4/29 ROH in Hopkins, Minn.: Young Bucks & Page vs. Addiction & Dalton Castle, Bully Ray, Briscoes, Cole, Ken Anderson, Jay Lethal

RING OF HONOR LIVE EVENT REPORT – “MASTERS OF THE CRAFT”
APRIL 29 2017
HOPKINS, MINN. AT EISENHOWER COMMUNITY CENTER
REPORT BY KEITH HUSTON, PWTORCH CORRESPONDENT

I’d estimate over 1,000 in attendance.

We arrived as Matt Taven was cutting a pre-show heel promo on Adam Cole.  Ian Riccobani introduced the show and announced it was ROH’s largest ever attendance in Minnesota.  He then introduced his commentary partner Colt Cabana to a big pop.

(1) Jay Lethal pinned Beer City Bruiser in a solid match.  Lethal got a big reaction and full streamer treatment.

(2) War Machine pinned the Rhett Titus & Shane Taylor of the Rebellion.  Average match.

(3) Matt Taven pinned Adam Cole with a small package in a good match.  After the match, Cole did his best Undertaker impression, somberly rising to his feet, leading to a standing ovation and “Thank you, Cole!” chants, playing into the assumption he’s NXT bound.

(4) Marty Scurrl pinned Ken Anderson to retain the ROH Television Championship after a low kick.  Before the match Scurrl did his own ring introduction which lead to Anderson protesting “That’s my gimmick!”  Scurrl took a shot at Jack Gallagher saying he knows all about gimmick infringement.  Surprisingly good match with lots of comedy that got over with the crowd.  People are really catching on to Scurrl’s mannerisms and signature spots.  There were a few awkward moments, but overall Anderson kept up well with Scurrl.

INTERMISSION. Long lines for merch, Cole and Scurrl were signing 8-by-10s and taking pictures.

(5) Cheeseburger & Will Ferrera pinned The Carnies in a surprisingly energetic contest for what was on paper the popcorniest of popcorn matches.

(6) Jay White pinned “Punishment” Damien Martinez with a rollup.  After the match, Martinez got his heat back by attacking Jay White.  Both guys worked hard but struggled to hold the crowd’s interest.  The fans chanted “One More Time!” after Martinez laid out White and popped huge when Martinez got back in the ring and delivered a curb stomp. Not a great sign for White as a mid-card babyface, although he did get respectful applause as he was helped to the back.

(7) The Briscoes beat The Motor City Machine Guns in the best match of the night.  They brawled all over the building and both teams were very over.

(8) Bully Ray pinned Silas Young in a No DQ match.  Before the match, Bully Ray declared this to be a No DQ match, which referree Paul Turner apparently was fine with.  Bully feels like a total nostalgia act at this point, but the crowd was into it.

(9) The Addiction & Dalton Castle pinned The Young Bucks & Adam Page of the Bullet Club.  THE Young Bucks were mega-over, as always.  Satisfying if by-the-numbers main event.  Daniels cut a promo after the match putting over ROH and the fans.

FINAL NOTES: Overall this was a fun, feel good house show from ROH.  From bell to bell with intermission the show clocked in at around 3 hours 40 minutes but they kept things moving with minimal down-time between matches so it never dragged. The crowd was hot for pretty much everything and threw streamers for practically every match, though it felt like they were more into the brand overall than any specific wrestler.

Biggest Pops
1.  Young Bucks
2.  Briscoes
3.  Bully Ray/Marty Scurrl

Most Heat
1. Ken Anderson (when he was announced as being from Wisconsin)
2. Beer City Bruiser (when he was announced as being from Wisconsin)
3. The Rebellion

NOW CHECK OUT THE PREVIOUS NIGHT’S REPORT: 4/28 ROH in Milwaukee, Wisc.: Young Bucks vs. Kaz & Daniels as Legion of Boom, Scurll vs. Delrious, Briscoes & Bully Ray vs. Castle & War Machine, Cole vs. White

Please send any news tips and results to: pwtorch@gmail.com. For instance, let us know if you hear a pro wrestling reference on a popular talk show, see a pro wrestling related Tweet or Instagram from celebrity, hear an ad for matches advertised for an upcoming WWE event, or anything else pro wrestling related that’d be of interest to our readers. 

If you attend a live event, please send results. We don’t set up correspondents ahead of time and count on readers like you to send an email with a report on live events you attend – not just WWE, but also ROH, NXT, international groups. and anything else. No need to ask ahead of time!  The closer to the above format, the better, with the matches numbered and then listing who beat whom at the start of each result, then adding some details and the finish.