TONIGHT: Jay Lethal defends the ROH World Title against Hirooki Goto
1) Roderick Strong vs. Matt Sydal vs. Moose vs. Adam Page - Four Corner Survival Match
What a way to kick off the show with this star studded match. Roddy & Sydal start things off before Page comes in to slug it out with Roddy. Both Sydal & Page get taken out which leads to Roddy having a show down with Moose which I'm hoping foreshadows a singles match happening between them soon. An array of crazy moves including Moose powerbombing Sydal into the railing, Roddy dropkicking Moose to the floor, and Page nailing his signature shooting star press off the apron onto Roddy sends us to commercial. The final few minutes sees Adam Page close in on a huge win only for BJ Whitmer to distract him. Sydal hits an SSP on Page, but Roddy steals the victory by hitting both men with jumping knees and an end of heartache.
Match rating - ***
Adam Cole comes out to the ring to discuss the "slump" he's been in. He discusses being unable to regain the ROH World title and assures everyone that Kyle O'Reilly will never be the Ring of Honor World Champion. He's soon interrupted by his own music hitting and Matt Taven walks out. This is the first time Taven has been seen since getting injured at Final Battle in December of last year. Taven & Cole embrace however that would be the last display of affection as Taven changes tune extremely quickly. Taven basically says Adam Cole is out of the Kingdom because he failed in winning gold last year unlike he & Bennett. Since Bennett is gone to TNA and Cole is out, Taven is going to rebuild the Kingdom around himself.
2) Cheeseburger vs. Foxx Vinyer
This gets broken up only a minute or two in. Foxx Vinyer was in the Top Prospect Tournament, but got eliminated in the first round. Cheesburger flurries in the first minute before Vinyer starts mounting offense. Just as he does, Kenny King & Rhett Titus come out and attack him which calls for the DQ. The All Night Express duo seem to be trying to convince Cheesburger to turn on the fans because they don't really appreciate him. This leads to them talking about how unappreciated they are and then eventually jump Cheeseburger. The Briscoes and War Machine come out to make the save as King & Titus escape.
3) Jay Lethal (c) vs. Hirooki Goto - ROH World Title Match
First time match up here. Lethal is accompanied by Truth & Taeler Hendrix per usual. Goto gets an advantage on the champ early on before Truth does his thing and allows Lethal to regain control with a huge dive to the floor. Lethal is still in control when we get back from commercial, but Goto quickly begins firing back. Lethal goes for the Lethal Injection and recieves a kick to the back followed by a saito suplex for his troubles. Goto covers and only gets two. He hoists Lethal up and hits him with the Ushi Guroshi for another two count. Goto is plotting his next move when Hendrix grabs his foot, but Goto stomps it like the wild man he is. Truth then tries to hit him with the book of truth. Goto grabs it and as the ref is trying to take it from him, Lethal nails him with a superkick which is a prelude to the Lethal Injection and you know what means. Game over. This was a decent little match, but it really felt like nothing more than the bare basics of what these two could do together.
Match rating - **1/2
Lethal, Truth, & Hendrix are celebrating after the match when Donovan Dijak, who was recently kicked out of their stable, approaches on the apron from behind. Dijak comes to blows with Lethal and sends the World Champ to the floor! This leaves Dijak alone with Truth and he lambasts him with a boot to the face. Unreal selling from Truth here. I absolutely can't wait for the eventual Lethal/Dijak match.
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