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Time for the Reach For the Sky Ladder Match to crown new ROH Tag Team Champions with The Lucha Brothers vs. Aussie Open vs. Top Flight vs. The Kingdom vs. Dralístico & Rush. The new ROH Tag Team titles have The Briscoes on the side plates, which an incredibly touching idea to keep The Briscoes' legacy a part of the belts forever. Lots of fun, high impact spots here, both with and without ladders.
Aussie Open have really shined at different events this week and this one has been no exception. Their chemistry with the Lucha Brothers has been a LOT of fun. Rush and Dralistico pulled out some big dives, as did Matt Taven. The Kingdom are always workhorses and this yet another great example of that. Lots of brawling on the stage and the floor. Aussie Open nailed stereo piledrivers on The Kingdom. They ran everyone down with ladders. They tried to retrieve the belts but the Lucha Brothers prevented it. Mike Bennett and Rush beat the hell out of each other. Taven returned but was suplexed into a ladder near the buckles. Ouch.
Top Flight did some cool RVD inspired Van Daminator type stuff with a chair. So many big spots. It seemed to center around Top Flight and Aussie Open. From a level up and away, I can't even keep up. Taven nailed a frog splash from the top through a ladder, shattering it and leaving Dralistico crushed in the broken remnants. The Lucha Brothers went to grab the belt but one of the Martins met Fenix at the top of he ladder. He knocked Fenix off but Penta met him and beat Martin down. He nailed a Canadian Destroyer off a bridged ladder through a stack of tables on the floor. INSANE.
Fenix and Taven battled atop the ladder. Taven was dispatched and Fenix gained the titles, winning the belts for The Lucha Brothers. That was one hell of a spectacle.
I am on the opposite side of the arena so I didn't see this live but heard that Dante Martin's leg snapped during the Tables spot. That is heartbreaking and I am truly sorry for him.
FTR came out to a big pop to celebrate with the Lucha Brothers.
Next up isn the Pure Wrestling title. The crowd booed Jon Moxley when he was announced as accompanying Wheeler Yuta. Big babyface reaction for Katsuyori Shibata and the fans were chanting for him at the bell. After the insanity of the last match, this is an absolutely different vibe with lots of grappling and strikes, Yuta used a closed fist which the crowd was NOT happy about. Shibata fired back after a series of chops, knocking Yuta into the buckles. The crowd was not happy with Wheeler doing some cheap maneuvers to take out Shibata, since this is supposed to be the Pure title. Shibata fired back and used a choke, then pinned Yuta. The place popped huge for this and was truly surprised. Fans tossed streamers. Shibata tried to show Wheeler respect but Yuta blew him off, which the crowd hated.
Main event time! Eddie Kingston challenging for the ROH World Championship against Claudio Castagnoli. Crowd is solidly behind Kingston. They went right to war at the bell. Kingston threw hands and kicked out Claudio's legs. The crowd called for him to, well, F up Claudio. He went for a dive but Claudio drilled him with an uppercut. Gotta stick to the ground and pound, Eddie!
Claudio unloaded with rights, then pulled Kingston over the ropes into a suplex to the floor. Claudio kept beating down Kingston, who would kick out at the last second. The crowd turned into a back and forth chanting either for or against Eddie. Kingston mounts a comeback and sends Claudio to the floor. Kingston nails a dive. He followed up with a bulldog coming back into the ring but can't score the pinfall.
Claudio fired back and went after him with elbow strikes after taking him to the mat. He kept peppering him with forearms but Kingston ducked a move and went for a Dragon Sleeper. Kingston tried to go for a back drop driver and finally nailed it for another two count. Claudio went for a powerbomb but Eddie escaped and drilled him with the spinning backfist. The near fall was SO CLOSE it woke the crowd up. Claudio fired back and nailed a gutwrench suplex off the apron to the floor. His strength is on another level. He worked over Eddie and brought him back to the ring but again Kingston got his shoulder up. The crowd FIRED UP and chanted for Eddie.
They drilled each other back and forth with hard shots and strikes. Claudio spun him with a choke and hit the Neutralizer but Eddie kicked up at 1. HE WILL NOT BE DENIED. Claudio nailed him again. Kingston kicks up at 2. HE WILL NOT BE DENIED! The place loses it and chants for Eddie. ROH chants. Claudio peppers him over and over with rapid fire strikes. He goes for a powerbomb but Eddie turns it into a rana for a two count. Claudio reverses and Eddie is denied, pinned.
Claudio retains in a good match.
Wheeler Yuta embraces Claudio as Kingston, despondent, recovers in the corner. Eddie gets to his feet and Claudio mockingly offers the Code of Honor.
Katsuyori Shibata comes out to the ring. Well, I was expecting Homicide, but this will do.
Live, this was a lot of fun and a really damn good show, minus the awful Dante Martin injury, which was horrific.
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