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Free Pre-Show:
The Romantic Touch vs. Tadarius Thomas (with Jimmy Jacobs)
Thomas was aggressive early but Touch nailed a monkey flip. Jacobs yelled at Thomas, who kicked Touch hard and worked him over with several kicking combinations. Thomas suplexed him over for a two count and nailed a kick to the chest. Thomas scored with another. The stream froze up and went black. Uh oh.
I rebooted the stream and Thomas had Touch on the mat and appearing to be trying to force Touch in a pinfall. He locked on a wristlock submission but Touch fought back. Thomas missed a kick and was nailed with a dropkick. Thomas was caught with a kick as he charged in the corner and nailed with a discus clothesline.
Romantic Touch sent him into the corner and backdropped him as he came out. Thomas cut him off and nailed a series of kicks. He went for a Tiger suplex but Touch blocked it and went for an inverted DDT. The stream went black again and when I rebooted, Thomas nailed a Tiger suplex for the pin.
Your winner, Tadarius Thomas!
From what I saw, the match was a good opener.
Jonathan: Decent match as an opener! Live, It's pretty full. I'm in general admission and got here early enough to get a decent seat.
ROH GLOBAL WARS
The PPV opened with a video on Kevin Steen’s quest to get the ROH title back with Steen feeling like he doesn’t deserve to be in ROH because he isn’t the champion anymore. It was a good opening video to set up Adam Cole vs. Kevin Steen tonight. Steen noted he has one last thing to do before he’s “done with this place†and that’s get the belt back.
They then aired a ton of highlight clips of New Japan Pro Wrestling talents.
Kevin Kelly and Steve Corino welcomed everyone to the PPV. Corino said it’s one of the biggest nights not just in ROH but in all of pro wrestling because of the New Japan talents being here. They discussed the main event. Corino said that he’s been thinking about this for weeks and his prediction is Steen gets the belt back in his home country of Canada.
Michael Bennett (with Maria Kanellis) vs. ACH
ACH had control early but was punched in the face. ACH caught Bennett coming out of the corner with a dropkick in the knee – the one Bennett injured last year. ACH went for a Dragon screw legwhip but was shoved off. He went for a move but Maria grabbed his leg. ACH went after her but Bennett charged. ACH moved and Bennett went to the floor. ACH missed a dive and was nailed with a spinebuster on the floor.
Back in the ring, Bennett began working over ACH with a series of knees. Bennett worked him over in the corner and whipped him hard into the buckles. Bennett nailed him with a sitdown Uranage for a two count. Bennett favored his knee a little and went for the Twist of Fate. ACH got out of the way and went after the knee. Bennett was snapped with the Dragonscrew Legwhip. ACH nailed some good looking offense and nailed a double stomp to the knee for a two count. Kanellis got on the apron to break the pin.
ACH exited the ring to confront her on the apron. Bennett tried to attack him but was punched. ACH warned Maria and turned around to eat a superkick. Bennett went to spear ACH but missed and speared his own fiancée. ACH nailed an awesome springboard flip to the floor on Bennett. The crowd loved that.
ACH ascended to the top but missed a 450 splash. Bennett speared him for a two count. Bennett was rolled up for a two count and kicked in the head. ACH went to the top but Bennett smashed the ropes so ACH crotched himself on the top. Bennett nailed a Dominator and scored the pin.
Your winner, Mike Bennett!
A really well worked opener. Bennett’s really improved in the ring and plays a hell of a heel. Kanellis’ bump was insane. ACH worked really hard here, with the story being that he realized he wasn’t focused as a wrestler and was trying to work over a body part instead of just utilizing his aerial moves.
Jonathan: Solid opener! Crowd totally into ACH! He's super over! They hate Bennett. Maria is hot! Nuff said! ACH lost clean which was surprising but ACH looked strong!
Bennett warned Tanahashi that there is nothing he won’t do to beat the best next week.
They showed clips of the awesome match where Michael Elgin earned a IWGP title shot and plugged his title match next week.
Takaaki Watanabe vs. Michael Elgin
They locked up and Elgin backed him into the ropes and broke clean. Watanabe rebounded off the ropes and couldn’t budge Elgin. Elgin shoulderblocked him down. Watanabe sent him into the buckles and slammed Elgin over. Elgin broke his momentum and nailed a forearm smash and a powerslam.
Elgin nailed the long vertical standing suplex for a two count. Elgin nailed a knee to the gut and a big boot to the face. He drilled Watanabe with a knee to the back and cinched in a rear chinlock. Elgin went to the top but missed a twisting senton. Watanabe peppered him with forearms and drilled Elgin with a running neckbreaker.
Watanabe went for a Saito Suplex but was fought off. Elgin came off the ropes with a backcracker to the chest. Elgin went for a lariat but was caught and nailed with a back suplex for a two count. Watanabe went for a move but Elgin slipped off his shoulders. Elgin drilled him with a big roaring elbow and nailed a German suplex with a bridge for a two count. Elgin’s facial expressions going after Watanabe were great.
Elgin went to the ropes but was fought off. Watanabe drilled him to the mat. He went to the ropes and dove off but was nailed with a spinning backfist as he came down. Elgin powerbombed him into the buckles and then nailed a sitdown powerbomb for the pin.
Your winner, Michael Elgin!
Really great back and forth competitive bout. Elgin winning here makes sense to set the stage for his IWGP title challenge next week. Watanabe looked good and Elgin showed a ton of fire.
Jonathan: Holy crap! This was awesome. These guys worked their butts off and the crowd was into both guys! Elgin's powerbomb is sick looking! Great two matches to start the night!
Coverage will continue on Page 2!
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