Shane Taylor and JD Griffey were up next to take on two men they know very well: Swerve Strickland and Keith Lee.
This was a perfect matchup of teams because both duos are set up the same way. Lee and Taylor are the big powerhouses, while Swerve and Griffey are agile lightweights by comparison.
The smaller competitors got the match going, but Swerve quickly tagged out when he became frustrated. Griffey used his striking ability at first, but Lee's power was a little too much for him to handle, so Taylor took over.
The former partners were ready to square off when Swerve ruined the party by tagging himself in. He came to regret that decision when Taylor began to establish his dominance.
When we finally got Lee and Taylor in the ring together, the crowd lit up. The big men circled each other before engaging in the battle everyone came to see.
This match had a little bit of everything. We had high-flying action, stiff strikes, huge feats of strength, long-term storytelling and some great spots. This will be a contender for Match of the Night for many fans.
Lee and Swerve had several miscommunications throughout the match that led Swerve choosing to leave his partner alone in the ring with two angry opponents. The Limitless One was able to dodge a kick from Griffey that connected with Taylor. This allowed Lee to hit his finisher to score the win.
Winners: Swerve in Our Glory
Notable Moments and Observations
- Swerve refused the fist bump Lee offered him during their entrance.
- The way the Arlington, Texas, crowd reacted when Swerve deprived us of seeing Taylor and Lee face off was hilarious. ROH crowds are great at participating in the show.
- Lee catching Taylor in his arms might be one of the most impressive feats of strength you see all year.
- Seeing a guy like Lee hit a moonsault from the middle rope will never get old.
- The way all of the different stories unfolded in this match was done so well.
