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WHAT TO WATCH: If you’re short on time, the main event tag team gauntlet match is worth it, especially if you like the American Wolves.
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Match 1: Tadarius Thomas def. Antonio Thomas in the 1st round of the ROH Top Prospect Tournament in 5 minutes – Strangely, Antonio came off as the bigger star in this match. He was one step ahead of Tadarius the whole way until one countered move cost him. Tadarius hit a top rope swinging neckbreaker and got the pin. During the match, Truth Martini wandered to the ring to observe.
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Match 2: Roderick Strong def. Grizzly Redwood in 6 minutes – Mike Mondo was on commentary. Before the match Roderick grabbed the mic.
RODERICK: Grizzly, I know you know this – you facing me tonight is a big deal. But I also know that you know me facing you is a small deal. [anger from crowd and Grizzly growing] Hey, hey, don’t take it like that! But Grizzly, not just in wrestling, but in life you have to understand that you’re just always going to come up short.
Grizzly attacked Roderick furiously, but Roderick rushed him, kneed him and just brushed it off. Grizzly worked his usual, technically-above-average match with some great moves and excellent counters. Roderick was clever, though, and worked his way out of everything.
Roderick’s hit a muay thai knee, running forearm in the corner and Death by Roderick in succession for, surprisingly, only a two count. Grizzly’s quick roll-up came up short. Roderick countered with a wicked jumping knee, standing vertical into a backbreaker followed by the Strong Hold. Grizzly tapped out.
Michael Elgin came to the ring to run off Roderick. Strong just backed up the ramp flexing.
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Match 3: Michael Elgin def. Mike Bennett (with Maria and Brutal Bob) in 6 minutes – Michael Elgin played the babyface. He called for support from the crowd and the crowd chanted his name. While there were definitely some powerful back and forth moves, Elgin ran the match the way he wanted to with his usual collection of power spots.
Bennett went for the cradle piledriver while yelling “Jerry Lynn”, but ended up throwing Elgin to the floor. He followed with a running shoulder block from the apron. Elgin recovered and tried his dead lift suplex from the second turnbuckle into the ring. Maria grabbed Bennett’s leg to stop the move, so Elgin set her up for it. Bob grabbed Maria’s leg, allowing Bennett to recover. He hit a Rock Bottom from the second rope for a two count.
Elgin fought back, hitting the bucklebomb and spinning powerbomb (though he really had to fight to get him up) for the pin.
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Match 4: Tag Team gauntlet match for the #1 contendership to the Tag Team Championship. The American Wolves got a HUGE positive reaction and were mega-over for the entire match. Fans were sporadically chanting for both Davey and Eddie.
The American Wolves def. The Bravado Brothers in 7 minutes – Charlie Haas came out to observe. Davey got Lance in his version of the Trailer Hitch and Eddie cheated by wrenching back on Davey for added pressure. The match devolved into a tornado tag. The Wolves chained super/spin/stereo kicks into ankle lock/single leg crab submissions. The Bravados got two counts by reversing into pin attempts. Everything broke down and the action was fast, furious and awesome. Davey grapevined the ankle lock on Harlem who had to tap out.
The American Wolves def. Steve Corino and Jimmy Jacobs in 2.5 minutes – The match settled down. Corino used cheap tactics like punching the Wolves as they bounced off the ropes and hitting a low blow. Corino went for the Texas lariat, but Eddie (incredibly) ducked and rolled him back for a crucifix-style pin. Furious, Corino hit the Wolves with a roll of quarters.
Kyle O’Reilly and BobbyFish def. The American Wolves in 6 minutes – With the Wolves totally laid out, Fish and O’Reilly sauntered to the ring with shit-eating grins on their faces. Back to a conventional tag match, Eddie fought back with great Eddie offense. Davey recovered and delivered about 18 kicks to the chest. He pinballed Fish and O’Reilly and absolutely killed Kyle with a release German and big clothesline.
With Fish out on the floor, the Wolves hit two top rope double-stomps on Kyle for a two count. The crowd chanted, “This is awesome!” Fish and O’Reilly isolated Eddie and took him out with Total Elimination. They followed with their kick-to-the-chest brainbuster finish and got the win to become the #1 contenders for the ROH Tag Team Championship. This totally deflated the crowd. Fish and O’Reilly celebrate their win and intimate that they will soon hold the belts.
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