Exposition
With the vast array of characters in pro wrestling, it is inevitable, but not any less amazing, when two wrestlers compliment each other so perfectly. Some rivalries personify the struggle between light and dark, or rich and poor, or life and death. Delirious and Matt Sydal are two of those wrestlers, tied together by history and a love for the sport, that serve as warped reflections of each other. Their rivalry, their difference in personality, manifests the binary between clarity and incoherence, and always makes for an amazing match-up.
Matt Sydal, known for his high flying and incredible agility, represents absolute clarity with his opened third-eye. He prides himself on being better prepared than all of his opponents, both physically and mentally, as well as emotionally and spiritually. How interesting it is, then, to see him come face to face with a man who’s not only has likely never experienced a moment of clarity in his life, but also thrives off that sense of unknowingness. In his promo before their match, Matt Sydal says:
“My first round match with Delirious is the most puzzling match I’ve had in so long. From the moment I entered wrestling, I was just wrestling blind. And it wasn’t until I met Delirious that I had my eyes opened…Without him I would have no career. It’s as simple as that. And that’s why this is such a puzzling proposition, because I don’t know what I’m going to do. It’s like wrestling myself but in a funhouse mirror.”
This already is extremely intriguing. It’s almost bizarre that Matt Sydal could find a moment of enlightenment in a man whose entire essence makes no sense. It feels like evidence of some deeper connection between the two that video packages and promos can simply never explain.
On the other hand, Delirious describes his relationship with Sydal. He too, expresses the importance that his opponent has in his life. He also acknowledges the existence of a subconscious connection between them, even after years of separation:
“We are different than we once were, but ultimately we are the same. Without Matt Sydal, there is no Delirious”
He ends with an amusing, but also kind of puzzling statement:
“I’m doing this because I’m bored, and I want to play chess with the best in the world. And I’m going to beat everybody.”
As funny as it is to think about a wrestler entering a tournament simply out of boredom, Delirious’ motivation is a perfect example of why he and Sydal embody each other’s polar opposite; Sydal prides himself on his preparation and diligence, while Delirious has neither of those words in his gibberish vocabulary.
So, onto the match:
Act 1
The match starts with an odd sort of tension in the air. Delirious and Sydal shake hands, and Ian Riccaboni notes that there’s a sort of somber feeling to this match. Once the bell rings, the tension in the air dissipates, and the two are off to the races with an extremely fast-paced exchange of submission holds. Delirious pays particular attention to Sydal’s knee, in a clear attempt to ground the high-flyer. During a brief pause, a devilish smile appears on Sydal’s face, and he says to his opponent, “You see what I’m saying, buddy? I know you do.”
The two continue their flurry of grappling and leap-frogging, until Sydal catches Delirious in a muffler stretch and brings the pace of the match to a dead halt. Delirious is forced to move to the ropes, but instead of simply holding onto it for a break, he climbs over while holding onto Sydal’s arm. Once on the apron, he drops off to the floor, bringing Sydal’s shoulders down hard onto the top rope. There’s a sudden shift here, as if a facade has just been pulled back.
From here on out, Delirious targets the left shoulder of Sydal. Riccaboni points out Sydal had surgery on that shoulder in 2010, and dislocated it in 2018. He poses the question, “was this just a smokescreen, going for that leg the whole time?” And to answer, Caprice Coleman notes, “who else would’ve known about his injuries like that?”
This is momentous, as it shows that the seemingly aloof, zany Delirious is actually incredibly calculating. Yes, he joined the ROH Pure Tournament out of boredom, but he still has the cerebral capacity to outmaneuver any opponent, especially one he knows as well as his friend Matt Sydal.
Act 2
Delirious quickly captures Sydal in a short arm scissor. Sydal, though, counters by stacking him onto his shoulders and gets a two-count. Now, the match feels much more brutal, as the pair turn to chopping each other sharply across the chest. Delirious then goes to run the ropes, but uses his infamous method of misdirection to confuse his opponent by running to the rope diagonally across from the one he propels off of. Sydal is at first thrown off, but quickly matches Delirious’ rhythm. The two collide with double clotheslines in the center of the ring.
This exchange is very notable, as it shows that Sydal is just as capable of employing funhouse-type tricks as Delirious is. After all, he has known Delirious for two whole decades.
A leaping high knee from Sydal folds Delirious like a lawn chair. Sydal follows up with a standing twisted moonsault, but still can’t put Delirious away.
Sydal then does a series of three kicks, the first two to Delirious’ knees. After the second, he points to delirious’ legs again, but hits him with a vicious question mark kick to the face. This is another example of Sydal using Delirious’ own method of misdirection against him. To seal the deal, and cement the idea that Matt Sydal is just as familiar with Delirious’ style of chaos as he is with his own third-eye’s clarity, Sydal taps Delirious out with his own finisher, the Cobra Clutch.
The two shake hands afterwards, both fairly exhausted after their physical game of chess.
Conclusion
If I’m completely honest, I would’ve liked to see this match go much longer. The ending felt very abrupt, and I think taking a moment to slow down the pace in the second half would’ve been very useful for the match’s storytelling. Given that this was just a first round match in the Pure Tournament, though, I obviously understand why that wasn’t possible.
I hope we see more of this, not only between Delirious and Matt Sydal, but in Ring of Honor in general. The contrast in personality between Matt Sydal and Delirious gives them such interesting in-ring chemistry. It feels almost like a confrontation between Nightwing and the Riddler, if Nightwing and the Riddler were friends for over two decades. Wherever Delirious and Matt Sydal find themselves after this tournament is over, I hope we can see them in a ring together again someday.