6 Ups & 2 Downs From ROH Supercard Of Honor 2024
2. Kyle Fletcher Might Be The Next Big Thing
SO CLOSE!
Watch #ROHSupercard LIVE on #HonorClub ▶️ https://t.co/8dcdtxqvDf@BigShottyLee | @kylefletcherpro pic.twitter.com/38HeQytIVj
— ROH - Ring of Honor Wrestling (@ringofhonor) April 6, 2024
Kyle Fletcher is a freak, the heir apparent to Kenny Omega and Will Ospreay, packing a level of precision and pure thudding impact that is incredible to witness live.
Lee Johnson, who hasn't (yet) sharpened his blade on the International stage, isn't quite as good. He works a similar hybrid style, and is a superb athlete in his own right, but his chops, for example, aren't as loud nor as heavy. This informed the story of the match: Fletcher blew Johnson away with his unreal speed and power blend, but on the biggest night of his life, Johnson refused to give up. In a shoot-out of a match, he simply would not let Fletcher score the winner. Often, this familiar tale can feel desperate, like the wrestlers are trying to prove themselves to be the most talented without simply attempting to win - but the tenor of the match was superb.
Johnson's core babyface appeal elevated it immeasurably, and without ever taking the piss, the near-falls messed with the rhythm of the match in the best possible way: it really felt, after eating a ridiculous powerbomb, that it was Johnson's night. It wasn't; Fletcher retained the ROH World TV title with a sick twisted brainbuster after a cloudburst of wild, dangerous-feeling action. There are few things better than an expected very good match over-delivering the longer it goes. This was very much that.
Fletcher's running dropkick to the face is almost as great as the V-Trigger and Hidden Blade, in that it's difficult to work out how he hasn't caused legitimate damage to his opponent.