No surprise that this was a better match-up with Rose in place of Fidel Cortez. The story of the first fall was Buddy's reluctance to engage with Youngblood, which left Oliver as relatively easy prey for the babyface teamwork. I liked Lightfoot's little rolling sentons. Oliver turned the tide with a taped thumb to Lightfoot's throat. Rose was great during the control section on Lightfoot, strutting and cheap shotting Youngblood on the apron. The people went crazy for Youngblood's hot tag, but he went back to Lightfoot a little too quickly and Buddy took advantage, hitting his backbreaker for the pin. I question them going right back to Lightfoot in peril for the third fall. The work was good, just somewhat redundant. Youngblood dominated for a few minutes after taking the hot tag, but then Buddy set him up for the decisive pin by pulling him to the mat by his hair. The fall came a little too easily considering how fresh Youngblood should have been. But overall, they employed classic tag formula to good effect. Mid-level nomination.

 

Lynch 4

first fall was a lot of fun. Lightfoots quick escapes worked really well and Oliver was taking the babyface offense like a champ. Buddy fleeing in terror every time Youngblood even moved toward him was great. Finishing senton was pretty cool too.

 

The early work in the second fall is based off of a headlock but I really liked how they worked it as Oliver was good working unique escape attempts from the bottom keeping it interesting. Oliver eventually breaks free and Rose comes in to work over Lightfoot. His taunts are great and his offense is sharp. Lightfoot's FIP is pretty good almost entirely because of heels who work really deliberately on offense, cover for a flub of his well, and just generally amp up their act. Seriously I fucking LOVED the way Rose worked in this fall as everything he did looked like it was done with maximum impact. Lightfoot had some good hope spots too. Crowd went batshit for Youngblood who lights up Rose. Lightfoot is tagged back in but misses a big dropkick and Rose wins with his spinning backbreaker.

 

I didn't mind the third fall starting out with Lightfoot in peril and Rose was good with the taunts, but man that back body drop spot with Lightfoot landing on his feet and then selling it was not good. Thesz press near fall/hope spot on Rose was kind of awkward but cool, but the subsequent hot tag tease was kind of botched up. Lightfoot just looked really sloppy in the third fall in general. On top of it the heat section really seemed to drag. Once Youngblood came in things got hot and Rose starting taking some of his classic big bumps. Finish was clever.

 

I liked the fist two falls enough to back this as a nomination, but the third fall felt really tedious.