This show is being held in a local fire station in Laurel, Delaware, and looks to had a pretty solid turnout. I should also note that this show doesn't have any commentary.
ROH Future Of Honor 2
Laurel, Deleware 7/27/14
1.) "God's Gift" QT Marshall vs. Mikey Webb: ***
This is (the infamous) QT Marshall's return of sorts to ROH. If I recall correctly, he stopped getting booked by ROH around the Summer of 2013. I guess he's back, and he's taking on Mikey Webb. This was actually a pretty solid opener. Definitely one of the better matches of the show.
2.) Donovan Dijak vs. Stokely Hathaway (with Moose): 1/2*
Dijak was originally going to face Moose, but before the match, Stokely Hathaway cut a promo saying that Moose is a world class athlete who doesn't need to wrestle the likes of Dijak. Hathaway decides to take Moose's spot in the match, and predictably, it doesn't go well for him. Basically a squash.
After seeing Hathaway get pummeled by Dijak, Moose gets in the ring, and it looks like we're getting the original match after all.
3.) Donovan Dijak vs. Moose (with Stokely Hathaway): **
Big Men vs. Big Men matches are an extreme rarity in ROH. The match itself was fine, though it'll probably be remembered for the Top Rope breaking halfway through (assuming it was because of the size of both guys), but to the credit of Dijak & Moose, they continued the match, and eventually Moose would get the win.
4.) Brutal Burgers vs. Assad King & Hakim Zane: **3/4
I like Hakim Zane, but I'm not too fond of Assad King. They're taking on "Brutal" Bob Evans & Cheeseburger. This was a fine tag team match. Solid wrestling with some comedy here & there. Brutal Burgers would get the win in this one.
5.) Mark Briscoe (with Uncle Jethro) vs. Jay Diesel: ***1/4
Of course, since the show is in Briscoe Country, Mark Briscoe gets a massive reaction. He's being accompanied by Uncle Jethro as he takes on Jay Diesel. This was actually a pretty solid match. In my opinion, I think this was the Match of the Night. It was just a really solid wrestling match. I can't believe that I'd ever say a match with Jay Diesel was the best match on the show, but I think that's a testament to how good Mark Briscoe is. The crowd was really into it, and there was lots of solid back & forth action. Eventually, "Chicken" would pick up the win over Diesel.
After the match, Briscoe offered Diesel a handshake in a sign of respect, but Diesel attacked Mark, and left him laying.
6.) Six-Man Tag - Team Benchmark (Bill Daly & Will Ferrara) & Matt Sells vs. The Painkillers (Jacob & Donnie Hollows) & Johnny Knockout: ***
If you'll recall Future of Honor I, the Six-Man Tag on that show was really good. Looks like they're trying to continue the trend. While this wasn't as good as that match, it was still pretty solid. Everyone got the change to showcase their stuff, which is always good. I've never heard of The Painkillers, but they impressed me. Johnny Knockout impressed me as well. Unfortunately for those three, their team would be on the losing end, as Team Benchmark & Matt Sells got the win.
7.) ROH Tryout Camp Gauntlet Match - ROH World Tag Team Champion Bobby Fish vs. Drew Addler/Fox Vinyer/Dalton Castle: *1/2
Up next we have one-half of the ROH World Tag Team Champions in Bobby Fish, who heels it up big time by arguing with fans (including kids) in the crowd. Fish takes the mic & says his original opponents wasn't there due to being "convicted of three homicides", so he gives an opportunity to some wrestlers who impressed ROH Officials at a tryout camp earlier. I consider this to be one long match, and it was pretty what you would have expected. Aside from Dalton Castle, the either two guys didn't get any real offense in at all. Fish predictably wins all three matches in quick & decisive fashion.
Fish took the mic after this and verbally ran down Laurel, Delaware. He calls for another challenger, and Papa Briscoe, of all people, answers the call!! Fish clearly wanted none of Papa Briscoe, and made a hasty retreat.
8.) Jenny Rose & Veda Scott vs. Hania The Howling Huntress & Mandy Leon: **3/4
This match came about after the women's match at Future of Honor I, where Scott criticized Leon, and convinced Jenny Rose to turn on Leon after their match, leading to a two-on-one beatdown. This time, Leon has backup in the form of Hania The Howling Huntress! This was a pretty solid women's tag team match. You have to give Veda Scott a lot credit for wrestling on this show only one day after wrestling Gregory Iron in a Steel Cage at AIW's Battle of the Sexes, a match where she got busted open. Rose, Hania & Leon all looked good in here as well. Solid & entertaining action, that's all you can ask for in a wrestling match. Veda Scott & Jenny Rose get the win, and Hania & Leon begrudgingly shake hands afterwords.
9.) ROH World TV Title - Jay Lethal (with Truth Martini) vs. Jay Briscoe: N/A
Here we have a battle of the Jay's!! This was originally a non-title match, but Jay Briscoe challenged Lethal to put the World TV Title on the line, and Lethal surprisingly accepts! I didn't give this match a rating, because it really served as a set up for what happened next. There was some stalling and a little bit of wrestling before Adam Cole (who wasn't even scheduled for the show) came out and attacked Jay Briscoe! This resulted in Mark Briscoe, Jay Diesel, Moose, Bobby Fish & Papa Briscoe all running out, causing a big brawl to erupt! The babyface side challenged the heels to an Eight Man Tag, and they accepted!
10.) Eight-Man Tag - Adam Cole, ROH World TV Champion Jay Lethal (with Truth Martini), ROH World Tag Team Champion Bobby Fish & Jay Diesel vs. The Briscoe Family (Jay, Mark & Papa Briscoe) & Moose: **3/4
This wasn't a really long match, but it was a lot of fun. Everyone got a chance to do something, and the crowd was actually pretty invested. They were especially into The Briscoes, which should come as no surprise. The Briscoes & Moose eventually are able to pick up the win and send the heels packing to close the show.
Overall: 6.75/10
While this show wasn't as good as the first Future of Honor event, it was still pretty entertaining. There aren't any blow-away fantastic matches on this show, but that's not the point. Shows like this one give opportunities to up & coming talents to show what they got, and you really got to see a lot of solid talents on this show. Some highlights definitely include QT Marshall vs. Mikey Webb, Mark Briscoe vs. Jay Diesel (my Match of the Night), and the Six-Man Tag. I think the fact that there was no commentary actually helped me enjoy this show as well. You also saw some good women's action, and even the Main Event stuff was entertaining. It actually had a really old school house show type feel to it, where the babyfaces vanquished the heels to send the crowd home happy. Speaking of the crowd in Laurel, Delaware, they were really good on this show. You shouldn't expect anything less from the hometown of 'Dem Boys. Future of Honor 2 was an easy show to sit through, and it was pretty enjoyable.
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