Finally got around to watching stuff from Best In The World.
Kyle O'Reilly vs Adam Cole
Started off really well I thought with the counters to the strikes and stuff, usually that kind of 'indy stand off' as I've heard it called can annoy me, but with these two it worked because they obviously know eachother so well. I liked the limb work from both guys, seemed pretty fresh to see something like that in a ROH match even though it didn't last very long. Liked Kyle acting like a dick too, he comes off as a natural douche and he suits being a heel so much more than a face. Kyle really impressed me here in the early going with some nifty looking arm work, and then going back to the arm bars later on in the match. Also Cole going after Kyle's bad knee was good, which turned out to be even better by the end.
Picked up with Cole getting annoyed and just working over Kyle with strikes in the corner and then that exchange that led to Cole's mouth getting fucked up completely. Then the match just got fucking crazy, and in an awesome way. Kyle just beating the shit out of Cole with those Kawada kicks which looked better than Davey's have ever looked, and the headbutt exchange similar to the one in the Nigel/Dragon match from Driven came off as pure desperation mixed with hate for one another. By this point the crowd is going nuts, and probably the best I've seen an ROH or more specifically a Hammerstein crowd in so long. that shot of Cole screaming and spraying blood out of his mouth was amazing. Kyle's timing with hitting his big moves was just great here, the strikes and then the backdrop driver worked perfectly and Cole refusuing to go down was great. Also the superkick that sent Kyle to the outside while he was against the ropes looked so stiff and came off as Cole just trying to murder him. The submmission exchanges at the end were great as they played off of the limb work earlier in the match and the actual finish was enexpected but awesome and a great way to end it. I'm not going to lie, I was marking out just as much as the Davey/Elgin match here, probably even more for Cole who got a deserved 'Adam Fuckin' Cole' chant. I really really liked this match, both guys were great in it, and the final quarter is just insane. It was pretty short but incredibly sweet and it peaked and ended at the perfect times. Nigel is fucking amazing on commentary again too.
****1/4
Kevin Steen vs Davey Richards
First of all, Kyle's promo coming out and turning on Davey was awesome.
Corino: 'Jimmy Jacobs has just informed me that the F word was used in the movie Spaceball so it is ok to use it on TV' :lmao. Corino is fucking amazing on commentary, absolutely hilarious.
LOL at this match! Just complete chaos and I found myself constantly laughing throughout at Corino and all the stuff that happened. This match was a total mess but in a really good, fun way. Cruise getting randomly superkicked by Steen was hilarious and out of the blue, then Davey taking out Sinclair :lmao, by this point I was just thinkig 'what the fuck!' but again, in a good way. Cornette, Corino and Jacobs all got involved and it just felt like a massive car wreck just like Nigel described it. You also had Davey acting like a dick the entire time who was just in it for himself and not for the company or Cornette. Really enjoyed it and I haven't had that much fun watching anything in ages. 'LEAVE TODD SINCLAIR ALONE!!!' :lmao. Awesome stuff.
The match itself wasn't anything great, but this wasn't really about that. From the minute Kyle came out at the start it was just all sorts of fun. If anything just watch this for the amusement and Corino being godly on commentary.
Steen's promo after was awesome, and would have come off as an epic full on heel turn if the crowd didn't LOUDLY cheer everything Steen said. He ripped them apart and they still cheered him, nothing is ever going to get Steen boo'd, so why bother trying to turn him full heel wehn you could have him as the rebel face of the company.