PWG - Davey Richards vs. Chris Hero for the Pro Wrestling Guerrilla World Championship
The Build: Chris Hero has become the man of PWG. Chris Hero had become the longest reigning PWG champion in the history of the promotion and had put down everyone that had a claim to be a contender for the championship. However, after he finally lost the belt to Danielson in a near 50 minute match, he had never received his rematch. So Chris Hero had put everyone on notice that when he got his shot, he was going to get it back. Running through the roster all the way up to a PWG show named Dio, Chris Hero had remained as dominant as ever and proclaimed that he wasn't showing up for another show unless he got his long awaited title shot against current champion, Davey Richards.
Four Years, 11 Months, and Three days......Davey Richards had finally become PWG World Champion and PWG's first Grandslam champion. From taking long bus rides from Washington to California to now taking flights courtesy of New Japan, Richards had finally become champion where his legacy began. Defeating newly crowned champion Kenny Omega at As The Worm Turns to finally take is long awaited place as the man of PWG. Richards would defend successfully but barely in passing through long time rival in Roderick Strong. To say taking the dream away from Davey Richards was hard task was a understatement and to further prove that, Richards then elevated his game against the top Junior Wrestlers in Japan during the proteges Best of the Super Juniors tournament. Richards was not going to let those darn near 5 years go to waste...
So the stage was set, Davey Richards vs. Chris Hero for the PWG World Championship at Seven(The 7th Anniversary show). There have been three world champions since Chris Hero was champion but none of them have been more vicious than Davey Richards. However, no one has proven more to be the man in PWG than Chris Hero and after being the longest dominating World Champion in PWG history, it be hard to say that losing isn't his specialty. Would Richards continue to live out his dream of being World Champion for his home promotion or would Hero prove that it was only matter of time until the belt would be in his hands once again?
The Match: Since their first real encounter since a huge evolution into what they are today, both guys start off feeling each other out instead of trying to kill each other from the get go. Richards tries to go after the leg early and Chris Hero makes it to the ropes. What I like about the early mat work here is that while it sets the tone for what to expect in this match. For instance, Richards nearly finds himself in more danger here than you would normally think so that gives the idea that he may not be as dominant as he usually is.
One of the clear messages is when Richards does his reversal kick to the arm when Hero has him in a wrist lock and Chris Hero just bluntly no sells it. He took a kick from Richards and he just looks at him like Richards has no idea in what he is in for. This works because during nearly all his matches this year, Chris Hero has been the king of strikes and is a monster that you don't want to exchange with.
Anyway, back to the match up here where Richards takes Hero to the corner where it might seem bloody obvious that he'll throw the first strike, Hero actually hits Richards first and Richards doesn't respond immediately surprisingly. That tells a story in its own because while Chris Hero has been the king of hitting hard, you simply don't hit Davey and expect him not to immediately hit you harder. Richards, first chance he gets, kicks at Hero in which Hero just eats up his offense like nothing before sending Richards to the outside. How does Davey respond? He PUNTS THE SHIT OUT of Hero but Hero actually remains on his feet until Davey knocks him over with a baseball slide.
You think after a move like that, Richards would be in control for a little while.....well that doesn't happen. Hero no sells his Tequila Sunrise and when Davey gives him enough room, Hero knocks him out with a Yakuza. Close nearfall and Richards wisely rolls outside. As Excalibur puts it "Hero gave Richards a boot that Richards didn't want to see". Richards tries to come back when Hero chops him but Hero actually just beats him at it. You get the feeling that Richards might be in a tad bit of danger here.
One of my favorite parts of the match is where Hero puts Richards in a chinlock of sorts when Richards almost gets out of it, Hero throws him down to the ground with a elbow, and then puts in a modified Dragon sleeper on Hero that is nearly as close as to what Kawada uses. Now this is why this is pretty much my favorite part and which sets the tone for the match. Richards tries to get out by kicking Hero in the head and how does Hero respond? He picks Richards up and BLASTS HIM with a punch to the head in which Richards sells as if he is legit knocked out. Hero, confident in that blow, makes the cover with just his hand on Richards chest and ALMOST GETS THE FREAKING FALL!
That shows how brilliant Richards selling is BUT more importantly, shows how strong the strikes of Hero is. Not only that but it is a perfectly logical reaction to someone kicking you in your head :lmao
Anyway, Hero, who is now clearly dominating the champ, decides to mockingly kick Richards in the back which gets him to fire up. Hero chops him and Richards still wants to prove he is top striker and asks for another. Hero comes with it and Richards starts coming back with awesome Palm strikes but gets all his momentum killed with a hard freakin chop by Hero. Hero finally ends that little segment with dumping Davey on his head with that Suplex/neckbreaker throw. Again, this gets over how out matched Richards is in striking against Hero and brings back the drama in that maybe he can't do it.
Richards finally looks to comeback with palm strikes and a nice Handspring Enziguri. Hero, however, cuts all that off with drive by big boot and once again, Richards is in trouble. Hero goes for a dive, misses, and Richards KILLS HIM with that insane crowd killing dive. If there was ever a time for Richards to come back, it'd be now. Hero doesn't feel that way so he cuts off Richards at the top. He does get himself into bad of predicament when he gets over zealous with striking Richards and ends up getting his leg dragon screwed into the ropes. What all just happened there gives Richards room to attack something and he can finally get in some valuable offense without destroying the story.
Richards goes right after the leg. Top rope missile dropkick! Hero kicks out but Richards makes the best of the positioning he had and turns it into the Cloverleaf! Hero makes the ropes to soon though and Richards has to break. The look on Richards face kinda explains the story as he almost falls after he isn't able to get the cloverleaf and isn't his normal intense self here. Instead, it looks as if he still trying to get his wits about him after getting knocked around by Hero so much in this match up.
Richards tries to irish Hero but Hero, unlike Davey, still has his wits about him on holding onto to the ropes. Richards starts going to the leg with kicks and Hero responds in DROPPING HIM ON HIS HEAD via Regal Plex of sorts. Hero sells the leg work smartly and tries to get adrenaline in his leg by stomping it as well as slapping it. Smart in so many ways. Leaping Elbow in the corner! YAKUZA! NO SOLD~! "NO YOU AIN'T MUTHAFUCKA!"! ANOTHER YAKUZA KNOCKS HIM DEAD! COVA!
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2.79!
I love that whole bit right there. Hero pumping his leg up was great and Davey no selling the first Yakuza was awesome. Why? Because #1 Yakuza started Hero's control over Richards in the first place #2 Richards has been getting killed by Hero's strikes. So when Richards tries to no sell, it feels big because it feels like he is digging deep. This fall also makes it seem that Hero is getting closer to regaining his championship.
Hero grabs the Cravate and hits with the leg that has been worked on so he sells it and he uses the other leg. I love you Hero. Thank you for caring. Richards then replies with hard kicks! "MUTHAFUCKA"! RICHARDS STARTS LAYING INTO HIM! Whips Hero into the corner but Hero knocks Davey's lights out via Knee to the face and follows up with that Cravate Neckbreaker that Davey just blocked! 1, 2, 2.846467! Sweet mexican homophobic drag queens Batman! This is getting intense. For every thousand strikes Richards throws at him, all Hero needs is just one. Also great selling by Hero.
Hero goes for a powerbomb but Davey blocks. He tries to soften him up with some hard chops but still can't get the powerbomb. Richards gets out and gives Hero all the forearms he can muster! Geez! Put your hands up man! Richards goes to run on the ropes but FOCK ME! BICYCLE KICK BY HERO KNOCKS HIM DEAD! Powerbomb is inevitable! Richards flies through it! Take down and turned to a CLOVER LEAF! TAP YOU KNOCKOUT BUM! TAP! Goes for the ropes but RICHARDS PULLS HIM BACK INTO THE MIDDLE! GIVE UP HERO! Hero counters to a roll up and nearly gets the three! Solebutt to the midsection! Hero blocks a lariat with a kick to the arm! Richards tries to turn it to a rolling lariat but ELBOW TO THE FACE! Hero looks to go for the roaring elbow but Richards says "FUCK U! UR NOT ROBING ME OF THIS" AND LARIATS HIS TORSO OFF HIS FREAKING BODY!
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2.999999999999999
YES! YES! YES! THIS MATCH IS AMAZING! Richards once again throwing a thousand strikes only for Hero to kill him just with one was great. It also set up believable powerbomb in which it looked like Richards was done for but the Cloverleaf legit was great. Then it would of been irony if Davey's only advantage turned out to be his loss in a roll up would been great as well but the true cake would of been the Lariat nearfall. Why? Because for Richards to be taking all these strikes AND FINALLY get the win in a crazy strikefest in which(If you have been keeping count) he has been majorly losing would of been a prefect ending. Alas the match goes on.
Richards is the first to his feet at the count of eight and looks to have got some energy in him. Exchange of waistlocks by Richards and Hero. Hero almosts gets German but can't. Must be because of that leg...well Richards senseS this and reverses into the Anklelock! Hero can't possibly take much more on his leg! He rolls through and that sends Davey to the outside! Richards has to know that he can't relent on him and runs into THE ROLLING ELBOW TRAP! DAVEY IS FUCKING OUT COLD!
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THREE RICHARDS KICKS OUT! Holy crap....."To beat Davey Richards, Chris Hero is gonna have to kill him." - Ex Cab. That whole deal right there was so much win that I don't even have to explain why. Richards selling for that Rolling Elbow looked as if he was legit KO'ed. Amazing.
Hero tries to for that powerbomb again but Richards continues to block. Hero backs up.....STOMP TO THE HEAD & ROLLING ELBOW! Hero goes up top! KOBASHISAULT! YOU ARE KIDDING ME! 2.97878557676967576967769697. HERO CAN'T BELIEVE IT! Referee continues to tell Hero it was two. Hero picks Richards up for the Deathblow. That'll surely be it......Richards rolls into a backslide! Only gets two! Hero blocks a kick but gets slapped in the face and gets hit with a Enziguri. NO SOLD! Richards blocks a running Chris Hero in the corner! Richards tries to block again but ROLLING ELBOW KNOCKS RICHARDS FACE OFF! DEATHBLOW COMING! REVERSED INTO A ANKLE LOCK! THIS CONSISTENT BASTARD MIGHT ACTUALLY WIN!
Richards forfeits the Ankle Lock so he can PUNT Hero! GERMAN! A literal two count. German drops him on his head! KICK TO THE FACE! ONE COUNT AS HERO NO SELLS RICHARDS BITCH ATTEMPT AT OFFENSE! "FUCK U" DR DRIVER! 2.999999999 AND RICHARDS SAYS "FOCK THIS" AND GOES BACK TO THE ANKLE LOCK! Decides to complete IT BY TRAPPING THE LEG! CRANK UP AND HERO TAPS!!
HOLY SMITTING GAY PRIEST BATMAN! That was awesome. Hero lived to his bit to the end with just no selling Richards strikes and attempts to kill him. Normally I don't like one counts as so many wrestlers so many time use them wrong but it so went with the story here. Just fantastic stuff by both man and the end Richards knew he was going to win was going after the leg.
Richards gets on the mic and the first thing he says is "Holy shit......". Thank you for putting over the match sir. He then puts over Chris Hero and the crowd ends this all with a "Chris is awesome" chant.
My Thoughts: When you have two guys in the prime of their game and you put them with each other, you get this. I can see matches happening between these two in ROH and hopefully another match soon because this felt like chemistry. They stayed true to the storytelling and the selling was off the charts here. I legit thought Richards was out like a light a few times and Hero made sure to sell his leg smartly. I cannot pimp this match enough when I give it the Border rating. Go see this, you'll love it ****3/4