As I'm sure you may have been alerted to already, there must have been some kind of error on the ROH site because you could watch the show for free simply by going to their iPPV page (by clicking the big yellow banner on their website) and rather than being presented with ordering information, you simply were directed to a page with the stream running in full HD for free. Word spread pretty quickly on twitter and elsewhere, so I have a feeling ROH may have lost a lot on this show - especially given that the show was already free to a huge portion of their audience following Border Wars.

I tuned in late, and so missed the Cole vs. O'Reily match, which everyone raved about. It's hard to give the show a rating given I missed the most acclaimed match, but it was still a thumbs up event... just about.

The main event saved it, and felt like the most exciting and off the wall ROH has been in a while. Even though the people turned on him lately, I think Davey put on a great show and probably won a lot of people around. The match was really brutal, with some cringeworthy moments but the hectic nature really made it what it was. It was the best match of the show from what I saw.

The undercard was a total drag, and this was a thumbs in the middle show until the main event from what I saw. Nothing awful, but very unspectacular and dull for the most part. The tag team title match was really boring, and ANX's title win came off as flat not only due to the lame post match angle, but also the lifeless match that came before it.

The biggest downer of the show was the crowd. As well as a smattering of Benoit chants throughout the evening, which may have been expected but were still classless, they completely ruined the main event angle which would have been a very interesting development with a better crowd. ROH's angles of late have left a lot to be desired, and while a sort-of worked shoot storyline wouldn't seem to be the solution - Steen's promo on how ungrateful and fickle the ROH/NYC crowd can be was very interesting, and pretty on point too. But the crowd's love of attention and self serving ways put a downer on the angle, as they never stopped cheering while Steen buried them and their heroes. You could make the point that just proved Steen's point and was therefore the right reaction, but you could tell he desperately wanted to be cheered - even going for cheap heat and burying New York, but no luck. They just put a downer on what was the first genuinely interesting angle in a long time in ROH.

Thanks,

Barry Murphy

Thumbs Up
Best Match: Steen v Richards
Worst Match: Mondo v Bennett

I went into this show pretty apprehensive, because I wasn't as excited about the storylines as I have been for previous iPPVs, and of course I was still a little nervous about the feed. I had zero technical problems, and although the first couple of matches had to compete for my attention against the end of a soccer game. However, the wrestling, pacing, and storytelling of the show totally drew me in, and I felt I got more than my money's worth. Some notes on a few of the matches:

Cole-O'Reilly was an incredible spectacle, and the only reaosn it wasn't my match of the night is that I was too worried about Cole to fully enjoy it. I hope he can get his teeth repaired effectively, because the Foley look would not suit him. That said, this was a star-making performance for him, and he may have to compete with Elgin for the next breakout spot.

Mondo-Bennett was well worked, but Mondo's promo did absolutely nothing for me. I like his bratty heel persona on ROH TV, but shouting, swearing, and threatening to have sex with Maria did not get me behind him as a face. It took a lot away from the match.

RD Evans was priceless in the TV title match as the weaselly manager afraid his plan is about to fall apart. The Ciampa-Embassy storyline is great, except for the fact that they're simultaneously doing the exact same build with Elgin and the House of Truth. I feel that ROH is in danger of having too few credible heels soon, as all their credible ones are on the verge of turning.

Great feel-good title win for ANX. The ROH tag division has had good matches recently but it's been feeling a tad repetitive, and first-time champs should freshen up even repeat matches. The Guardians of Truth should help too.

As for Steen-Richards, there was so much going on in terms of outside people and plunder that there really wasn't much wrestling going on. However, much like the old Pitbulls vs Raven/Richards match from ECW, all the interwoven storylines worked perfectly, and what would normally be overbooking was just the right booking. And when it comes to choosing a Color Commentator of the Year for 2012, I urge voters to drink the Steve Corino Kool-Aid. He was absolutely spectacular during this match.

All in all, a solid show, and I left feeling much more invested in ROH than I was at the beginning of the show, which is certainly a win.

ROH Best In The World Feedback
Thumbs Up
Best Match: Adam Cole vs Kyle O'Reilly
Worst Match: Roderick Strong vs
 
I enjoyed the show tonight. The first half of the show went quicker than the second half but the show was still good.
Cole vs O'Reilly was really good with Cole going to another level. I do think O'Reilly works better as a heel as well.
Kenny King and Rhett Titus winning the tag titles was nice to see and I thought the match was good.
The main event was over-booked but still enjoyable.
Although Elgin vs Finlay was slow I think it was still a good match with a great finish.
I had been hoping that the Guardians Of Truth would be The Flatliners from Toronto (who have done undercard matches for ROH Toronto shows) and even thought it was at first but the idea of it being the Headbangers is cool as their making a comeback is intriguing. They also looked good in this match.
Dave Musgrave
Markham, Ontario