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We are back! Sal Corrente pointed out some of the legends in attendance, including Superstar Graham, Destroyer Dick Beyer and then some of the other talent who are in attendance, including Sunny, who took the mic and said she was happy to be here for the third year in a row. Corrente then introduced Kevin Von Erich, who got a huge reaction. The crowd chanted, "Thank you Kevin."
Roderick Strong vs. Jake Manning
They did some nice back and forth matwrestling to open the match. They went back and forth until Strong nailed a leg lariat and worked over Manning with a series of chops in the corner. Manning was nailed with a back suplex but kicked up at two. Strong ripped at Manning's face and worked him over but Manning fought back.
Strong chopped away at him in the corner. He whipped Manning into the corner but was kicked off. Manning nailed an elbow for a two count. He controlled Strong and drilled him in the corner with a shoulderblock. Strong kicked back but Manning got the better of it. Strong rolled to the outside. Manning followed but was drilled with a series of hard chops. Manning battled back with his own and slammed Strong facefirst into the apron.
Back in the ring, Manning covered him for a two count and locked in a side chinlock. Strong fought his way out but was caught with a sunset flip for a two count. They went back and forth into a series of near falls. Strong drilled him with a stiff leg lariat. Strong nailed several suplexes but Manning kept kicking out. Strong went for a Fireman's Carry but Manning escaped and used an Airplane Spin for a two count.
Manning nailed a backdrop into an over the knee backbreaker for a pinfall but Strong had his foot on the rope. Strong nailed a top rope sunset flip for a two count. He kicked off a Manning charge and nailed the Olympic Slam for a two count. Strong went for the Boston Crab but was kicked off. Strong used a jackrabbit rollup for a two count but was drilled with a kick and nailed with a running leg lariat for the pin.
Your winner, Roderick Strong!
Solid back and forth match.
Davey Richards vs. Harry Smith
Richards didn't have the ROH title with him. They locked up and stared going back and forth with counters and reversals. They went to the mat but started going back and forth and finally returned to their feet. They did a long Japanese style build for a long match with tons of great counters and reversals before finally facing off. It was great stuff.
Smuthg grabbed an armbar and worked over Richards' arm for a long time. He slammed Richards down for a two count and whipped him into the corner, then brought him back down and worked on the wrist and arm. Richards finally ran and sent Smith to the floor. Richards ran across the apron with a sick kick to the face then hit an inside suicide dive to the outside.
Back in the ring, Richards nailed a Japanese style missile dropkick on Smith. Smith tried to kick him off from several charges but Richards finally scored with a dropkick to the knees in the corner. Richards began focusing on Smith's knee, working him over with a leglock. Smith fought to his feet but missed a kick. Richards drop a leg onto him. Smith tried to roll him up for a two count. Richards went right back to working over Smith's leg with a one-legged crab, then cinching in a crossface as well.
Smith finally kicked him off into the corner and rolled him up, then nailed a powerslam for a two count. Smith placed him on the top and went for a superplex. Richards battled back and they fought but ultimately, Smith nailed a standing verticle superplex off the top. That was nuts and it was only good for a two count.
They recovered and battle back and forth with forearms and chops. Richards nailed a series of kicks and a hard clothesline, but it only served to fire Smith up. Richards nailed another but that only led to Smith nailed a killer superkick for a two count. Smith nailed a drop down powerbomb for a two count. Harry charged Smith but was caught with an anklelock. Richards came off the top with a sick double stomp for a two count. Richards nailed a stiff kick to the head and locked in another anklelock. The crowd chanted for Harry to break free. He fought for the ropes, then rolled through, sending Richards into the turnbuckle.
Richards went after Smith's leg but Smith rolled through with an armbar. Richards reversed it into an anklelock. Smith reversed it into one of his own and scissored Richards' leg. Richards turned it into a Sharpshooter. Smith reversed it into one of his own. Richards small packaged him for a two count. Smith kneed Richards in the face for a two count. The place chanted, "This is awesome" and they were right.
Smith went for a powerbomb but Richards rolled through and covered Smith for the pin.
Your winner, Davey Richards!
Really great wrestling match that harkened back to the era of Liger, Benoit, Malenko, Guerrero, Hase, etc. from the glory era of New Japan. The perfect mix of hard hitting strikes, dives and great, great, great matwrestling and reversals. So great.
Richards took the mic after the match and said, "How stupid are they up North for letting someone like you go, eh?" He pointed out the differences between them but said they also have their similarities. He said that they have let their wrestling talk for them and earned their place to be in the ring. He thanked Harry for being like him and for the match they just had.
The crowd chanted, "Thank you Harry." Harry took the mic and said that it was great to hear the fans chanting his name. "Better than hearing Michael Cole every Monday night." He said that no matter whether he moves into MMA, pro wrestling will always be number one for him.
Smith and Richards embraced and raised each others' arms. Great stuff.
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