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It’s been a REALLY long time since I’ve done this, but since Ring of Honor was nice enough to send me review copies of some of their recent DVD releases, I decided that I’d...review them! We’re going to kick off this round of reviews with Supercard Of Honor XI, which took place on April 1, 2017 in Lakeland, Florida over Wrestlemania weekend. ROH always pulls out all the stops for their Wrestlemania weekend shows, so let’s get right into the action!
Your hosts are Ian Riccaboni, Kevin Kelly, and Colt Cabana.
TV Title Match: Marty Scurll vs Adam Cole
This was one of Adam Cole’s last appearances in ROH before heading to NXT. The story here was that Cole had just lost the ROH World Title to Christopher Daniels, and wanted to get back on track by taking the TV Title from Scurll. Cole offers the Code of Honor, but Scurll, like a good villain, refuses. Feeling out process to start, but then Cole catches Scurll with a Shining Wizard out of nowhere for 2. Scurll quickly turns that around, and takes the fight to Cole on the floor when Cole tries to run. Cole grabs Scurll’s umbrella and Scurll grabs the title belt, and a standoff ensues as the referee tells both men to put them down and get back to wrestling. They drop their weapons and Cole tries a sneak superkick, but Scurll sees it coming, wedges Cole’s foot on the apron, and superkicks his face off. Now Scurll is firmly in control, unloading chops on Cole back and forth across the ring, but Cole spits his face and turns it into a slugfest that Scurll wins with a big right hand that knocks Cole silly. Cole quickly turns it around with the Last Shot, but only gets 2. Cole comes off the second rope and flies right into a European uppercut, but connects with a pair of superkicks to Scurll, followed by a bicycle kick. Suplex is reversed to a brainbuster by Scurll for 2, but he takes too long to follow up and eats a superkick and a leaping enziguiri that gets 2 for Cole. Now Cole sets up to put the chickenwing on Scurll, but Scurll reverses to a rollup with a handful of tights for 2. Cole goes to the eyes and hits another bicycle kick, but gets distracted playing to the crowd and gets his fingers tweaked by Scurll. Scurll with a charging knee and a thrust kick, pair of superkicks from Cole, and a package piledriver gets 2 for Cole. Cole grabs the title belt, feints a swing at the ref with it, and the ref covers up, giving Scurll the opportunity to hit Cole with the umbrella and hit a snap piledriver for 2. Scurll goes for a Tombstone, Cole reverses and loses him, landing on top for 2. He hoists Scurll back up and hits a Tombstone, tries to pick him up, but loses him again and covers for another 2. Scurll snaps cole’s fingers again and hits a cradle piledriver for 2. Scurll quickly goes to the crossface chickenwing and Cole taps.
Winner: Marty Scurll
Great opener, and the announcers said it, but this really was a main event quality match. Scurll is such a top-flight talent.
The Kingdom vs Silas Young & Beer City Bruiser
The background here is that Silas Young substituted for TK O’Ryan after he broke his leg, and was responsible for the Kingdom losing the World Six Man Title to Bully Ray and the Briscoes in their first title defense. Matt Taven gets a mic before the match to say it’s WrestleMelvin weekend, and they were supposed to defend the Six Man Title, but Silas Young screwed it up for them and the three of them never lost. TK O’Ryan came all the way down to Florida to say something, and it’s that the support the fans have shown him has been absolutely repulsive, and he doesn’t need any of the Melvins in the crowd because they are the Kingdom, and they are the best around.
Young and Bruiser come out and Young says that Taven is making excuses because this was supposed to be a title match, but TK snapped under the pressure and needed him to take up the slack. Vinny got pinned, not him, but instead of complaining about it, he’ll just let his fists do the talking. A war of words breaks out, they start trading fists, and the bell rings.
The fight immediately goes to the floor, where Taven hits a springboard forearm off the barricade on the Bruiser, then takes Young out with a dive. Kingdom maintains control back in the ring, but Young and the Bruiser turn it around with a series of double teams and catch Merseglia in their half of the ring. Bruiser hits Marseglia with a crossbody for 2, followed by a vertical splash, but Taven comes in and hits the 1% on Bruiser. Taven and Young trade punches, but Young crotches Taven on the top rope and lays him out with a springboard clothesline. Young superplexes Marseglia, and both Taven and Bruiser come off the top with splashes on their respective opponents for 2. Taven and Bruiser trade punches, Taven ducks a charge to send Bruiser to the floor, but Bruiser dodges and comes off the apron with a cannonball to Taven. Marseglia superkicks Bruiser off the apron and hits a Side Effect on Young for 2, then goes to the floor and lights up Bruiser’s cigar. Marseglia tries to burn Young with the cigar, but Young gets out and hits Misery for 3.
Winners: Silas Young & Beer City Bruiser
Entertaining match, and a bummer of a night for the Kingdom.
Six Man Title Match: Bully Ray & The Briscoes vs Adam Page & Guerrillas Of Destiny
Mark and Tama Tonga start us off, and they have a fast paced exchange before just deciding to trade right hands. Mark headbutts Tama and regrets it, and falls back on Redneck Kung Fu to take the advantage. Tama is caught in the wrong part of town, eating a dropkick from Jay, who takes a swipe at Page on the apron. Tama makes a blind tag to Tonga Loa, who comes in and blindsides Jay, beating him down in the corner and choking him with his boot. Jay connects with a series of boots and headbutts that don’t backfire, but barely staggers Loa. Mark tags in and doesn’t have much better luck, as Loa just smiles at Mark and fires back with hard forearms. Mark hits a springboard forearm out of the corner that finally floors Loa, but Loa catches Mark on a crossbody attempt and hits a snap running powerslam for 2. Tama tagsin and unloads more offense, then Page chokes Mark on the ropes when the referee’s back is turned. Mark makes it past the Guerrillas and tags in Bully Ray, who comes face to face with the Guerrillas, whom he trained. He offers his hands to them and says it’s time to do it the right way like he, Devon, and their father taught them, but they end up suckering Bubba in and beating him down. Loa unloads on Bubba and tells his former trainer to give it to him, so he does. Loa quickly turns it around and the Guerrillas work him over, but Bubba takes them both out with a double clothesline, then does the same for Page when he tries to come in. Bubba takes all three of them out with a top rope crossbody, then slams Page and sets him up for Mark to hit WHAZZUP! Bubba tells the Briscoes to get the tables, but the Guerrillas shut that down real quick. Bubba and Page go at it as the Briscoes and Guerrillas fight it out on the floor, then Bubba makes a hot tag to Mark, who comes in and cleans house on Tama Tonga and turns him inside out with a uranage suplex. Tonga Loa tags in, but eats a big lariat from Jay as Mark hits Tama with Froggy Bow to the floor. Page drags Jay to the floor and hits a shooting star press off the apron, then throws him back in where Loa hits the blue thunder bomb for 2. Page tags in and hits a slingshot lariat on Jay, but then everyone comes in and hits one big move after another until it boils down to Tama and Mark, as Tama hits a Stinger Splash on Mark. Jay and Bubba pick Tama and Page up so Mark can hit a double Doomsday Device, then they hit a super 3D on Loa for the win.
Winners: Bully Ray & the Briscoes
Excellent match! This was the first time I really got to see much of the Guerrillas of Destiny, and those guys have the goods. I was really impressed with what I saw from them.
Texas Bullrope Match: Cody vs Jay Lethal
Lethal came out dressed like Dusty Rhodes, and Cody comes out of the crowd in his own jeans and t-shirt with the phrase “Lethal sucks eggs” inscribed on the front. Cody stalls, but finally they tie up the rope and the bell rings to start the match. For the record, this isn’t “touch all four corners” rules, this only ends when someone gets pinned or submits. Lethal gets the early advantage, and chokes Cody with the rope, but Cody fires back and beats Lethal down in the corner. Cody makes the mistake of stepping over the rope, and Lethal uses it to flip Cody and hit the cartwheel dropkick for 2. Lethal tears Cody’s shirt over and rips chops into his chest, then lays Cody out with a clothesline. Cody hits Dustin’s drop-down right hand, then throws the too sweet hand signal before running right into Lethal’s boot. Lethal ties Cody up with the rope and takes some free shots, then uses the bell to...well, ring Cody’s bell. Lethal yanks on the rope to send Cody careening into the post, and that was enough to bust Cody open. Lethal doesn’t let up, bashing Cody in the head with the bell and then gouging it into the cut on his forehead. Lethal smears Cody’s blood across his shirt, then goes out to the floor to grab a chair, sets it up, puts Cody’s face on it, and goes to the second rope...only to be yanked off by Cody, sending Lethal crashing face first into the chair. The crowd is solidly behind Cody as he unloads with Rhodes punches on Lethal, does flip flop N fly, but eats a superkick from Lethal. Lethal goes for the Lethal Injection, but Cody yanks the rope while Lethal is upside down and sends him crashing to the mat for 2. Cody smells blood (and not just his), and drills Lethal with the bell yet again. Cody goes under the ring and gets what appears to be his old disfigured mask, then tosses it and gets a table instead. He sets it up at ringside and tries to suplex Lethal onto it, but Lethal blocks and hits a springboard dropkick that almost sends Cody through the table. Cody hangs on and hits Lethal with a springboard dropkick of his own, then goes to the figure four. Lethal gets the bell and drills Cody in the skull with it, then goes to the top for Hail to the King...and Cody pops up and shoves Lethal off the top and through the table at ringside. Cody goes out to the floor and dumps Lethal back into the ring, kicks him in the ding ding, hits the Beautiful Disaster, and finally hits CrossRhodes...for 2! Lethal is practically dead and Cody can’t believe he didn’t finish Lethal, but Cody sits Lethal on the top rope, then takes his boot off, bashes Lethal in the face with it, and goes for a superplex, but Lethal fights him off and hits Hail to the King… but Cody gets the bell up and Lethal lands on it! Cody goes for the Beautiful Disaster, but Lethal counters to the Lethal Injection, then kicks Cody low and hits another Lethal Injection for the win.
Winner: Jay Lethal
That was a HELL of a fight, and again, a main event level match that’s not the main event on a show like this. Terrific event so far. Cody picks up the rope and Lethal comes back to extend the hand to Cody, who hands him the bullrope and cowbell, acknowledging that Lethal earned it.
Motor City Machine Guns vs The Revolution vs Cheeseburger & Will Ferrara
The Rebellion in this case is being represented by Rhett Titus and Shane Taylor. Titus and Cheeseburger start us off, and Cheeseburger uses his speed to outmaneuver Titus, then Ferrara gets in on the fun as well. Sabin tags in and goes at it with Ferrara, with the two of them exchanging pinfall attempts but neither able to score a win. Sabin makes a blind tag to Shelley, who clears Cheeseburger out before the two of them double team Taylor and then Sabin press slams Cheeseburger to the floor. What power! All heck breaks loose until Titus counters a crossbody from Ferrara to a backbreaker for 2. Taylor tags in and absolutely CRUSHES Ferrara with a legdrop for 2. The Rebellion traps Taylor in their corner and work him over for a bit until Ferrara makes the hot tag to Cheeseburger, who cleans house on Titus with Kobashi chops that Titus completely no-sells. Cheeseburger isn’t deterred, connecting with a superkick to Titus, followed by a top rope kneestrike for 2. Titus boots Cheeseburger in the face and hits a release German suplex followed by a Yakuza kick in the corner, then Taylor comes in with a uranage followed by a Superfly splash from Titus for 2. Sabin blind tags in and clears everyone out, and Ferrara hits a dive where Taylor looks like he was supposed to catch him, but misses and lets Ferrara hit the floor unceremoniously. All heck breaks loose agagin until the MCMG go for Skull N Crossbones on Cheeseburger, he escapes and hits the running palmstrike on everyone until Taylor flattens him with a clothesline. Titus big boots both MCMG, then a series of double teams from the Guns followed by the twisty double suplex thing on Cheeseburger for the win.
Winners: Motor City Machine Guns
Exciting, though not much of a story to it. The Rebellion attacks the MCMG after the match while Ferrara yells at Cheeseburger in the ring. The fans chant for Cheesevburger as Punishment Martinez comes out to the ring. Ferrara walks off on Cheeseburger, and Martinez hits a roaring big boot on Cheeseburger. He’s not waiting on introductions, we go right into our next match…
Punishment Martinez vs Frankie Kazarian
Kazarian goes right after Punishment, mobbing him with offense and hitting the hanging legdrop. Kazarian continues using his speed advantage until Punishment boots him to the floor and hits a running dive. So much for that speed advantage. The crowd is solidly behind Punishment, who whips Kazarian into the barricade before dumping him back into the ring. Punishment with a knee to the ribs followed by a big backdrop, a leaping elbow in the corner, and a big suplex where Punishment doesn’t even drop to the mat. Punishment with a springboard twisting senton for 2, but then Kazarian hits a lungblower and a tornado DDT, followed by a running senton for 2. Kazarian goes for an Unprettier, but Martinez comes right back with a modified burning hammer for 2. Kazarian hits a slingshot DDT for 2, then another on the ring apron. Kazarian hits a slingshot cutter for only 1, and Punishment is right up and yelling at Kazarian. Kazarian with a springboard legdrop, then another, and a third puts Punishment down for 2. Kazarian goes to the second rope as Adam Page runs down to ringside to distract Kazarian, allowing Punishment to hit South of Heaven for the win.
Winner: Punishment Martinez
Big win for Punishment, this guy is going to be a HUGE star. I am in complete awe of his power and athleticism.
Bobby Fish comes out before our next match, dressed in his gear despite not being scheduled to wrestle. He grabs a mic and says he likes the sound of the fans chanting his name, and he’s sure that a few people may be shocked to see him here tonight, but he’s not done with Ring of Honor. His list of those in the back he still has issues with is pretty long, and Jay Lethal is at the top of it. He starts to cut a promo on Lethal when Silas Young interrupts and says that, until two minutes ago, he had a completely different view of him...until he came out here to whine and make excuses about why he can’t beat Jay Lethal. He’s sick and tired of hearing about Lethal, but he’s more sick of hearing Fish’s excuses because excuses are a dime a dozen, and Fish is nothing more than a dime store chump. Fish says he doesn’t care, but Young has already walked too far down the aisle to walk back, so how about he steps into the ring to teach him a lesson? Guess we’ve got an impromptu match…
Bobby Fish vs Silas Young
They start brawlingff right off the bell, and quickly go out to the floor where Fish takes the advantage by ramming Young into the barricade a couple of times. Young pulls Fish’s shirt over his head, rakes his back, and then rams Fish into the post. Back into the ring where Fish hammers Young with some kicks, but his apron leg sweep accidentally trips the ref, who tumbles to the floor while Young hits Fish with a springboard lariat. Young gets a chair, but a second ref comes running out and takes it away, so Young shoves him on his ass, and the ref calls for the bell.
Winner by DQ: Bobby Fish
Fish spears Young and both of them go through the ropes for a REALLY awkward landing. Fish rams Young into the barricade, then sets up a couple of chairs face to face and tries a suplex. Young turns it around and gives Fish a spinebuster through the chairs, and security comes out to separate them while the fans chant to let them fight. Fish chases Young up the aisle and the brawl continues onto the stage before Young makes it through the curtain.
Volador Jr &Will Ospreay vs Dragon Lee & Jay White
Ospreay and White start us off with a feeling out process, doing some chain wrestling until Ospreay does “hey, what’s that over there?” to sucker White into a side headlock. Volador and Dragon tag in and do flippy dippy lucha stuff. Volador winds up on the outside and Dragon hits a high velocity dive, and Volador is caught in the wrong part of town and he catches a beating from both opponents. Volador gets away and tags Ospreay in, and he cleans house on both White and Dragon. Ospreay and Volador rally with a bunch of flippy dippy stuff, then everyone does spotspotspotspotspotspot until we come back to Ospreay and White, and White hits a Flatliner and German suplex, but then we go back to spotspotspotspotspotspotspotspot until Volador hits a sloppy super Frankensteiner on White for the win.
Winners: Volador Jr & Will Ospreay
This was 90% spots and no psychology. Wish they could have found something better for White to do.
ROH World Title Match: Christopher Daniels vs Dalton Castle
Like he usually does for big matches, Dalton Castle has an entire brigade of Boys escorting him to the ring in addition to the usual two. Back and forth to start until Daniels catches Castle with a leg lariat, and castle stops to Fan Up. Daniels blocks a couple of gutwrench attempts, but his attempts to get the Boys to fan him fails in refusal. Another back and forth leads to Daniels dumping Castle to the floor, then stealing the Boys’ fans to fan himself with. The Boys come in to try and get the fans back and Daniels evades them, but Castle comes in and takes Daniels down, rolls him around the mat, then tries and fails to deadlift Daniels into the gutwrench, so he clotheslines him to the floor instead. Daniels comes back in and finds himself on the receiving end of an amateur dump for 2, then Daniels goes back to the tight waistlock. Daniels fights his way free and connects with a series of back elbows and an STO. Daniels with a windmill slam for 2, followed by a short flatliner into the Koji Clutch. Castle is too close to the ropes and forces a break, so Daniels with a side neckbreaker for 2. Castle fires back with punches and chops and then tosses Daniels around with a series of suplexes. Castle drapes Daniels on the top rope and hits a running kneestrike, sending Daniels crashing to the floor. Castle with a swinging headscissors on the floor, rolls Daniels into the ring, but Daniels shoulderblocks him to the floor. Daniels tries an Arabian moonsault, Castle steps out of the way and Daniels lands on the Boys, and then Castle comes through the ropes with a dive. Back into the ring where Daniels hits a blue thunder bomb for 2, then sits Castle on the top rope and hits Iconoclasm for 2. Daniels hits a uranage and goes for the BME, Castle moves and hits a bridging German suplex for 2. Castle with a backdrop suplex and then a charging knee in the corner, followed by the Bangarang. Castle makes a cover, but Daniels is out at 2. Castle can’t believe it, but he picks Daniels back up...and gets dropped back into another flatliner and caught in the Koji clutch. Castle powers up to his feet and rams Daniels backward into the corner, Daniels goes for Angel’s Wings, Castle escapes, Daniels blocks a German suplex and gets a rolling cradle for the win.
Winner: Christopher Daniels
Excellent match! Great psychology in this one, but I expect nothing less from a Christopher Daniels match. Code of Honor is followed after the match, but then Cody does a run in and attacks both men from behind, kicks Castle in the ding ding, then hits CrossRhodes on Daniels. Kazarian runs in and chases Cody off, and it looks like the next major challenger for Daniels is looming on the horizon.
And with that, it’s...MAIN EVENT TIME!
ROH World Tag Team Title/Ladder Match: Matt & Jeff Hardy vs The Young Bucks
This was after the Hardys weren’t allowed to be BROKEN anymore, and the crowd acknowledges it by saying what they think about the owl. The Hardys with the early advantage, coming out on top in a brawl and hitting all the trademark Hardy double teams. Jeff goes for Poetry In Motion and flies right into a superkick from Nick, but Matt outmaneuvers the Buccks and takes control on Nick, biting his face in the corner and going for a bulldog...and running right into a superkick from Matt Jackson. Double teams on Jeff as well, including a double stomp/deathdrop combo, but then the Hardys hit stereo Twists of Fate and the Bucks are back in trouble. Hardys try to slide the ladder into the ring, but Bucks with stereo baseball slides and then the headscissor/dropkick combo on Matt. Bucks hit stereo dives on the Hardys and then do Too Sweet with the crowd. Bucks bring the ladders into the ring and start to climb, but the Hardys shut that down real quick. Hardys set one of the ladders up in the corner, ram Nick into it, and then DDT him into next week. Hardys start to climb, but Matt Jackson pulls them both down and tries to clean house, but gets dumped to the apron and eats a ladder from Jeff, knocking him through a table at ringside. Matt Hardy drags Nick into the ring as Jeff makes some kind of catapult gimmick from the ladders, but Nick fights his way free and the Bucks try to superplex Jeff. Matt Hardy blocks that and gives Matt Jackson a splash mountain, then Jeff shoves Nick off the top rope and crotches him on the top rope. Matt Hardy goes to the floor to set up more tables and then he and Jeff try to suplex Matt Jackson through them, but Matt fights his way free and superkicks Jeff into next week. Now the Bucks use Jeff’s catapult contraption to do a Joey Mercury job on Jeff, then Nick skips out to the apron and moonsaults onto Matt Hardy on the floor. Matt Jackson puts Jeff on a table at ringside and Nick hits a top rope 450 that puts Jeff through the table. Just nuts. Back into the ring where Matt Jackson climbs for the belts, but Matt Hardy quickly climbs up with him so they can trade blows at the top. Hardy gets the advantage and knocks Jackson off, but then Nick is in and they give Matt Hardy the powerbomb/enziguiri combo in the corner. A third ladder somehow found its way into the ring, but Jef manages to stop whatever they had planned. Hardys hit a pendulum slam on Nick onto the ladder that bends it right in half. Matt Hardy climbs the ladder, but Matt Jackson runs interference and rams a ladder into Matt’s ribs, then gives Jeff a springboard DDT on the apron. Jeff winds up on another table at ringside and Matt Jackson climbs for the belts, but Matt Hardy pulls him down and hits a back suplex. Nick climbs a second ladder, Matt stops him and knocks him onto the other ladder, and Nick springboards off of that and hits a Swanton onto Jeff that puts him through yet another table. Just insane. Matt Hardy is the only man standing, and he quickly climbs the ladder but is met at the top by Matt Jackson. They trade right hands at the top again, causing the ladder to tip over and drop both men on the top rope. All four men are up and all four of them climb up the ladders and fight each other at the top. Jeff and Matt Jackson wind up at the top after Nick and Matt Hardy take a tumble, and then trade punches until Nick Jackson drags Jeff down and they wipe each other out with a double clothesline, then Matt Hardy bites Matt Jackson’s foot to block him from getting the belts. Matt Hardy tips Matt Jackson over and sends him through another table at ringside, and the eyes are open but nobody’s home there on Matt Jackson. Matt Hardy starts to climb the ladder, Nick springboards onto the ladder, he and Matt fight at the top of the ladder, Jeff drags Nick down and the Hardys work Nick over in the corner. Nick fights both Hardys and connects with superkicks and running kneestrikes, Matt Jackson is back in, and the Bucks counter Whisper In The Wind with a double superkick, then Matt Hardy wipes out both Bucks with a double clothesline. Matt Jackson charges and gets backdropped through a table at ringside, Jeff Hardy charges and gets backdropped through a table at ringside, Matt Hardy and Nick Jackson go at it on the apron and Matt gives Nick a Side Effect through a table at ringside. Matt Hardy drags himself back into the ring as Nick Jackson does the same, and then Matt Jackson and Jeff Hardy find their way back in as well. All four men climb ladders again, all four men wind up brawling on top of the ladders, Bucks double superkick Hardys off their ladder, and Nick grabs the belts to score the win.
Winners and NEW ROH World Tag Team Champions: The Young Bucks
What an unbelievable war. Bucks are so on another level, and going over the team they largely patterned themselves after on a stage like this is huge for them. Matt Hardy gets a mic after the match and say they’ve faced every top team in the business and have done this for 25 years, and they can say this with absolute confidence: the Bucks are the best tag team they have ever faced. Matt doesn’t know how much their vessels will allow them to do this, but with the Bucks here, the tag team division is safe, it can fill a house, and for that, the Hardys give them the ultimate respect. The Hardys take a knee and shake the Bucks’ hands, then Jeff says that they’re going to fade away and classify themselves as obsolete (OBSOLETE).
Hell of an ending to a hell of a show. The DVD also includes several Women of Honor matches, and I have to say that if you like professional wrestling, you need to get this DVD. Highly, highly recommended.
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