Death Before Dishonor 2018: They May Live
IMG Credit: Ring of Honor Wrestling
Death Before Dishonor 2018
Date: September 28, 2018
Location: Oracle Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada
Attendance: 2,000
Commentators: Caprice Coleman, Ian Riccaboni
I know I’m a little behind on this one, but given how long it takes for Ring of Honor to catch up with its own schedule, it should be fine. The big main event this time around is Jay Lethal defending the World Title against Will Ospreay, who hasn’t actually been around on TV other than in pre-taped vignettes. It’s almost like the main event feels a little bit thrown together. Let’s get to it.
The opening video looks at the card. That’s about as standard as you can get.
The announcers run down the card.
Kenny King vs. Jushin Thunder Liger
King is the hometown boy. Liger works on the wrist to start as Ian greets people in a live chat. It’s already time for the surfboard attempt so Kenny goes straight for the rope. Kenny slips out of a headscissors and shoulders Liger down but gets backdropped to the floor. See Liger is old and smart but King is….well he can spell his name. The running flip dive from the apron keeps King in trouble but he kicks Liger off the apron to take over.
Two backbreakers into a side slam set up a Boston crab as King is showing some intelligence here. That’s broken up and Liger nails the palm strike, followed by the rolling Liger kick. King gets in his own kick to the face for two and a swinging backbreaker gets the same. He takes way too long going up though and it’s a top rope superplex to give Liger two of his own.
The Royal Flush is countered into a small package and a frog splash hits King. Liger’s ribs and back are banged up pretty badly though and he can barely get up. King offers him some applause and a handshake, which of course is pulled into a spinebuster to give King the pin at 12:21.
Rating: C. Perfectly acceptable opener with the hometown boy getting a win over the legend. I’m not sure if it’s going to help him get to the World Title scene but that’s about all King has left at this point. Liger is still a legitimate legend and can work just fine in a role like this. The fans are going to react to him every time and while he’s nowhere near what he used to be, he’s still more than watchable.
Post match, King thanks Austin Aries for showing him the light. Nice touch.
We recap the Briscoes vs. the Addiction. The Addiction needs to win some titles for leverage before the end of the year because they’re about to be fired. The Briscoes are just mean and Uncensored have turned face in recent weeks to stand up to them, making it two stories in one, which has actually worked.
Tag Team Titles: Addiction vs. Briscoes
An STO rocks Jay so the champs start throwing in chairs. Kazarian misses a chair shot though and it’s a baseball slide through the ropes from Mark to take him down. The Blockbuster off the apron keeps Kazarian in trouble and things settle down with Daniels getting stomped in the corner. A double shoulder keeps the champs in control as Coleman tries to add up the number of years experience in the match.
Kazarian gets drawn in and of course the Briscoes use the distraction to send Daniels into the barricade. Back in and Mark misses the Froggy Bow, allowing Daniels to score with the Blue Thunder Bomb. That’s enough for the hot tag off to Kazarian so things can speed way up. The Backstabber drops Jay and a hurricanrana through the ropes has Mark in trouble on the floor. It’s not enough trouble to prevent Jay from kicking Kazarian in the face though, leaving Daniels to have to suplex Jay to keep things even.
Back in and it’s off to Daniels for the middle rope stomp to the chest, followed by the slingshot cutter from Kazarian for the same. Daniels breaks up the Jay Driller and hits a suicide dive as Kazarian has been busted open on the floor. With Scorpio Sky on the floor checking on Kazarian, the Redneck Boogie gets two on Daniels.
A double clothesline gets Daniels out of trouble but there’s no Kazarian. The Doomsday Device misses and Daniels sends Jay outside. The Rock Bottom to Mark sets up the BME for two with Jay diving in for a save. Now it’s the Jay Driller on the floor to kill Daniels dead….for two? Egads come on now. Another Jay Driller retains the titles at 17:43.
Rating: B. I liked this one more than I was expecting to with both teams looking awesome, even with Kazarian being down on the floor for the last part of the match. SCU’s face turn has been way better than I was expecting and I want to see them do well as we get closer to Final Battle. Cut out the last Jay Driller and this would be even better.
We recap the Women’s Title match. Sumie Sakai is the inaugural champion and wants the best competition. That sounded like a challenge to Tenille Dashwood and it’s on.
Women’s Title: Sumie Sakai vs. Tenille Dashwood
Sakai is defending and Dashwood has a very taped up shoulder. The champ gets aggressive to start so Tenille is right back with forearms to the jaw. It’s way too early for Smashmouth but Dashwood can’t get a double underhook suplex. Instead it’s some forearms to Sakai’s neck but she’s right back with a middle rope missile dropkick.
That’s enough to send Dashwood outside for a dive but Saki can’t get the cross armbreaker back inside. Dashwood makes the rope for the break and punches her in the face, only to bang up the shoulder again. A belly to belly sends Sakai flying for two but the shoulder delays the cover. Dashwood ties the legs up and bridges them into the air, followed by a stomp to the head for two.
Sakai is fine enough to hurricanrana her off the top for two and a running knee sets up Smashmouth for a closer near fall. A butterfly suplex into the corner has Sakai in more trouble and the Tarantula goes on. Sakai heads outside so it’s a powerbomb to the floor. Back in and a German suplex keeps Sakai in trouble but they forearm it out anyway. That goes well for Dashwood, but Sakai takes her down into a cross armbreaker and Dashwood passes out at 12:36.
Rating: C. The wrestling was ok but this was a great way to kill the crowd off. Now that being said, Dashwood was hurt and would need shoulder surgery so they couldn’t do the title change, but this Sakai title reign is killing anything they have. She’s been champion since April and wasn’t interesting when she started. Nearly six months later and things are getting even worse. Just find someone new already and let them try their luck, because this isn’t working.
We recap Chris Sabin vs. Punishment Martinez. The Motor City Machine Guns have broken up due to Alex Shelley retiring so Sabin is focusing on his singles career, including going after the TV Title. Martinez is more than willing to have a fight for the belt.
TV Title: Chris Sabin vs. Punishment Martinez
Martinez is defending. We get some Big Match Intros, with Sabin having his own entrance prepared. He’s introduced as a wrestler promised since the beginning of time with the Eye of the Tiger in both eyes, the last man standing of the lost civilization of Atlantis and a warrior poet among other things. You know, I’ve heard worse.
The chokeslam is countered into a rollup at the bell for two and it’s already time to start in on the monster’s leg. Those kicks are enough to send Martinez to the floor and there’s a big dive from Sabin. The suicide dive is countered into a chokeslam onto the apron, followed by a heck of a clothesline for two back inside. Martinez gets enziguried on top and a super hurricanrana brings him right back down.
The forearms just annoy Martinez so Sabin low bridges him to the floor for a suicide dive. A dive from the top takes Martinez down again and a missile dropkick keeps him in trouble. The ref gets bumped though and Martinez hits a spinning kick to the head. It’s time for a chair but Sabin is right back up with a tornado DDT onto said chair for two. The referee takes it away though and it’s the Psycho Driver into the Silencer into the South of Heaven chokeslam to retain at 8:01.
Rating: C+. This was a pure formula match but they did that formula well. I could have gone for a few more minutes and I wouldn’t have bet on that in a Sabin match. Martinez is really good as the monster, but the ref bump for the sake of the false finish wasn’t necessary. It’s a nice little match though and one of the more entertaining things on the show so far.
Post match Martinez grabs the chair again but here’s Jeff Cobb to stare him down. Martinez’s chair shot has no effect so Cobb suplexes him down and poses with the title.
We recap Bully Ray/Silas Young vs. Flip Gordon/Colt Cabana. This isn’t exactly groundbreaking stuff as Ray and Young are trying to get rid of the fake wrestlers because they’re the old, real men. Therefore, it’s a tables match because that’s what Ray does.
Bully Ray/Silas Young vs. Flip Gordon/Colt Cabana
Elimination tables match. Cabana heads over to hug Ian before we get going. I’m still not sure why Ian is playing any role in this but he doesn’t add much. Flip charges in and we’re ready to go in a hurry. The villains are knocked to the floor to start but Young sends Flip hard into the barricade. Back in and Flip knocks Silas off the top, setting up What’s Up on Ray.
It’s already time for the tables but Ray saves Silas from a double suplex. I mean, the suplex still happens, but Ray moves the table. Cabana does the same with a double backdrop and takes both old guys down with a double Lionsault. Flip sends Silas to the floor for a big flip dive off the top but Ray unloads on Cabana with a chair. Ray stops to yell at Ian, who comes down to ringside to check on Cabana. I don’t see this ending well but Flip takes Ray down and hands Cabana a chair to blast Ray.
That doesn’t seem to have much effect so Ray pops up and powerbombs Colt through a table for the elimination. Ray sets up another table in the corner and Silas chops away at Flip. Heel miscommunication gives Flip a chance but he misses a springboard missile dropkick. The whip into the table is countered as Flip flips off the table and sidesteps a charge to send Ray through for the elimination.
Young is right back with the backbreaker and clothesline, meaning it’s time for another table. Another clothesline flips Flip inside out to the floor but the ref gets bumped back inside. That of course means the 450 puts Silas through the table but no one sees it. Well save for everyone in the arena but the referee. Ray gets up and decks Gordon, who he puts on the broken table for the win at 13:34. Yeah just saying you put him through a table counts.
Tenille Dashwood has been attacked.
It takes some time to clear the ring.
Chaos vs. Bullet Club
Chaos: Kazuchika Okada, Best Friends, Rocky Romero, Tomohiro Ishii
Bullet Club: Cody, Young Bucks, Marty Scurll, Adam Page
This one doesn’t exactly need an explanation. Former NWA World Champion Nick Aldis is in on commentary. Page headlocks Ishii to start but the forearms and shoulders don’t work for either of them. The forearms continue until a suplex takes Page down. It’s off to Scurll vs. Okada so I’m hoping they have enough tape. Nothing happens so Romero, who is actually shorter than Marty, comes in to pose in the ropes.
Romero knocks him to the floor but a cheap shot from the apron breaks up the dive. The rapid tags leave us with Matt vs. Chuckie but Barretta and Nick come in as well. The Bucks are sent outside and Romero breaks up the hug, instead setting for triple dives. That means a three way hug before it’s off to Cody vs. Okada back inside. Okada chops him down without much effort and it’s off to Barretta, who has a tornado DDT attempt blocked.
Cody clotheslines him to the floor but misses the dive, allowing Barretta to run back in for a dive of his own. Page keeps the parade of dives going and Chuckie adds a big running version from the stage. Ishii even goes up top for a flip dive of his own (cool). They head back in and Brandi offers a distraction to put Barretta in trouble. Scurll adds a superplex for two but a missed charge allows the hot tag to Romero, who hurricanranas both Bucks at the same time.
The Forever Clotheslines have the Club in more trouble but they finally get up for a group superkick to drop Romero. Romero gets in a jumping knee though and the hot tag brings in Okada to speed things up again. Everything breaks down for….we’ll say the third time, with Nick kneeing Okada in the face but getting kneed right back by Chuckie. A bunch of people knock each other down with Cody’s Disaster Kick hitting Ishii, who just stares at him.
Double superkicks from the Bucks work a bit better but the Meltzer Driver to Okada is broken up. Instead it’s a spike Tombstone on Matt, followed by a Buckshot lariat for a bonus. Cody sneaks in for Cross Rhodes on Okada and then gets the tag but Okada is right back with the Rainmaker.
Ishii comes back in and takes a Buckshot lariat but pops back up for clotheslines of his own. We settle down to Romero punching Scurll in the face and fighting out of the chickenwing attempt. Nick superkicks Marty by mistake and Romero makes things even worse by breaking up the Meltzer Driver. Cody dives onto the Best Friends, leaving Marty to reverse Romero’s suplex into the chickenwing for the tap at 21:20.
Rating: B+. This was a lot of fun and it’s very clear why they put this match, or something with Los Ingobernables, on time after time. You have people who are working hard and doing everything they can to steal the show, which is what they did here. It’s nonstop action and that’s very entertaining, which is exactly what an ROH crowd is looking for. Really fun match, even if it doesn’t mean much long term.
Cody comes up to commentary and accepts Aldis’ challenge for 2/3 falls match at the NWA 70th Anniversary Show.
We recap Jay Lethal vs. Will Ospreay. Lethal has avenged all of his losses and become World Champion again. Ospreay didn’t beat him but came close, so that’s a rematch.
ROH World Title: Will Ospreay vs. Jay Lethal
Lethal is defending. Ospreay won’t shake hands to start, which works well enough for setting up a heel in a one off match. Feeling out process to start as they seem to have a lot of time. Lethal takes him down by the arm for nothing of note so they trade shoulders. Ospreay gets in a shot to the face to make things a little more serious and they chop it out. The Lethal Injection and the Oscutter both miss so Lethal chops him off the top.
The trio of suicide dives send Ospreay over the barricade as Lethal takes over for the first time. Back in and we hit the chinlock for a few seconds. The dueling chants bring Ospreay back up and he hits the spinning kick to Lethal’s head. Ospreay starts kicking away, including a running dropkick to a seated Lethal in the corner.
Lethal is right back with his own chops in the corner as Ospreay puts his hands behind his chest for an open shot. He’s fine enough to kick Lethal to the floor for a suicide dive of his own. They fight underneath the ring and Lethal pulls out a ladder but go back inside without it, thank goodness. Ospreay gets two off a Phenomenal Forearm, only to walk into the Lethal Combination for the same. They slug it out from their knees with Ospreay knocking him outside.
The Flying Space Tiger (I love wacky Japanese names) misses so Lethal tries a powerbomb through the table. That’s broken up as well and Lethal superkicks the ring announcer by mistake, meaning the World Title flies into Ospreay’s hands. Ospreay throws it down and opts for a slugout instead with Lethal getting the better of it. Lethal puts the ladder up against the barricade but goes with a DDT inside. The Figure Four is broken up though and Ospreay hits a reverse hurricanrana.
Some more kicks to the head set up the Batista Bomb for two so Ospreay sunset bombs him onto the ladder, which of course isn’t a DQ. Back in and Ospreay can’t hit the Stormbreaker, instead diving into a cutter. Ospreay superkicks his way out of the Lethal Injection and more rapid fire kicks set up the Oscutter for two. Stormbreaker is broken up again but the super hurricanrana is countered into a super Batista Bomb. The Lethal Injection retains the title at 22:50.
Rating: B+. Another really good match here, at least partially due to slowing things down a bit so we could have two guys beating each other up. The ladder wasn’t needed but at least they didn’t make it a focal point. Lethal continues to look like a star, but I’m getting worried about who they’re going to bring out next for an opponent. Ospreay didn’t feel like anything more than the challenger of the month, which is fine for a one off match but not the most interesting thing in the world. At least the match was very good though.
Post match Ospreay is willing to shake hands but here are Vinny Marseglia and TK O’Ryan to beat them both down. Jonathan Gresham tries to run in for a save but gets beaten down as well. A now mohawked Matt Taven runs out with his own World Title to knock Lethal silly. Posing ends the show. As uninteresting as Taven might be, he’s still a full time wrestler here and good for a next challenger.
Overall Rating: B. The last two matches more than carry this as they got the most time and were both very good if not excellent matches. When Ring of Honor is focused, they can put together some highly entertaining shows, which is what they did here. They can start the build towards Final Battle now, and that’s often the best time of the year. Above all else here: the show wasn’t three hours long and didn’t overstay its welcome, which is often one of this company’s major faults. If they can keep that problem under control, their pay per views will be a lot better in a hurry. Good effort here and a really fun show.
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