Chris Hero returns to the ring, teams with KENTA on Dec. 3

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Originally published at https://www.postwrestling.com/2023/11/18/chris-hero-returns-to-the-ring-teams-with-kenta-on-dec-3/

Chris Hero returned to the ring on Friday night for West Coast Pro in his first match since March 2020.

The near four-year layoff included his exit from WWE, assuming roles behind-the-scenes with Ring of Honor, and later becoming a matchmaker at West Coast Pro and a producer at AEW.

Hero defeated Timothy Thatcher in the main event after transitioning to a Fujiwara armbar to submit Thatcher, a reversal from a previous defeat to Thatcher in the same manner.

After the match, Hero, stating how exhausted he was, removed his boots and was about to announce his retirement before admitting that he was “just kidding”. Instead, he announced that on December 3 he will team with New Japan’s KENTA against Kevin Blackwood and Titus Alexander.

MATCH ANNOUNCEMENT!!!

LOS ANGELES!!!!!

CHRIS HERO X KENTA VS TITUS ALEXANDER X KEVIN BLACKWOOD!!!

Sunday, December 3rd
The Don Quixote
Los Angeles, CA
TICKETS ON SALE NOW!https://t.co/L03gBjIRkh pic.twitter.com/ZwWQBewTMW

— West Coast Pro (@WCProOfficial) November 18, 2023

Here are the results from the show:
*Chris Hero over Timothy Thatcher 
*West Coast Pro Championship: Starboy Charlie (c) over Chris Bey
*Johnnie Robbie over Masha Slamovich
*Hammerstone over Derek Dillinger
*#1 Contender Match: Alpha Zo over Bryan Keith
*Calvin Tankman & Beef over Westin Blake & Steve Maclin
*#1 Contender Match: Sandra Moone over Rachael Ellering
*Jiah Jewell over Kevin Blackwood

The Whiplash card streamed free on YouTube on Friday with the replay airing on IWTV.

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I caught the second half of this show after Rewind-A-Smackdown ended. I thought Hero vs. Thatcher was a successful match. Hero looked good but took a quick water break during the match, and admitted he was “tired as f***,” afterward prior to the retirement tease (he just wanted to show off his boots). Thatcher, as other people have seen, has only gotten better.

I also thought Starboy Charlie vs. Chris Bey was quite fun, and Hammerstone was the advertised mystery opponent for Derek Dillinger. Hammerstone looked good and was happy to be back here, as the announcers cited Hammerstone as the first and longest reigning West Coast Pro Champion. There was also an angle where the West Coast Wrecking Crew (Royce Isaacs & Jorel Nelson) introduced the idea of West Coast Pro getting tag team titles.