ROH Wrestling Episode 343: Review, Grades, and Analysis

Episode 343 of ROH Wrestling featured two matches – Frankie Kazarian vs. Hiromu Takahashi and a Tag Team Gauntlet where the winner gets a future title shot.

The Tag Team Gauntlet could have huge implications going forward, as ROH always delivers main event quality tag team action. The Briscoes, the current ROH tag team champions, will have quite the challenge depending on who wins. Regardless of the outcome, we are always treated to some great wrestling with ROH.

Frankie Kazarian (SoCal Uncensored) vs. Hiromu Takahashi (Los Ingobernables de Japon)

Hiromu starts the match by denying the code of honor and going outside of the ring to find a fan’s Daryl. This upset Kazarian greatly, and he went to the outside of the ring to attack Takahashi. Kazarian suplexed Hiromu into the guardrail and left him in a heap on the outside of the ring. Kazarian began to get the heat on Hiromu here, working over his back.

Hiromu made his comeback with a superkick and a near fall. Hiromu hit a running hurricanrana and followed it with a dropkick that sent Kazarian to the outside. Unfortunately for Kazarian, Takahashi flew off the apron and hit him with a dropkick. Back in the ring, Kazarian hit a slingshot DDT and got a near fall.

Kazarian wiped his sweat on the ref, so Takahashi rolled him up. Kazarian kicked out. Hiromu was put in a bad position as Kazarian put his feet on the ropes but Hiromu kicked out anyway. Afterwards, both men exchanged a few holds, but Hiromu nailed Kazarian with a lariat and then followed it with the Time Bomb for the pinfall.

Result: Hiromu Takahashi

Rating: 3 stars out of 5

This was a really great opening match. There was a crazy woman yelling at Hiromu throughout the match, which was funny (I can call her crazy, because she’s my friend and I totally recognized her voice). Good match from both men.