(Promotion: Ring of Honor – Location: Sam’s Town Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada – Date: March 15, 2019)

Main Card

Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman and NWA World Heavyweight Champion Nick Aldis are manning the commentary booth. (Colt Cabana is overseas participating in the New Japan Cup for NJPW.

Kenny King v. “The Villain” Marty Scurll

The announcers point out that King has not been pinned since November.

Scurll gets the duke after whacking King with his umbrella. There was an awkward moment preceding this when referee Paul Turner turned around a bit too quickly and had to pretend that he didn’t see the umbrella in the ring.

Scurll had an uncomfortable moment with Aldis after the bell.

This was an even, well-contested bout, though it is strange that Scurll didn’t go over more dominantly considering his position on the Madison Square Garden show in April. That said, Scurll is hella over.

Winner: Marty Scurll

Ring of Honor Television Championship

Jeff Cobb (c) v. Shane Taylor

Taylor hits a spear off the apron. The two trade blows. Cobb comes back with a hesitation, pump-handle fallaway slam. Just wow.

Taylor throws a wicked right hand. Cobb slams him off the top rope.

Audience: “This is awe-some!”

Cobb connects with a delayed German suplex with a bridge for a near fall. Taylor retaliates with a jaw-dropping “Cleveland” Destroyer.

Cobb retains after hitting a second “Tour of the Islands” slam.

Taylor came out of this looking good. He felt like he was physically equal to Cobb.

Cobb did a great job appearing vulnerable.

Winner: Jeff Cobb

Women of Honor World Championship

Mayu Iwatani (c) v. Kelly Klein

Klein acknowledges the “Code of Honor.”

Iwantani is good in the role of underdog.

Klein’s strikes are sloppy. She German’s Iwatani in an awkward manner on her neck. Ouch!

Iwatani hits one moonsault, but misses a second.

Klein hits the “K-Power.”

Iwatani cradles Klein to retain.

This was a decent, if not technically solid, bout.

Iwatani is scrappy and charismatic.

Winner: Maya Iwatani

Tracy Williams & Mark Haskins v. The Kingdom (Vinnie Marseglia & TK O’Ryan)

Matt Taven storms the ring before announcements are made. He demands his ROH World Title bout now, as he feels he has waited long enough for his opportunity.

Caprice Coleman and Ian Riccaboni’s “confusion” as this change leaves something to be desired.

ROH World Championship

Jay Lethal (c) v. Matt Taven

Announcers point out that Lethal has successfully defended the championship 39 times.

Lethal dominates early.

Taven blocks the Lethal Injection.

Taven: “You’re nothing.”

Lethal sells an injured shoulder.

Taven’s knee buckles. Lethal works the knee.

Audience: “Mel-vin!”

Taven locks on a crossface.

Taven: “Give up, Jay.”

Taven violently drives the champion’s shoulder into the mat.

If Coleman uses the term “nut cuttin’ time” once more during the commentary…

The Kingdom runs out. Marseglia jacks Lethal with the belt. They jump Gresham who came out. They blast his knee with a chair. They then get a table.

Lifeblood (Haskins and Williams) are out.

Taven gets Lethal with a low blow and hits a headlock driver for two.

Lethal hits a frog splash and a “Lethal Rack.”

Taven reverses the figure four and Lethal reverses it again. Taven suplexes Lethal over the top rope and through a table at ringside.

Audience: “Holy shit!”

Taven: Backpack stunner.

Lethal: Lethal Injection for two.

Audience: “Ta-vin!”

Lethal: Cutter on the apron.

Taven lays out Lethal with a DDT on the apron. He gets a ladder from beneath the ring. (Ian Riccaboni explains that the ladder is there because the ring crew uses it to adjust lighting rigs. Someone has finally bothered to offer an explanation for all these ladders!) He lays it across a table and the ring.

Lethal goes for an elbow across the ladder but Taven moves at the last moment.

Taven hits a cutter and “Just the Tip” for a nearfall. He hits three knees and spits in Lethal’s face. He connects with a fourth knee.

Lethal counters a frog splash with a cutter.

Taven: “I hate you!”

The two are on their knees trading blows. The slowly fight to their feet.

Lethal scores with three superkicks.

Lethal: “Fuck you!”

Lethal injection…for two.

The bells rings signalling the end of the 60-minute time limit.

Taven: “Fuck you, Jay!”

Audience: “Five more minutes!” and “Let them fight!”

Marty Scurll is out. He cockily enters the ring and looks down at both men. He picks up the belt and carries it over his shoulder as he exits the ring.

The two stagger to the feet and momentarily face off before Taven rolls out of the ring.

This was a very good, though not great, match. At times, Taven came off as a babyface. it was interesting that the announcers never reminded the viewers of the time limit as it ticked down. In some ways it reduced the drama, but in another it didn’t signal the draw finish.

Winner: 60-Minute Time Limit Draw

Nerdcore rapper Mega Ran is out to toss t-shirts to fans. He performs “Going to the Garden.” The song is meh at best. Bully Ray comes out. He says that he hates rap. He calls Mega Ran a “washed up nobody.” Mega Ran asks how he can be washed up AND a nobody. Good point. LOL. Ray makes fun of video games and calls Cary Silkin an old bastard. He brags that he is the only one on the roster who has performed at the Garden. He says that no one is worthy of opposing him. Fans chant for Flip Gordon. The challenge is made for an NYC Streetfight at the G1 Supershow in April.

Bandido v. Rush

Announcers point out that both men are undefeated in Ring of Honor.

Rush powerbombs Bandito into a table a ringside. He goes for his opponents mask.

Bandito: Fosberry Flop

Rush goes on a tear and ravages Bandito with a German release suplex, a Mexico City Destroyer and a deadlift superplex.

Bandito: Suplex.

Audience: “This is awe-some!”

Rush rocks Bandito with the Bullhorns dropkick and scores the pinfall.

Bryan Castle, who was on commentary for the match, enters the ring and challenges Rush to a match at MSG.

Rush: “Who are you?”

However, he accepts.

Castle was distracting on commentary. He was too cartoony. Bandito is so agile and smooth. Rush is a star. He is so arrogant. He has swagger similar to American star MJF.

Winner: Rush

The Jonathan Gresham-Silas Young match, as well as The Kingdom v. Lifeblood bout has been eliminated from the show due to the 60-minute draw.

Main Event

ROH World Tag Team Championship

Briscoe Bros. (c) v. Villian Enterprises (PCO & Brody King)

The bell rings and the teams stare each other down for a brief moment. Then all four men get chairs and battle with them.

PCO gives Mark a Falcon Arrow from the apron through a table.

Mark drops PCO over the barricade.

The Briscoes double-team King

King gives Mark a DVD through a table in the ring.

Audience: “P-C-O!”

Jay gets color. He then gets walloped by PCO with a chunk of the broken table.

King: “PCO—DO SOMETHING INSANE!”

Outside the ring, PCO charges his opponents, who backdrop him across the edge of the apron.

Ian Riccaboni says he is covered with the competitor’s blood.

Mark blockbusters King from the top turnbuckle through a ringside table.

Jay gets a two-count on King after a Jaydriller.

The Briscoes have kendo sticks and work over King. He calls for more abuse.

PCO takes unprotected chairshots to the head. He catches the sticks and breaks them. PCO now has color.

King tosses Mark from the top turnbuckle through a table on the floor.

Riccaboni: ” Jay Briscoe is Crayon Red right now.”

King piledrives Jay from the apron through a table.

PCO moonsaults Jay, who is under a chair to win the ROH tag team championship.

This was a bloody, brutal vicious match. This was a crazy war.

The announcers point out that 25 years after headling Madison Square Garden and PCO is back.

I don’t know how much more PCO can take at his age. Damn. This was intense.

Winner: Villain Enterprises

Overall, a solid show. If you like the hardcore style, the main event was terrific. The world title match was a gutsy call and mostly paid off. Personally, I’m not wild about Taven but the live audience is certainly behind him. Was this his moment? It feels like the belt belongs to Scurll at MSG.

###

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