Want more wrestling news, rumors, and results? Be sure to visit PWInsider.com and PWInsiderXtra.com.
ROH World Women's Champion Rok-C vs. Willow is next. Rok-C looked like a damn star coming out. At 19, her poise is crazy. Willow used her power to stop some of Rok-C's offense. Willow used a cannonball and began focusing on the champ's shoulder. Rok-C showed some awesome fire and facial expressions in making her comeback. It's nice to see Willow, who I've seen over the years as she's evolved in NYC, getting so many chances lately. She pounced the hell out of Rok-C, which brought the house down. They took the fight to each other, to the point there were dueling chants. This was absolutely fun. Lots of near falls. Rok-C finally scored the pin with the Code Red. Willow looked so good that a big portion of the crowd booed the finish. This was really a star making performance for Nightingale in a lot of ways and I suspect it will open some more doors for her.
Deonna Purrazzo came out as a surprise to her Impact theme. Ian asked, "Why do we have to end this now? She's come here too late." Deonna told Rok-C that she has what is truly Purrazzo's. Purrazzo challenged Rok-C to a winner take all match after Purrazzo is done beating Mickie James for the Knockouts title. Rok-C shook her hand and the deal was made. Rok-C's facial expressions here were just awesome. I cannot imagine she isn't quickly snatched up.
If this was it for this version of the ROH Women's division, I hope it's recognized as vastly outperforming and outshining whatever the expectations were going in. Kudos to all involved.
Adam Cole said that thanks to ROH, he discovered other professional wrestling in the world and it made him want to be a wrestler. He became the wrestler he was meant to become because of ROH.
Time for Wrestling vs. Violence. If anyone SHOULD be on this show, it's Homicide, since he was the Godfather to all the stars thar forged this place to begin with. To this day, I feel is was complete bullsh** they didn't book him on their MSG show and throw him in the Honor Rumble as it was likely his only chance to wrestle in the building, because it was, but whatever. Homicide is dressed in his gear from the first-ever ROH show in 2002.
EC3 puts the vasc in vascular! It was a slow start with some back and forth action. King's work was just brutal looking, just an elite level of physicality. Tony Deppen showed some really great condescending attitude. Eli Isom was worked over for a long time and did a nice job as the babyface in peril. It was weird to see VIOLENCE UNLIMITED doing all the tag team 101 stuff like cutting off the ring. They turned it into a series of big dives and Homicide hit a BEAUTIFUL tope con hilo on EC3, carrying on the legacy of the LIWF Doghouse.
Homicide pulled out a fork and used it on EC3. Is the RUBBER CHICKEN far behind????? They went into a sequence where they all hit classic ROH main eventers finishers, which was a nice tribute to Samoa Joe, Low Ki, Bryan Danielson, El Generico and others. it came down to Homicide and Isom. Homicide nailed the CopKilla and almost scored the pin but Isom kicked out. The crowd DID NOT LIKE THAT. Homicide paid tribute to the late Doug Gentry by revealing a Gentry t-shirt and went for a lariat but Isom nailed him. King went for a lariat but Isom collapsed. King nailed the Gonzo Bomb and scored the pin. I would have had Homicide score the pin since he was one of the few who was at the start and at the end, but they gave him enough shine that I can forgive it. Pretty sure we'll see Brody King on national TV before you know it. Bet on that one.
EC3 took the mic and said they pay homage to the past. He told Isom to stand. He said there is no honor in what they do. He crapped on corporate wrestling. He said everyone who put their blood and soul into the ring get nothing out of this. The leaders get to keep their office jobs. Brian Johnson came out and told EC3 to keep his name out of his mouth. EC3 told him he's lost everything tonight and that's what makes him dangerous. EC3 said they can take back the industry block by block and remake it. He basically wanted Johnson, Dak Draper and Eli to join his cause. EC3 said they'd have to fight and said FREE THE TITAN and out came the former Braun Strowman with the former Wesley Blake and someone I didn't catch. He beat the hell out of them. EC3 said it was an awakening. They dragged out the bodies as if they were kidnapping them to indoctrinate them.
Well, if anything was against the original mission statement of the company, this was it but as an angle to set up a new heel group, this was fine. If ROH doesn't recalibrate, EC3 just cut an angle for his next Free the Narrative PPV series episode.
The Young Bucks were next to put over the company, specifically mentioning Joe Koff and Cary Silkin, telling them they miss them and wish them well.
My blog continues on Page Four as we head into the final hour of ROH's existence.
If you enjoy PWInsider.com you can check out the AD-FREE PWInsider Elite section, which features exclusive audio updates, news, our critically acclaimed podcasts, interviews and more by clicking here!
Bang On Casino
