ROH Defy or Deny 2 Review

Three Men look to get another World Title Shot while The Champ looks to deny one of them another shot!

ROH Defy or Deny 2

Milwaukee, Wisconsin 1/19/13

1.) Proving Ground Match - Silas Young vs. Adam Cole: ***1/2

I think this was a Proving Ground Match (as indicated on the DVD cover) but idk if it was mentioned on the show. This was a very good opener. Cole & Young put on a great show for the fans in Milwaukee (also Young's hometown). Both looked good.

2.) Bobby Fish vs. Tadarius Thomas: **1/2

O'Reilly was out with Fish while Truth Martini came out later on to scout Thomas. This ended up just being ok. They meshed fine, but Fish slowed the pace down and took the crowd out if it, which I think affected it a bit. Still a fine match.

3.) Charlie Haas vs. Rhett Titus: **1/4

These two had an ok affair at Liv3 Strong and this one was on about the same level. Just kind of there and I felt like it went a little too long. Nothing really too this one. Beer does become involved in the match, if anyone was wondering.

4.) S.C.U.M. (Jimmy Jacobs, Steve Corino & Rhino) vs. Jay Lethal & The Briscoes: ***1/2

Corino cuts a promo beforehand with Rhino & Jacobs in the ring. Basic S.C.U.M. stuff. A pretty fun trios match. All six guys worked well and put on a very entertaining match. Rhino's Gore gets S.C.U.M. the win.

5.) Matt Hardy vs. BJ Whitmer: **1/2

This match kind of makes sense since both guys claim that they "won't die" and are "stronger than death". This was actually fine. BJ showed his toughness by kicking out of a Twist of Fate at One! Rhett Titus throws in the towel for BJ after Matt locked in (I think) the Ice Pick....whatever he calls his guillotine submission.

After the match, Hardy calls out Nigel McGuinness, saying he want's a World TV Title Shot against Adam Cole. Cole comes down and tells Hardy to shut his mouth. They get into it, and Cole has the upper hand until Matt Hardy uses the TV Title as a weapon against Cole. He walks away with Cole's Title Belt.

6.) Kyle O'Reilly vs. Davey Richards: ****1/4

In short, this was an awesome match! Just great stuff from these two. I actually enjoyed Bobby Fish on commentary (he's pretty good). Great stuff here, as one would expect from these two.

7.) Defy or Deny - Eddie Edwards vs. Roderick Strong vs. Michael Elgin vs. Kevin Steen: ****1/2

If one of the three challengers wins, they get another World Title Shot, but if Steen wins, the person he beats to win the match is eliminated from World Title Contention as long as Steen is ROH World Champion. Elgin goes out first, followed by Strong, and Edwards, who is eliminated from contention after being pinned by Steen in the final two. This was an awesome match! Early candidate for MOTY in my book. The action was just non-stop from the opening bell. All four guys worked really well together.

Overall: 8.25/10

While not as consistent as the previous night's show, this one has the bragging rights of having the best two matches of the weekend with Richards/O'Reilly and the Defy or Deny Match. Cole/Young and the Six-Man Tag were good as well, but some of the undercard matches dragged the show down a little bit. Still, don't let that discourage you. This was a very good show.