood was able to absorb the punishment and hit a Spotlight Kick out of nowhere to pick up the win. Strong opener between these two here and Rosa is definitely a talent the company should sign.
Winner: Dashwood
The Boys vs. The Young Bucks
Both teams adhered to the code of honor before Nick and Boy One started off with a test on strength. Nick faked being overpowered before laying the Boy out with an elbow. Matt and Nick worked Boy One over as Riccaboni put the Boys over the as legitimate competitors. Just then, the Boys were able to send the Bucks to the outside with double dropkicks before following with double topes to the outside. The Boys continued the offense on the outside until they whipped Nick into a pole on the outside, allowing him to scale it and connected with a moonsault, taking both boys out. The Boys pulled a switcheroo and tricked Matt, almost rolling up Matt with an inside cradle. Nick tried to pull some twin magic right in front of Paul Turner, but comically, no one was fooled. Being super heavyweights now, Matt was able to hold both Boys while Nick jumped off the rope to connect with a Double Indytaker for the pinfall victory. This was a fun high flying match, with the Bucks selling themselves as heavyweights here, but it was always going to be difficult for the Boys to garner fan support as underdogs against the most beloved teamed in ROH.
Winners: The Young Bucks
Cody came down post-match, with Burnard and Brandi in tow. He teased booking Flip, but of course chose not to and then said that he is running for senate in Texas in 2020. Brandi then got on the mic and announced that the match between Cody and Shane Taylor would be cancelled in the name of safety. Taylor promptly came out and said that he didn’t need safety from Cody and that he referenced his past growing up around violence. Brandi then commented that she was happy that Cody and her moved away from people like Taylor. Cody then tried to cover her very vocal anti-Texas statement and agreed to the match. He then attacked Taylor, but even with Burnard’s help, missed Taylor and hit Burnard. Cody, Burnard and Brandi ran off to end the segment.
ROH 6-Man Tag Team Championship Match
The Kingdom vs. Atlantis, Stuka Jr., & Guerrero Maya Jr
The Kingdom attacked Team CMLL right as the bell rang, dumping Atlantis and Maya outside before kicking Stuka in the corner. Stuka was able to recover and roll out of the ring. Atlantis came in under Lucha rules, tossing Marseglia around with arm drags before sending him to the outside. Marseglia moved before Atlantis could hit his dive and Maya and O’Ryan switched in. Maya showed some strength by standing O’Ryan up with a shoulder breaker, following with three consecutive backbreakers. Stuka, Atlantis and Maya then applied camel clutches by yanking on the Kingdom’s hair. They broke the hold, but almost scored three simultaneous roll ups. Just as they went to dive to the outside, the Kingdom pulled them outside and beat them around the arena floor. The Kingdom took control and dominated Maya, almost winning the match after all three attacked Maya, with Taven hitting the frog splash last. Stuke just managed to stop the count and both teams brawled to the stage. Stuke hit a moonsault off the top of the stage to the ramp and then CMLL dominated O’Ryan, with Stuka almost winning the match with his patented plancha. Taven broke up the count and then he and Maya squared off, ultimately ending with Taven thwarting a hurricanrana, setting up Rockstar SUperstar and picking up the pinfall victory. As good as the Team CMLL match against Socal was the night before, this match seemed to click better. Stuka continued to impress and Maya and Atlantis both had their moments here.
Winners: The Kingdom
Flip Gordon vs. Jay Lethal vs. Marty Scurll
Marty asked Gordon to step aside, claiming he would dispose of Lethal quickly. The two started out with some quick exchanges before Gordon came in and had his turn against Scurll. Lethal did join the fracas shortly thereafter and he and Gordon exchanged strikes until Scurll interfered and took both men out, applying a Gory special to Gordon and a Boston crab on Lethal simultaneously. Lethal gained control and dropkicked both opponents to the outside before then hitting suicide dives to both Gordon and Scurll. He then pulled Gordon in and locked a torture rack. As Lethal pinned Gordon, Scurll hit Lethal in the shoulder area, which triggered his Macho Man persona. Lethal began to hit rights like Savage before Gordon and Scurll teamed to get the better of him. As Lethal went for a Hail to the King, Scurll ran up on the apron with an umbrella. Lethal blocked it, but Gordon hit him with Kinder surprise, sending him to the arena floor. Scurll then knocked Gordon onto the turnbuckle and hit the Black Plague, a super reverse suplex before locking on the chickenwing for the submission victory. Post-match, Bully Ray came down with a chair and tried to hit Gordon, but was caught with a superkick. As Gordon went to use the chair, however, Ray hit a low blow and then demanded a mic. He said he would out wrestle Gordon at best in the World because he’s very accomplished. Ray then went to hit Gordon with a chair, but dropped it and kick Gordon in the ribs before leaving.
Winner: Marty Scurll
Hurricane Helms & Delirious vs. The Addiction
Rhett Titus joined commentary for the match and was a bit underdressed for Cabana’s taste. Sky announced that they were in the worst town ever and Kaz made it relevant to the local crowd, insulting the Dallas Cowboys. Daniels ended it by giving everyone a chance to Worship them. Daniels bailed the ring as soon as Delirious did his thing after the bell rang. Daniels did not come back into untul Helms tagged in. Helms offered a handshake and Daniels responded with a kick to the gut, but Helms managed to recover and locked on a side headlock. Kaz kicked Helms as the Hurricane bounded the ropes. Helms pulled Kaz in and then sent Daniels into the ringpost. With Daniels doubled over, Helms sent Kaz at Daniels and kicked Kaz repeatedly, simulating sex between the members of the Addiction. Helms double clotheslined both men, sending them outside before tagging out. The Addiction kept Delirious on their side of the ring for a spell, then Delirious ran under the ring an a little person version of Delirious came out. Mini-Delirious took the Addiction out himself and executed a Doomsday Device with Helms, who came off the first rope) before switching with regular Delirious. Delirious was then beaten about the outside and inside of the ring until making the hot tag to Helms. Hurricane drove Daniels to the mat with a chokeslam for the win. This was a comedy match coming back from intermission and it worked well in it’s role, even if this was a bit odd to see on ROH programming.
Winners: Helms & Delirious
ROH World Tag Team Championship Match
The Briscoes(c) vs. The Killer Elite Squad
This match was one of the best tag team matches the Briscoes have been part of in a while. A lot of that is simply attributed to the size difference here, as It felt as if KES had a chance to win and both Smith and Archer’s size and brawling style really meshed well with the Briscoes here. Both Jay and Mark have been so dominant that have them look as they might lose was against a more powerful team, but still survive. The end came about after the Briscoes Doomsday Device on Archer wasn’t enough. Jay went for a Jay Driller, but Smith took him out. Archer attempted to chokeslam Mark but it was reversed into a victory roll. After the match, the Briscoes was sure to irritate the crowd before they left, reminding the audience that they plan on killing the young Bucks at Best in the World. Cue the Bucks who took the Briscoes out with superkicks before leaving.
Winners: The Briscoes
Shane Taylor vs. Cody
The segment earlier in the night brought some more heat on Cody here. Although Taylor is born in Cleveland, commentary reminded us that his career really took off when he went down to Texas and positioned him as a fan favorite here, especially after Brandi trashed Texas a bit earlier in the night. It felt like it was almost a throwaway segment but ended up playing into the match and make the distinction for the crowd as to who to too for in this one.Taylor was in control early and he got tons of offense in here and looked great. Cody really put Taylor over the same way he did Gresham the night before. As things were going well for Taylor, Cody accidentally hit Paul Turner with a Disaster kick. Taylor hit Greetings from 216, but with Turner down, no count was registered. Burnard and Cody then tried to double team Shane, but the big man stacked them in the corner and went to splash both. Cody moved and Burnard took the attack, allowing Cody to roll Taylor up for the win.
Winner: Cody
Proving Ground Six-Man Mayhem
Silas Young (c) vs. Cheeseburger vs. Punishment Martinez vs. Jonathan Gresham vs. Scorpio Sky vs. Adam Page
The winner gets an immediate title shot, if Young pins someone they are banned from earning title shot for a year. A fun romp here with all six of these men getting time to shine here. Oftentimes these can feel like a slog when there are some nay moving parts, but they pulled it off here. Towards the end, Adam Page hit the moonsault off the top and immediately put Martinez through a table. Back inside everyone had a bit of a go except for Martinez. Ultimately, Page was about to take the match after hitting a Rite of Passage on Cheeseburger, but Martinez rolled in, sent Page packing after a curb stomp and delivered a South of Heaven chokeslam to earn the instant opportunity.
Winner: Punishment Martinez
ROH World Television Championship Match
Silas Young(c) vs. Punishment Martinez
Young trashed talked Martinez to start, egging Martinez on to continue to strike him. Young quickly hit Martinez with a knee and then followed with a suplex for a two count. Young went for his plunge, but as he was in the air, Martinez caught him and hit a tombstone slam. Young gained control and continued to try and connect with the full nelson/knee to the face to set him up for Misery, but was unable to do so. Martinez kicked Young’s face into the bottom turnbuckle, hit a ripcord kick and finished Young off with a South of Heaven chokeslam to win the match via pinfall. A surprising win here and a smart move by ROH to make these shows more meaningful. Weeks ago the Kingdom became the 6-Man champions, but that almost felt as if it was a change in plans because of Castle’s injury. This title change here now adds another layer to the Page/Martinez rivalry and shows the company’s faith in the big man.
Winner: Punishment Martinez
Final Reaction: C+/B-
Some good matches early on in the night and tons of build for Best in the World here. In terms of the weekend of shows, the San Antonio show was a bit stronger, but both shows really served to move the product and Martinez winning the TV title goes to prove that these shows are important and a part of the overall vision of the company.