Ring of Honor fans flocked to Las Vegas for the 15th Anniversary show and by the end of the night there wasn’t a dry eye in the house as well as a mind that wasn’t blown. There were so many “stand on your feet and scream because you can’t believe what you just saw” kind of moments it’s really incredible.
Related: Christopher Daniels On If He Thinks He’s Due For A World Title Run
There was a very interesting rumor floating around as to why WWE decided to book such an important event in Buffalo at the same time as the 15th Anniversary ROH show. It might not be true, but with ROH delivering this kind of product, they are slowly but surely securing their spot as a top professional wrestling company in not only America, but the entire world.
One fan seemed to think WWE had a reason for scheduling Finn Balor’s return on Friday night.
https://twitter.com/janaaa_xox/status/840401272494792710
The #1 contender was chosen in a six-man mayhem match and although Frankie Kazarian came away with the win during that battle, it was an incredible contest with moments where the win could have gone in any direction.
6 Man Mayhem next! Frankie Kazarian vs Hangman Page vs Chris Sabin vs Punishment Martinez vs Cheeseburger vs Silas Young! #ROH15th pic.twitter.com/6GEcw1wqGN
— ROH – Ring of Honor Wrestling (@ringofhonor) March 11, 2017
Punishment Martinez doing whatever it takes #ROH15TH pic.twitter.com/zwgPicihSv
— ROH – Ring of Honor Wrestling (@ringofhonor) March 11, 2017
What a fantastic match, @FrankieKazarian becomes the Number 1 Contender for the @ringofhonor TV title. #ROH15TH pic.twitter.com/niDUIu6pbT
— Gary Ward (@GaryRWard) March 11, 2017
There hasn’t been this much attention in a tag team division since the Broken Hardys jumped over to the Honorable Ring and procured the ROH Tag Team Championships. Then again, any division with the Broken Hardys is sure to draw interest to it because they have that effect on people.
This match got brutal and some would say it got out of hand as well. When we say out of hand, we really mean it. We thought we’d seen thumbtack spots before, but this takes the cake. Well, just let you see for yourself.
https://twitter.com/BulletClubItal/status/840416612352159744
https://twitter.com/BulletClubItal/status/840416787648901120
https://twitter.com/BulletClubItal/status/840417018323058689
If you thought taking a superkick with a mouthful of thumbtacks was a brutal spot, you haven’t seen anything yet.
https://twitter.com/BulletClubItal/status/840417266667802624
The Broken Hardys didn’t travel through space and time to get to ROH just to lose their titles on their first defense though. Brother Nero scaled the ladder and set the world on fire with an incredible Swanton Bomb.
https://twitter.com/BulletClubItal/status/840417892088832006
Therefore, your winners and still ROH Tag Team Champions are the Broken Hardys in an incredible match that not only took breaths away, but also stole the show. The Hardys carried on with their Expedition of Gold by not only securing the ROH Tag Titles, but also swiping another belt off of the Young Bucks as well.
https://twitter.com/BulletClubItal/status/840418114458148864
The main event of the evening saw Adam Cole’s ROH World Title get put on the line against Christopher Daniels. There has been a slight sense of resentment due to the fact a member of the Bullet Club such as Cole is the ROH champion. Some Ring of Honor traditionalists would love to overthrow him. Therefore the 15th Anniversary show seemed just as good of an opportunity as any to make that happen.
There was another element of intrigue involved in this match as Adam Cole’s contract is said to be over at the end of March and WWE has their eyes on him in a big way. Therefore, dropping the title would be the first logical step on his way over to the main roster or NXT.
https://twitter.com/BulletClubItal/status/840424099704901632
This match got intense, to say the least, and blood was shed. At one point, Christopher Daniels paid homage to his old friend AJ Styles.
https://twitter.com/BulletClubItal/status/840425173161525248
The referee took a vicious bump during one of the spots near the finish, to say the least.
https://twitter.com/BulletClubItal/status/840425294569885696
Bullet Club member and new #1 contender Frankie Kazarian came down to get involved in the match, but there was quite a surprising turn of events. We just love it when people pull off that whole “shirt under another shirt” angle without giving it away before hand. This one was executed perfectly.
https://twitter.com/BulletClubItal/status/840425631464734720
One climb to the top rope, and we have a new ROH Champion.
https://twitter.com/BulletClubItal/status/840426041126588416
Only time will truly tell what this means in the grand picture of ROH, but tonight was a night when the OG Ring of Honor boys got to celebrate to end the 15th Anniversary show on an amazing note.
https://twitter.com/BulletClubItal/status/840426247108886528
The Fallen Angel is the new Ring of Honor World Champion.
https://twitter.com/BulletClubItal/status/840426686403485696
In the end, the Broken Brilliance of Matt Hardy summed up the night best. We can’t help but wonder if that last line about “an office that is fair & respectful” isn’t making a reference to the same subject his wife was speaking about earlier in the day.
Tonight's #ROH15TH PPV was an absolutely ILLUSTRIOUS event.
A DELIGHTFUL roster & an office that is fair & respectful. Thanks @ringofhonor.
— MATT HARDY (@MATTHARDYBRAND) March 11, 2017
By the looks of the tweet below, our assumptions about what that line about an office having respect was right on the money.
I love my wife, Queen Rebecca.
If you're loyal & faithful to her, she'd die for you.
If you cross & betray her, she will massacre you. pic.twitter.com/wK3YTFdtfq
— MATT HARDY (@MATTHARDYBRAND) March 11, 2017
[…] The Young Bucks were once covered in gold like a character in some fairy-tale. They strolled around the planet basking in the glow of their incredible merchandise dollars while they carried multiple title belts over their shoulders. But after last night’s ROH 15th Anniversary show all that changed. […]
Very happy for Daniels.