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I won't necessarily call this a blog so let's just go with thoughts. Yeah, I like that.
Swerve Strickland vs. Alex Zayne opened up the show. Right off the bat, the new ROH feels a lot like the old ROH. It's going to take a bullet to the head to win some of these matches, or so it seems. These guys hit some crazy, psychotic spots. You could make the argument that a few of them should have ended the match, and I make that claim a lot anymore, but that is what the business is in 2022. Swerve got the win and looked great in the process. The fans loved it. And I will say that the big moves did get some selling. That's all I ask.
Speaking of the fans, they definitely moved some tickets after Tony Khan announced he bought the company, and of course having Dem Boys vs. FTR didn't hurt either.
On the plus side, the main event is coming and unless there is a really odd booking decision, The ROH Title will stay on an actual ROH wrestler. Jonathan Gresham and Bandido get to deterime the undisputed champ.
The Young Bucks will now get to fight FTR for the ROH Tag Titles as well on Wednesday.
Tully Blanchard is here (he debuted on the pre-show). So is Brian Cage. We wonder where he has been? Looks like he will get to be a part of ROH. It looks the same way for Tully. It looks like Khan has a plan for some of his roster to come to ROH. It should be interesting. Cage is taking on Ninja Mack. I don't see it ending well for Mack.
It didn't. Ninja Mack became Ninja splat. Kaun and Toa came out after the match. This is definitely a stable. Interesting.
Jay Lethal vs. Lee Moriarity. It's like Jay taking on a younger version of himself. Sonjay Dutt is in the house, sitting with Gary Juster. He's "there for Lethal" and probably for more than that. Dutt adds a lot everywhere he goes. I don't see him only being in ROH but he could be a great producer and take some things off of Tony Khan's plate if the boss so decides.
One thing that is so cool about ROH living on is that it will give talent another place to work. In a world where content is king, and it's so hard to find, why wouldn't, say TBS, not consider putting on a company friendly priced product that could bring in a solid audience?
As high flying as the first match was, this one is old school. I am liking it!
It's so old school that Jay went to the nut shot when Lee was taking control. They played back to Jay on AEW saying he may have to change something since he was losing too much. Well, he did. Sonjay is disgusted. Jay isn't happy with himself after the match. Matt Sydal just came in the ring, on crutches. He isn't happy. He is jawing at Jay. Come on Jay, go all the way and kick the guy on crutches. YES, he did! I like it. Don't kind of turn, go all the way. Dutt is in the ring trying to talk him down. The fans are not happy with Jay. I am. I want to see where they take this. I really enjoyed the match.
We are about to see what Willow has in her as she is taking on Mercedes Martinez for the interim ROH Women's Title.
Willow has a lot in her. She is going blow for blow with the OG.
This is really good. Whatever happens, Willow is showing the world she can GO!
Mercedes put her to sleep to become the interim champ but Willow definitely was elevated in the process. Their embrace after the match was so real. I really liked that match a lot.
They aren't making us wait. Dem Boys are taking on FTR next. I have been calling for this match since before there was probably a realistic chance that we would get it. FTR is out first. They won't be the babyfaces here. And with Tully Blanchard having three big dudes, I could see that affecting the finish. And it probably should. Dem Boys ARE ROH. Here we go!
I will add this: I am way more excited for this than anything else this weekend. Bring it on!
The fans are loving it. Pops for both teams and a HOLY SHIT chant before it even starts. FTR refused the Code Of Honor. Smart booking move but it won't work. The crowd is so into both of them. FTR has to be so happy that they left WWE. Moments like this are what it's all about for old school wrestlers.
Dax just spit in Jay's face. This is sooooo old school. I love it. It's been five minutes and they haven't done much at all. Wrestling is what is best.
Caprice with the line of the night about The Briscoes: "They don't even speak English, they just grunt at each other". Big pop.
This is so damn good!
It's a Khan production, so we have blood as Jay has bladed. It's pretty gross too. I hate the blade but at least I was prepared because I expected it here.
Cash made the tag and cut off the ring, even though he didn't have to, because they want to make it look real. What a concept!
Mark's facials, through the whole match, are just awesome.
Fans are chanting fight forever. Works for me.
This is so ridiculously good. People who ask me what still gets me stoked about wrestling, THIS!
It's amazing how fans totally get into selling a big spot that looks deadly. Workers don't have to do 20 things that really hurt when they can do one that safely hurts. These guys are probably having even more fun doing this than I am watching it.
FTR got the win after The Big Rig and are your new ROH Tag Team Champs. Cary Silkin raised the new champs' hands. That was cool.
After the match, would we get a Code Of Honor. No, we got FTR putting down the belts and doing WE'RE NOT WORTHY! Then a shake and a hug. Much respect.
FTR left the former champs in the ring as the announcers pondered if this was the end of the Briscoes in ROH. NOPE. The Young Bucks hit the ring and laid out the former champs. FTR made the save. Great stuff. Briscoes BETTER not be done.
Rhett Titus gets to dance with Minoru Suzuki, with his TV Title on the line. This has to be a cool moment for him.
OK, I spoke too soon. Titus didn't get squashed per se, but it was close. It's cool that Suzuki got the belt, well to everyone but Titus.
Josh Woods is defending the PURE Title against Wheeler Yuta. We have already seen two titles taken from ROH guys. That should stop here. I like Yuta a lot but Woods should win here and Khan should use a great Yuta performance as part of the storyline with the Blackpool boys.
Colt Cabana, Christopher Daniels and BJ Whitmer are at ringside to decide a winner if this goes sixty minutes. There is no way Tony Khan would do that right? If he would, he shouldn't.
You know what be interesting? Woods wins here and Regal recruits him.
The PURE Title is an interesting concept that could really turn into something with an analytics booker like Tony.
Yuta got the roll up for the win, so yet another ROH talent was shown to be "unworthy". On the plus side, he brings something to the table to William Regal. On the down side, if you were an ROH talent who hasn't been brought in to AEW before tonight, you are probably performing for your future.
Caprice just said that Bandido may be the strongest pound for pound wrestler in the business. Could that be a tip that he wins and Claudio CSRO returns at the end of the match?
Bandido just held up Gresham for a minute to show his strength. It has to be setting up Claudio, right?
Nope. But I was close. After Gresham won a great main event we had a return.....Samoa Joe! He kept the. Beat down from getting worse.
This show was totally worth the money. I can't wait to talk about it with Eps tomorrow.
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