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They aired a video feature on Lifeblood vs. The Kingdom, including Jay Lethal destroying Matt Taven’s alleged ROH title match.
Matt Taven came out and said that after everything he just watched on video, he’s not waiting another minute and challenged ROH Champion Jay Lethal to come out to face him right now. He said he was the true champion and wanted the title.
Jay Lethal made his way to the ring with very little pomp and circumstance, angry, saying they could go right now. Referee Todd Sinclair agreed, so we are having the ROH title right now. I like it. Change things up so they aren't the expected flow of events. Now they can close with the Briscoes or a face-off for the MSG event.
ROH Champion Jay Lethal vs. Matt Taven
They began brawling before the bell in the center of the ring. Lethal scored with a series of chops in the corner but was kicked down. Taven choked him on the mat. Taven brought several stiff chops. He took Lethal down to the mat and cinched in a chinlock. Lethal fought to his feet but was taken down in another side headlock takedown. Lethal fought his way back into control and nailed a running dropkick to the back of the head.
Taven slammed Lethal to cut him off and nailed an elbow for a near fall. Lethal fired away with a series of chops. Taven drilled him with a series of rights in the corner. Lethal came back with a hiptoss into a dropkick combination for another near fall. Lethal nailed a right hand but Taven kicked up.
Lethal set up for a suplex but Taven blocked and they began trading punches. Lethal nailed another suplex. Lethal tried to work over Taven’s arm but was drilled with a right hand, then an axehandle. Taven worked him over on the mat. Lethal battled back and went for a figure four leglock but Taven cradled him for a two count. Lethal went for the Lethal Combination but Taven ducked it and nailed a nasty spinkick that flipped Lethal inside out for a two count.
Lethal began selling that his shoulder was injured as Taven continued working him over. Lethal went to the floor and nailed a dropkick when he returned to the ring, but was too hurt to capitalize. Lethal began unloaded with kicks to the back. He cinched in a rear chinlock. He set Taven against the ropes and drilled him with hard chops. Taven reversed a whip and nailed a dropkick that rocked the ROH Champion.
Taven argued with the fans before nailing a series of chops in the corner. Lethal came back to cinch in a leg submission but Taven was able to break free. They battled to the outside. Lethal nailed a dive to the outside. He brought Taven to another side of the ring and nailed another dive. Lethal repeated it again and nailed a dive on the third side of the ring. Taven nailed Lethal but put his back to Lethal, who hit yet another dive.
Lethal brought Taven back into the ring, this time working over his knee and leg to wear him down for the figure four leglock. Taven began focusing on Lethal's bad shoulder and cinched on a cross armbreaker. Taven turned it into a crossface. Lethal fought to make it to the ropes and finally did, forcing the break. Lethal drilled Taven with a headbutt after he verbally accosted Lethal but was taken down with a dropkick to the shoulder. Taven went right back after the arm, drilling it with kneedrops. Taven then locked a top wristlock, trapping Lethal.
Lethal finally came back with the Lethal Combination, drilling Taven. Both competitors were spent and down on the mat, trying to recover. Lethal cut off Taven as he attacked, nailing a series of axehandles and chops. Lethal built momentum with clotheslines and an enziguiri. He called for the flying elbowsmash. He went to the top. Taven met him and they battled. Lethal knocked him to the mat but red balloons appeared from under the ring, distracting Lethal. TK O'Ryan ran out, distracting the referee, allowing Vinnie Marseglia to attack Lethal with a bat. Jonathan Gresham hit the ringside area but was attacked and his leg was destroyed by The Kingdom with a chair.
The Kingdom pulled a table out, saying they were going to take out Gresham for good. Lifeblood's Mark Haskins and Tracy Williams ran out and backed off The Kingdom. They chased Marseglia and O'Ryan away. Gresham was carried out.
Meanwhile, in the ring, Taven lowblowed Lethal and drilled him to the mat, but Lethal was able to kick up at the last second. Taven nailed a rolling neckbreaker and a big frog splash off the top but Lethal again kicked out at the last second. Taven went to the top for another but Lethal pulled his knees up and nailed an Ace Crusher. They battled back and forth in the center of the ring. Taven went for a springboard but was nailed and pulled into a Torture Rack and then slammed for another two count.
Lethal nailed a Spicoli Driver and went to the top. He nailed an elbow and locked in a figure four leglock. Taven was able to reverse it. They battled back and forth reversing the hold. Taven finally grabbed the ropes. Taven went to the apron outside. Lethal followed and they battled on the apron with Taven suplexing Lethal off the apron through the table on the floor that The Kingdom had left when Lifeblood ran them off.
Taven brought Lethal back into the ring and covered him for a close two count. Taven placed Lethal on the ropes and nailed a series of kicks to the bad shoulder. Taven nailed a backpack stunner off the ropes for another two count. Lethal fought off an attack and nailed an inverted DDT on Taven for another two count. Lethal came back to nail the Lethal Injection but Taven kicked up. The crowd seemed shocked at that one.
Taven rolled to the outside on the apron. Lethal stared at him with disgust and nailed a cutter off the apron to the floor. Lethal nailed another cutter on the floor. Lethal pulled a table out from under the ring. Lethal unloaded with chops on Taven and placed him on the table. Lethal went to ascend to the top but Taven came up behind him and Taven pulled him down, bringing Lethal down on his bad shoulder as he crashed to the apron.
Taven went under the ring and dug up a ladder, setting it up as he bridged it between the ring apron and the table Lethal had set up. Taven told Lethal that it was time to learn that Matt was the real ROH Champion. He began beating Lethal's back but Lethal ducked a clothesline and nailed a dropkick off the ropes. Taven was able to save himself so he didn't crash off the apron through the ladder. Lethal nailed him with another dropkick, leaving Taven splayed out across the ladder. Lethal called for the elbow and climbed to the top. He went for the elbow but Taven rolled off the ladder and Lethal smashed into the ladder, breaking it.
Taven recovered, drinking water at ringside as Lethal grabbed at his side, hurting on the floor. Several ROH officials and staffers tended to Lethal and prepared to walk him out due to injury despite Lethal's protests. Taven hit a big dive on everyone. He brought Lethal back into the ring, nailed a cutter and a big running kick but Lethal STILL kicked out at the last second. Taven nailed another big knee strike. Lethal appeared to be out. Taven slapped him and spat on him. He nailed another big knee strike but again, Lethal got his shoulder up at the last moment.
Taven went to grab Lethal but was caught with a cutter out of nowhere. Lethal crawled over to him and covered Taven, who kicked out at the last minute. The crowd chanted, "This is awesome."
Taven screamed at Lethal that he hated him. They battled back and forth on their knees with slaps. Lethal nailed an enziguiri. Lethal superkicked him several times and nailed a third one. Lethal nailed the Lethal Injection but Taven AGAIN kicked out. Lethal grabbed at the referee, shocked.
The bell rang for a legitimate sixty minute draw. Bobby Cruise announced it was a time limit draw.
The crowd began chanting for five more minutes. Some fans threw streamers. Fans chanted "Let them fight."
Marty Scurll came out and stood over Lethal and Taven, who were both exhausted down on the mat. Scurll picked up the ROH title and placed it across his shoulder, then walked out with it.
The announcers wondered what Matt Taven's performance met for the G1 Supercard's ROH title picture.
Taven and Lethal finally made it to their feet. They faced off. Taven threw a streamer in Lethal's face and walked off.
A really good match. They were trying hard to create something special here and the building really came alive the last 20-25 minutes. There were some rough moments at times, but from a physical standpoint, they had some good storytelling and it was a nice way to reinstill the idea that ROH will always be centered around great in-ring wrestling. This was probably the best Taven match I've ever seen and Lethal is just a machine. I sincerely enjoyed the hell out of this and it was something special. They were trying to do everything in their power to make this a spectacle.
They had Megaran perform his song "Going to the Garden." Bully Ray came out and began verbally ripping on him. They noted Megaran was a gamer. Bully said he probably picked him to play when he was a kid. He said that he actually played Devon. Ray cut a long promo that he's the only one that's worked MSG, he worked Wrestlemania there and he sold out the Garden. He threatened to smack a fan in the crowd. He said there is no one worthy in New Japan or Ring of Honor worthy enough to step into the ring in MSG. The fans chanted for Flip Gordon. He said that Flip was home with a busted knee and was at home. Ray said he never quit. Ray issued an open challenge to anyone in the entire wrestling business to come fight him at the Garden in a New York City Streetfight. He said that the person he was speaking to knew who he was talking to and he said it's eating him alive that Ray could get the better of him. He said, "I'll see you soon, punk." Ray knows how to get heat and he did a good job of it here.
Coverage continues on Page 3!
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