Tag: roh tv results

ROH TV results: Marty Scurll defends against Frankie Kazarian

Posted on by Chris Aiken

Synopsis —

Marty Scurll defended his ROH World TV title in the main event against Frankie Kazarian, albeit with some outside interference. Matt Sydal then made a surprise return to confront “The Villain” after the title match. In another confrontation involving a championship, ROH World Champion Christopher Daniels and Cody (Rhodes) looked ahead to a match in the future.

Elsewhere on the show, Josh “The Goods” Woods won the 2017 Top Prospect Tournament only to find himself the target of another potential prospect. Also, Lio Rush went airborne in a match against Shane Taylor.

Where to Watch —

The episode began airing this past weekend in syndication. The show is available this week via the FITE TV app before airing Wednesday at midnight ET on Comet TV, including that channel’s free online live stream. In Canada, ROH airs on The Fight Network. The episode is also available via the official ROH website for free starting Thursday. Check local listings for availability in your area.

For our subscribers, Bryan and Vinny reviewed this episode on last Sunday night’s edition of the B&V Show.

Show Recap —

The episode opened with an in-ring promo. Is this Raw?

ROH World Champion Christopher Daniels was in the ring welcoming viewers to the show. He went on to talk about his challengers past and present. Daniels concluded by mentioning that Cody (Rhodes) attacked him at Supercard of Honor.

Daniels wanted ROH officials to book a match with him and Cody. Cue Cody’s theme song as he entered the scene to confront Daniels in person. Cody did a full entrance with pyro. Cody wanted a title match at the War of the Worlds show in the Hammerstein Ballroom.

Cody portrayed himself as an outsider that is not even a full-timer in ROH. According to a note in the Tuesday Daily Update, that might not be the case for much longer as Cody is reportedly inking a deal with ROH. Cody will challenge for the title in a triple threat match at the War of the Worlds pay-per-view in New York.

A video package highlighted ROH World TV Champion Marty Scurll, who defends his title on the main event of this show. Then in a pre-taped promo, Frankie Kazarian threatened violence upon the champion. Kazarian said Scurll will need his umbrella because it will rain blood. He may need more than an umbrella if that were to happen. Nonetheless, the umbrella would still factor into their match later on.

Shane Taylor (w/ Caprice Coleman) defeated Lio Rush

Before the match, Coleman chastised Rush for deceiving The Rebellion. Taylor would make Rush pay his penance in storyline. In reality, Rush is leaving the promotion and putting over a new monster heel on the way out.

The story of the match was David vs. Goliath, except Goliath got the win. Rush flew in and out of the ring during the fast-paced match, but Taylor kept overpowering him. To set up the heat spot, Taylor caught Rush on a springboard and posted him. After a commercial break, Rush flew once again as the pace quickened even more.

Coleman got involved by hopping on the apron. He got knocked off and dispatched upside down on the outside. They went into the finish where Rush was launched in the air taking a sit-out powerbomb. Taylor then pinned him.

The Motor City Machine Guns ran to the ring to assist Rush. They have an ongoing program with The Rebellion, so the heel faction attacked them. Taylor climbed the ropes and splashed Chris Sabin to put an exclamation point on the beatdown.

Josh “The Goods” Woods defeated John Skyler to win the 2017 Top Prospect Tournament

The two finalists in the tournament each got a pre-taped promo to establish their characters, along with a video package highlighting their journey to the finals. The culmination of the tournament then led to an angle establishing a new character not even in the tourney itself.

Woods has an MMA gimmick and worked that into the finish. Skyler got to play to his strengths while also helping lead the way. They continued a theme on this show of doing a lot in a limited amount of time.

Heading into the finish, Skyler got a near fall in the closing moments and looked to put away a reeling Woods. However, Woods countered with an O’Connor roll, then followed up with a German suplex. After a two count, Woods transitioned into a kneebar for the submission.

In the aftermath of the match, David Starr ran in to jump Woods. He sucker-punched him and began to mock Woods. Starr then cut a promo putting himself over, along with mentioning his countless number of nicknames. He ended by saying he is very good at professional wrestling. Okay, cool story bro.

Adam Cole in a pre-taped promo once again pleaded with The Young Bucks for them all to reconcile their differences. In recent weeks, Cole was more solemn, but this promo had more panic in his voice. Desperation mounts as he looks at ways to reunite the Superkliq.

ROH World TV Champion Marty Scurll defeated Frankie Kazarian to retain his title

They began with chain wrestling and Scurll soon started to underestimate Kazarian. Scurll quickly paid for that after taking an implant DDT on the floor. Somehow, Scurll managed to recover and counter Kazarian. It wasn’t for long as Kazarian unleashed a flurry of offense leading to a few near falls.

Scurll was able to regroup and attempt to apply a crossface chicken wing. Kazarian countered into a pinning combination for a two count. Scurll then dropped Kazarian into a brainbuster for another near fall.

Being “The Villain,” Scurll retrieved his umbrella. Kazarian cut him off and got the umbrella. Scurll then got a bag of powder that was hidden under the ring. Scurll threw powder towards Kazarian, only to inadvertently blind the referee instead. Kazarian executed his finisher called the Ace of Spades.

After covering Kazarian for longer than a three count with the referee still down selling, Bullet Club’s Hangman Page stormed to the ring and hit Kazarian with a chair. Scurll covered Kazarian as the referee miraculously regained his sight long enough to count the pinfall.

Afterwards, Daniels rushed to the ring and tended to Kazarian. Scurll then grabbed the house microphone and said he wanted more competition in ROH. Suddenly, Matt Sydal returned to ROH wanting a TV title shot. He confronted the TV champion as the show closed.

ROH TV results: The Briscoes & Bully Ray challenge The Kingdom

Posted on by Chris Aiken

Synopsis —

Bully Ray teamed with Mark & Jay Briscoe to challenge The Kingdom for their six-man tag titles. Hanson and Punishment Martinez battled in a singles match with tag team implications. And a semifinal match set the stage for the conclusion of the Top Prospect Tournament.

Also, “Story time with Adam Cole” turned solemn and the Bullet Club retaliated against Frankie Kazarian.

Where to watch —

Airing this past weekend in syndication, the episode is available this week via the FITE TV app before airing on Wednesday at midnight ET on Comet TV, including on that channel’s free online live stream. The episode is also available on the official ROH website to watch for free on Thursday. Check local listings for availability.

Show recap —

The show opened with Mark and Jay Briscoe reflecting on the debut of Bully Ray in ROH where he joined up with “Dem Boys” to form a team. In the main event of this show, they challenge The Kingdom for the ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Championship.

Damien “Punishment” Martinez defeated Hanson

These two were recently in a short tag team feud that produced some wild brawls. They picked up where they left off here by brawling at the outset of a mean guy match.

Though the match was good enough, annoying noises (and these weren’t just cheers or boos) from a portion of the crowd were so audible it made the first half of the match almost unbearable to watch. The second half of the match after the first commercial break was much more pleasant as the noises stopped.

The brawling gave way to them trading near falls down the stretch. Hanson kept countering Martinez when he attempted a chokeslam. Not necessarily breaking news, but Hanson can fly like a cruiserweight. He did springboards and such. Not to be outdone, Martinez ran and leapt over the ropes into a dive to the outside.

In the closing moments, Hanson climbed the ropes looking to finish off Martinez with a high flying move off the top. Suddenly, Davey Boy Smith Jr. walked onstage to cause a distraction. Hanson turned his attention to Davey Boy, allowing Martinez to capitalize and execute his South of Heaven chokeslam for the pinfall.

Recapping events from the 15th Anniversary Show, footage of TK O’Ryan smashing his leg into a guardrail showed the injury that led to him being sidelined for some time to come. Thusly, the six-man tag later in the show will include a substitute for The Kingdom to defend the titles.

After the recap of the severe injury to O’Ryan, Silas Young cut a promo hyping a house show. That was ironic as he would go on to replace O’Ryan in the main event of this TV show.

In his promo, Silas promoted the “ROH Unauthorized” show in Milwaukee. As the tagline indicates, the show will be more edgy as all the matches are “unsanctioned” so anything goes. Silas vowed to fight a lot and drink lots of beer.

In an angle, Hangman Page attacked Frankie Kazarian in a parking garage. The Bullet Club were retaliating on Kazarian for swerving them. Page jumped Kazarian as an unknown associate filmed the sneak attack.

Grabbing a rope, Page went to presumably put a noose around Kazarian’s neck when a bystander wandered onto the scene off camera. Bullet Club then fled the scene.

John Skyler defeated Curt Stallion and advanced to the finals of the Top Prospect Tournament

Taped during “Manhattan Mayhem” from the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City, Brutal Bob Evans provided guest commentary for this semifinal match of the tournament.

Both Stallion and Skyler worked hard trying to have as exciting a match as possible. They were doing just that when Stallion wiped out on a dive through the ropes. Skyler sidestepped and Stallion crashed onto the floor just before a commercial break. The match continued and they kept working hard. God only knows how as Stallion took quite a bump on the outside.

They set a quick pace and continued it throughout most of the match. For the finish, Stallion went for a Frankensteiner as they were perched on the top turnbuckle. Skyler blocked it to deliver his finisher, Southern Salvation. Skyler pinned Stallion to advance towards the finals of the Top Prospect Tournament.

Adam Cole somewhat tried to repair ill will in the Superkliq subfaction of the Bullet Club. In a solemn promo, Cole pleaded with The Young Bucks for them all to reconcile their differences. Ever the heel, Cole never totally admitted his own fault nor did he take any blame for their issues.

The Briscoes & Bully Ray defeated The Kingdom & Silas Young to win the ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Championship

A backstage skit showed Silas Young making his proposal to The Kingdom for himself to sub in exchange for his own team getting a future title shot. Though everyone agreed to him being the replacement, tension clearly existed within the group from the beginning.

That would play into the story of the match. Young even argued with both Matt Taven and Vinny Marseglia in the ring before things got started.

As Young argued with The Kingdom, Bully Ray interrupted them to introduce himself and The Briscoes. Then they jumped the heels before the bell and cleaned house.

Marseglia was getting bullied by Bully Ray when he cut him off. The Briscoes pummeled Marseglia for doing such. Taven and Young interfered to crotch Jay Briscoe on a ring post, turning the tide for The Kingdom.

The heels worked over Jay until a hot tag to brother Mark. As Mark began to run wild, The Kingdom cut him off. Young tried to steal a cover from The Kingdom. Taven and Young begin to argue when a babyface tag brought in Bully Ray to clean house.

Both Briscoes lifted Marseglia for Bully Ray to deliver the 3D. Bully Ray then pinned Marseglia to capture the ROH World Six-Man Championship.

ROH TV results: The Hardys and Briscoes battle for the tag titles

Posted on by Chris Aiken

Ring of Honor television from Sam’s Town in Las Vegas featured a double main event on a two-match show that was the go-home to Supercard of Honor XI.

In a battle between teaming brothers, The Hardys defended the ROH World Tag Team Championship against The Briscoes in the advertised main event. For the other half of the double main event, the Bullet Club’s Superkliq found themselves challenged to a six-man tag match. Challenges were a constant theme throughout the show.

A challenge by The Young Bucks amended the stipulations for the main event at Supercard of Honor this Saturday in Lakeland, Florida. Likewise, yet another challenge during a backstage skit set up a World TV title match on an upcoming episode.

This TV episode began airing over the past weekend in syndication. Available this week via the FITE TV app, the show airs Wednesday at midnight ET on Comet TV affiliates and that channel’s free online live stream. The episode is then available on Thursday to watch for free via the official ROH website.

Bryan and Vinny reviewed the show this past Sunday evening on the B&V Show available to our subscribers.

This episode was the first to air from the set of shows taped for TV the night after the last pay-per-view, so storylines were fresh and focused on the upcoming supercard.

The show opened with a video package highlighting Christopher Daniels’ title win in the main event of the 15th Anniversary PPV. Daniels then addressed the audience for the first time since winning the ROH World Championship.

Daniels had an alcoholic beverage to celebrate. He poured himself an appletini as Frankie Kazarian introduced him as the new champion. Daniels gave credit to Kazarian for the plan he implemented that led Daniels to capture the title. He also said the only thing sweeter than his drink of choice was winning the title.

Kazarian added he had championship goals of his own, noting he earned an opportunity to challenge for the ROH World TV Championship. He gave a warning to the current champion, Marty Scurll.

Kazarian closed the promo talking about them going their own way in singles matches for now, but they will always be brothers and “The Addiction you just can’t kick.”

Dalton Castle, the top contender for the ROH World title, strolled onstage as The Addiction concluded their remarks. After a commercial break, Castle tried a sip of the appletini and was thoroughly impressed. He asked Daniels for a full drink.

Daniels said he only had one glass. Castle told him not to worry and snapped his fingers. Racing to the ring, The Boys rushed in with a martini glass that was much bigger than Daniels’ own drinkware. Castle grasped a freshly poured drink while he began to warn Daniels about being a marked man as the champion. The Bullet Club theme song interrupted them as Adam Cole and The Young Bucks walked onstage.

The Superkliq was on the scene.

Cole cut a promo that began with him categorizing Daniels’ title win as him capturing “lightning in a bottle.” Besides calling it a fluke, Cole also said The Addiction​ stole the title from him. Cole went on to demean Castle before saying the only deserving contender is “Adam Cole BAY BAY!” 

That led to Kazarian challenging the Bullet Club’s Superkliq to a six-man tag match for later in the show. Cole accepted on behalf of the Bucks.

In a backstage skit, ROH World TV Champion Marty Scurll cut a promo bemoaning what he called the lack of challengers in ROH. He called out anyone on the roster to challenge him for his title.

The director yelled “cut” as the camera kept rolling. Kenny King entered the scene, saying he overheard Scurll’s comments. King challenged Scurll to a title match and the champion accepted. They glared at each other before each smirked.

ROH World Tag Team Champions Matt & Jeff Hardy defeated Mark & Jay Briscoe to retain their titles

Besides the ROH tag titles, The Hardys also had possession of the Superkick titles they stole from The Young Bucks. Of course, there was no mention of the Broken Hardys gimmick. That didn’t stop the crowd from chanting “delete” and “obsolete” at one point during the match.

In Matt Hardy’s last run with ROH, he feuded with The Briscoes. They picked up here where they left off, with Jeff Hardy added to the mix making it that much better.

The Hardys gained the early advantage. The Briscoes cut them off when The Hardys attempted Poetry in Motion, leading to Jay diving through the ropes with a tope suicida followed by Mark leaping off the apron with a Cactus Jack elbow on the floor.

The match went through two commercial breaks. Upon returning from the first break, Mark and Jay were taking turns working over Jeff.

Jeff fired up and springboarded into Whisper in the Wind. On a hot tag, Matt cleaned house on Mark. The Hardys had Mark grounded heading into the second commercial break of the match.

On a double clothesline, both Mark and Jeff were down. They each tagged their brother. Jay and Matt began brawling and Matt backed Jay into a corner, where he began biting him. Adding color to the match, Jay bled after being bitten by Matt. They continued fighting, then everyone got involved.

Mark superplexed Jeff into the ring and Jay superplexed Matt onto brother Jeff. Mark followed up with a Froggy-bow for a near fall on Matt. The Briscoes set up for the Doomsday Device. Jeff shoved Mark off the top turnbuckle. Mark landed on the apron to regroup and springboard off the top rope to complete the Doomsday Device on Matt.

Jeff broke up the subsequent pinning attempt. He brawled with Jay, which led to Jeff dispatching Jay with a Twist of Fate on the floor. Matt gave Mark a Twist of Fate in the ring, setting up a Swanton from Jeff. Matt went to cover Mark, but Mark countered with a crucifix for a near fall.

At the finish, The Hardys got the win with a backslide/cradle combo.

Afterwards, The Young Bucks sauntered onstage to amend the tag title match set for Supercard of Honor on April 1st. They wanted to add a stipulation to the match.

Nick and Matt Jackson challenged Matt and Jeff Hardy to make the bout a ladder match for the ROH World Tag Team Championship with both the ROH titles and the stolen Superkick titles hanging overhead.

The Hardys accepted the stipulation in the TV angle setting up the ladder match this weekend. Notably, The Hardys only nonverbally conveyed the message they would accept the new stipulations. 

The Hardys have yet to cut a promo as characters on ROH TV since the legal wrangling began over ownership of intellectual property associated with their unique personas.

The Addiction & Dalton Castle (w/ The Boys) defeated The Young Bucks & Adam Cole

A brawl erupted with the match joined in progress. It started off wild, leading to Nick Jackson jumping off the ropes into a Swanton onto a pile of bodies. Bullet Club then powerbombed the three babyfaces onto the ring apron. The Young Bucks and Cole knelt down for the Rise of the Terminator.

With Cole still kneeling, The Boys tripped up The Bucks when they went to run the ropes. The Boys comedically joined Cole as they knelt down mocking the Terminator spot. They tried running the ropes only to get tripped and superkicked. All the while, Cole continued kneeling in a pose.

The Bucks slid back into the ring to rejoin Cole and complete the Rise of the Terminator, leading to dives out of the ring. Bullet Club singled out Kazarian and worked him over. The Young Bucks did some wild high spots.

This led into a hot tag where Daniels ran wild on the Bullet Club. Daniels went for Angel’s Wings, but Cole made the save with a superkick. Castle then saved Daniels.

Castle shined in the closing moments with a series of suplexes. After a flurry of offense and big moves, Daniels dropped Matt with Angel’s Wings and everybody lay prone selling. Everyone began to rise and moments later Cole executed a Canadian Destroyer on Kazarian. The Young Bucks unleashed a Superkick Party as the Superkliq dominated.

But it wasn’t for long as the Jackson brothers accidentally superkicked Cole. Daniels did a springboard moonsault on the Jacksons. Castle then delivered a Bang-a-Rang and pinned Cole. 

The show closed with promos hyping Supercard of Honor this weekend in Florida. That show is available live this Saturday as an iPPV via the FITE app and the ROH website.

ROH TV results: 15th Anniversary go-home show

Posted on by Chris Aiken

Ring of Honor television from this past week was the go-home show ahead of tonight’s 15th Anniversary pay-per-view. The main development heading into the PPV was the heel turn of Frankie Kazarian, where he joined the Bullet Club in the aftermath of this show’s main event eight-man tag match.

The show opened with a promo from one team involved in the main event later on. The Briscoes, Jay Lethal, and Bobby Fish hyped their eight-man tag match with the Bullet Club.

They took turns insulting their opponents.

Dalton Castle provided guest commentary for the first match alongside Ian Riccaboni. In storyline, Castle and his Boys have issues to settle with The Kingdom and they face them on the PPV tonight for the World Six-Man Championship.

World Six-Man Tag Team Champions The Kingdom defeated The Rebellion to retain their titles

TK O’Ryan and Rhett Titus had a hair pulling contest at the outset, followed by comedy spots with Caprice Coleman and Vinny Marseglia. Matt Taven and Kenny King then started having a wrestling match.

Though the match was originally heels against heels, Titus left the match selling an injury to his knee. That left The Kingdom with a three-on-two advantage, seemingly making The Rebellion the de facto babyfaces. Thusly, The Kingdom worked over Coleman for the heat.

Coleman made a comeback and tried to tag out, but King was knocked off the apron and unable to tag. Suddenly, Lio Rush hit the ring dressed in camouflage gear. The Rebellion previously tried to recruit him for their stable. Here he looked to have joined them, or did he?

Rush ran wild off a hot tag, only to turn on The Rebellion when he dropped King with a cutter. The Kingdom executed a triple-team powerbomb and Taven covered King for the pinfall.

In a pre-taped promo, Jay White challenged Jay Briscoe to a rematch after their last bout ended in a draw. On another pre-taped promo with Briscoe in Sandy Fork, he accepted the challenge for a match that airs on TV in two weeks.

Brian Milonas defeated Raphael King (w/ Devyn Nicole) to advance in the Top Prospect Tournament

Brutal Bob Evans was back for guest commentary as he does on every match in this tourney. They had a slugfest at the outset, then King got to shine briefly before being cut off. King made a quick comeback and used a Rock Bottom for a near fall.

When he attempted a second Rock Bottom, Milonas blocked it and dropped King with a sidewalk slam, followed by a senton to cover him for the pin.

Christopher Daniels provided guest commentary for the main event, setting the stage for the angle that closed the show.

Adam Cole, Cody & The Young Bucks defeated Jay Lethal, Bobby Fish & The Briscoes

The action got wild from the start when a huge brawl erupted with dives all over the place. After the ring emptied, Cody squared off with Lethal in the ring since they have an ongoing feud.

Fish and Cole squared off next as they also have ongoing issues. The Young Bucks and Briscoes then squared off since those two teams have been battling each other. At first the Briscoes appeared to block superkicks, only for both to eat superkicks from Nick and Matt Jackson. Lethal hit the ring and attempted the Lethal Injection, but the Jacksons superkicked him.

With an ode to Kenny Omega, Nick and Matt Jackson did the Rise of the Terminator spot leading to them doing flip dives to the outside. That led to Jay Briscoe doing a tope con hilo to the outside, then his brother Mark followed with a blockbuster off the apron. Mark also climbed to the top turnbuckle, but Cody cut him off and superplexed him to the floor onto a pile of bodies.

Back in the ring, Bullet Club got heat on Mark Briscoe. That built to a hot tag that brought Lethal in like a house of fire, leading to a trifecta of topes. On the third tope, Lethal inadvertently hit Fish and that caused dissension between the two tag partners.

The dissension led to a shoving match, then a brawl between Fish and Lethal. They brawled around the building, leaving the two Briscoes to face the four members of the Bullet Club. They fought valiantly and were able to single out Matt Jackson.

The Briscoes went for the Doomsday Device, but Jackson landed on his feet to superkick them. A superkick party began and Jay Briscoe fell victim to Cross Rhodes. Cole executed the Last Shot on Mark Briscoe as the Jacksons also superkicked Mark. The Young Bucks finished off Mark with the Meltzer Driver and Matt pinned him.

In the aftermath, the dust settled and Cole was in the ring gloating over the victory while holding his ROH World title overhead. Christopher Daniels left his perch at the commentary table to rush the ring and sneak up behind Cole. They began to slug it out and Daniels hoisted Cole to deliver Angel’s Wings.

Daniels retrieved hair clippers and a pair of scissors, threatening to cut Cole’s long locks. Cole tried to fight back and Daniels delivered Angel’s Wings again. Daniels’ tag team partner, Frankie Kazarian, hit the ring to seemingly assist in giving Cole a hair cut.

Kazarian removed his hoodie to reveal a Bullet Club t-shirt. Kazarian faced off with Daniels. The distraction allowed for The Young Bucks to superkick Daniels. The rest of Bullet Club surrounded a prone Daniels to welcome Kazarian as their newest member.

On the next episode of ROH TV, War Machine faces BJ Whitmer & Punisher Martinez in a no DQ match.

The latest episode begins airing this weekend in syndication. The show is then available Monday evening via the FITE TV app before airing on Wednesday at midnight ET on Comet TV, including that channel’s online live stream. The episode is then available to watch on Thursday via the official ROH website.

ROH TV results: Marty Scurll defends against Donovan Dijak

Posted on by Chris Aiken

The latest episode of Ring of Honor television continued the build to ROH’s 15th Anniversary with the first episode from the most recent TV tapings at Stage AE in Pittsburgh.

Though not part of any storyline, the show featured the departure of Donovan Dijak as he finishes up with ROH by putting over World TV Champion Marty Scurll in the main event. Also on this episode, dissension emerged between The Addiction. In addition, the annual Top Prospect Tournament began with a first round match.

The show began airing in syndication this past weekend before becoming available this week via streaming platforms like the FITE TV app and the official ROH website. The episode also airs this Wednesday at midnight ET on Comet TV, including on their free internet live stream.

Bryan and Vinny also review the episode on the latest edition of the B&V Show available to our subscribers.

Ian Riccaboni took over the duty of lead announcer on this show after the recent departure of Kevin Kelly. Continuing the theme of a rotating cast of guest announcers, Bobby Fish joined Riccaboni on commentary for the first segment.

Fish did guest commentary for one match, then he cut a promo hyping his match this weekend where he challenges Adam Cole for the ROH World Championship on a show dubbed “Manhattan Mayhem VI” at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York.

Manhattan Mayhem was heavily plugged throughout the episode, continuing a trend this year of ROH using their TV show to promote their house shows more so than ever before.

The show itself opened with a video package devoted to Christopher Daniels. Now the top contender after winning the Decade of Excellence tournament, he challenges for the ROH World title in the main event of the next pay-per-view.

The story is the aging veteran, still as talented as ever, on a quest for an elusive World title that culminates at 15th Anniversary in Las Vegas on PPV with Daniels vowing to finally realize his destiny.

Daniels would also start the show with a promo in the ring clearly playing a babyface role. He pondered who would be champion when he challenges for the title.

Adam Cole interrupted to say he would be the champion forever. Daniels took off his jacket, signaling that he wanted to fight. Cole assured him there would be a match.

Hangman Page hit the the ring for a sneak attack. Frankie Kazarian made the save for Daniels and a tag match would soon begin as Kazarian challenged the Bullet Club. Fish on commentary was critical of Kazarian and questioned his motives, foreshadowing the seeds of dissension planted within The Addiction as their story unfolds.

Adam Cole & Hangman Page defeated Christopher Daniels & Frankie Kazarian

Daniels shined early on, then sold during much of the match for the heat. After a hot tag, Kazarian cleaned house and ran wild leading to a slingshot cutter on Cole for a near fall. Daniels tagged back in as The Addiction did a double-team powerbomb for another near fall. Daniels and Cole had a slugfest before Cole signaled for a superkick.

Daniels blocked the kick and set up Cole for the Best Moonsault Ever. Daniels springboarded into a moonsault only for Cole to counter by getting a boot up. Cole rolled up Daniels for the pinfall.

Kazarian yelled at Daniels afterwards, angry over them losing. In a backstage skit, Kazarian yelled at Daniels again and stormed off.

John Skyler defeated Sean Carr to advance in the Top Prospect Tournament

Brutal Bob Evans provided guest commentary for this match, which was the first in the tournament. Both participants introduced themselves in pre-taped promos.

Carr got to shine at the outset before Skyler cut him off with a lariat and a Tiger Driver for a near fall. Carr made a comeback, leading to a dive through the ropes to the outside.

They fought on the apron and Skyler speared Carr. Skyler dove through the ropes for another spear and a near fall. Carr got a hope spot in the closing moments. He leapt off the middle rope to deliver a codebreaker, and also a moonsault.

Perched on the top turnbuckle, Skyler jumped off the ropes into a rolling fireman’s carry slam to finish off Carr and cover him for the pin. Skyler advances past the first round.

In an odd segment, The Tempura Boyz were supposed to wrestle the Motor City Machine Guns, but MCMG were apparently attacked backstage. Everybody seemed confused and the show quickly cut to commercial.

Before the main event, a rundown plugged the card for Manhattan Mayhem this weekend. The lineup for the March 4th show is here.

ROH World TV Champion Marty Scurll defeated Donovan Dijak to retain his title

Dijak offered to shake hands with Scurll for the traditional pre-match Code of Honor. Scurll kicked away Dijak’s hand. At the bell, Scurll charged in and ate a kick from Dijak.

Scurll bailed out of the ring and Dijak flew over the ropes with a wild flip dive to the floor. Dijak followed by springboarding back into the ring with a flying elbow drop. Dijak did a somersault senton and sprung off the middle rope into a splash.

They had a series of counters leading to Scurll posting Dijak. Scurll then delivered a tornado DDT on the floor. Scurll seemingly had the advantage. Suddenly, Dijak did a backflip off the apron and demanded a hand shake. Scurll cut him down with a kick.

Dijak eventually made a comeback when he reversed a suplex. He ragdolled Scurll and went on the attack. Scurll countered only to end up hoisted by Dijak for a sit-out powerbomb.

Before going to commercial, Lio Rush appeared on the stage to scout Scurll for their upcoming title match at 15th Anniversary.

After the break, Scurll and Dijak were exchanging strikes and countering each other. Scurll delivered a brainbuster for a near fall. Scurll signaled for his finishing hold, but Dijak countered. Scurll then also countered into a victory roll for a two count. After hitting several superkicks, Scurll used a piledriver and Dijak kicked out.

Scurll went for his finishing hold again, but Dijak escaped to pick up Scurll and deliver Feast Your Eyes. On the subsequent pin attempt, Scurll kicked out of Dijak’s finisher. Dijak again demanded Scurll shake his hand. Scurll grabbed Dijak’s fingers and snapped them instead. Scurll started landing strikes, only to fall victim to a Choke Breaker from Dijak.

Dijak leapt to the top rope and springboarded into a corkscrew moonsault. Scurll moved out of the way and soon applied the crossface chicken wing. Dijak tapped out and Scurll retained via submission.

Afterwards, Lio Rush got in the ring to have a face-to-face staredown with Scurll, who hit Rush with a belt shot. Still trying to recruit Rush into their stable, The Rebellion ran in to save Rush from a beatdown. Scurll bailed and scattered. MCMG also appeared out of nowhere to glare at The Rebellion. Did they attack them earlier? Only time will tell.

On the next episode of ROH TV, the Briscoes team with Bobby Fish & Jay Lethal for an eight-man tag match against Bullet Club members The Young Bucks, Adam Cole & Cody (Rhodes).

ROH TV results: Wild tag action as Cody returns to Ring of Honor

Posted on by Chris Aiken

Ring of Honor television from this past week continued the series of episodes taped at Center Stage Theater in Atlanta. The show was the second to last episode taped in Atlanta and featured Cody the American Nightmare’s first appearance since his TV debut.

In the rotating guest announcer spot that changed with each different episode filmed at the tapings in Center Stage, Mark Briscoe joined Kevin Kelly for commentary during most of the show.

The show from this past week opened with a vignette featuring Cody (Rhodes) as his new “American Nightmare” persona. The video package was the same as the version used by New Japan to hype his debut in that promotion.

A graphic read “Cody is coming,” and at the end of the video, Cody snuffed out a cigar on a Wrestle Kingdom poster. ROH co-opted the teaser for Cody’s appearance on this show.

Hangman Page defeated Matt Sells

Page jumped Sells before the bell, kicking him in the face. Page proceeded to pummel Sells proverbially from pillar to post. He even threw him into the ring post. Page springboarded into a flip clothesline before finishing off the beating with the Right of Passage and the pinfall.

Afterwards, The Young Bucks stormed the ring and superkicked Sells. Cody and ROH World Champion Adam Cole strolled to the ring. The crowd chanted Cody’s name and “welcome home.” Cody responded to the latter by kneeling down to kiss the mat.

Cody went on to address the audience and said he waited eleven years to hear such a reception in Atlanta. He then asked what took them so long and went on to cut a promo on the city. Cody buried the city and went heel on the crowd.

Cody called out Jay Lethal, saying people referred to him as the gatekeeper of ROH. Cody then insulted Lethal by saying he was a “doorman” instead. Lethal marched to the ring and got on the ring apron to confront the Bullet Club.

Cody invited him into the ring, but Lethal was reluctant being outnumbered five to one. Cody spat at Lethal, who then charged into the ring to take down Cody. The other four members of Bullet Club then began putting the boots to Lethal.

Bobby Fish ran down to try and make the save. He was cleaning house, but the numbers game was soon too great to overcome. As a gang attack began on Fish, other babyfaces ran in to help make the save.

A multi-person brawl ensued as Jay White, Lio Rush, and Alex Shelley hit the ring. After a commercial break, the brawl was over with and four people remained in front of the crowd as a tag match began.

Bobby Fish & Jay Lethal defeated Adam Cole & Cody

Fish and Lethal got to shine early on. Cody and Cole conspired to cut off Fish, leading to the heat spot. They worked over Fish, keeping him on their side of the ring. Fish fired up and sent Cole into the turnbuckles with an exploder into a corner.

Upon a hot tag, Lethal ran wild and cleaned house on Cody. Cole jumped back in the ring to break up a pinning attempt. Lethal caught Cole with the Lethal Injection and went for a pin. Referee Todd Sinclair refused to count because Cole was not the legal man.

Fish and Cody squared off and Fish got a near fall on Cody. Cole tagged in to cut off Fish with a superkick. Lethal jumped in to execute the Lethal Combination on Cole. Cody clotheslined Lethal, who took a nasty bump on his head and neck.

All four were down selling as the show cut to commercial. Back from the break, a slugfest ensued. Lethal did a tope through the ropes on Cody, leaving Cole and Fish in the ring for the finish.

Cole went for a shining wizard but Lethal caught him in a kneebar. Cole tapped out for the submission with Fish scoring a victory over the champion.

In a backstage skit, Dalton Castle hyped up The Boys for a match against The Rebellion later in the show.

Kevin Kelly interviewed Mark Briscoe about his brother Jay being in the Decade of Excellence tournament final on the next and last episode from the Center Stage tapings.

In a backstage promo, Frankie Kazarian talked about his tag partner Christopher Daniels also being in the tournament final. Kazarian said this could be Daniels’ last chance for one more big run. He categorized the match as a must-win for Daniels.

Mark Briscoe defeated Sal Rinauro

Briscoe left the announce booth to have a quick match where he ran roughshod on Rinauro. Briscoe even gave him a blockbuster on the floor. Rinauro briefly got some offense and a near fall after a Michinoku Driver. Briscoe quickly regained the advantage and climbed on top of a turnbuckle. Briscoe leapt off with a Froggy-bow and covered Rinauro for the pinfall.

In a sit-down interview, Bobby Fish discussed the amicable breakup of reDRagon. Fish mainly talked about wanting to regain the World TV title. This segment was similar to a UFC promo, though maybe a little more theatrical.

Silas Young and Beer City Bruiser rotated into the guest commentary role for the last match on the show.

The Rebellion (Kenny King, Rhett Titus & Caprice Coleman) defeated Dalton Castle & The Boys

Castle and King started the match with a pose off. Colt Cabana, a rival of Castle, appeared at ringside with a six-pack of beer. He bribed Bruiser to give up his commentary spot to Cabana.

The focus of the match was making The Rebellion into contenders for the six-man titles. Likewise while Young and Bruiser were on commentary, they talked about still looking for a tag partner to go after the ROH six-man titles.

The Boys mostly got manhandled in the match. Castle got plenty of his own offense, but Rebellion singled out a Boy to eventually win. Titus jumped off the top rope with a frog splash on one Boy and pinned him.

Six-man Champions The Kingdom appeared onstage to taunt The Rebellion as the show closed.

On the next episode of ROH TV, Christopher Daniels and Jay Briscoe meet in the finals of the Decade of Excellence tournament. The winner goes on to challenge for the World title at the next pay-per-view.

The latest episode begins airing this weekend in syndication. The show is then available Monday evening via the FITE TV app before airing on Wednesday at midnight ET on Comet TV, including that channel’s online live stream. The episode is then available to watch on Thursday via the official ROH website.

ROH TV results: Jay Briscoe and Jay Lethal take Center Stage

Posted on by Chris Aiken

Both intentionally and unintentionally, Ring of Honor television from this past week summoned the spirit of World Championship Wrestling with the first in a series of episodes taped at Center Stage Theater in Atlanta. That same venue for years hosted countless tapings for WCW Saturday Night.

Marketed with the tagline “Saturday Night at Center Stage,” the tapings in Atlanta were the first episodes taped in 2017 for ROH. The vibe of the episode almost felt like a heated episode of WCW Saturday Night.

For a time in the early 1990s, WCW would plug their major house shows at the Omni in Atlanta even though the matches would rarely air on TV. From this taping at a former home of WCW, ROH did the same on this episode. Plugs on TV kept pushing the house shows in Texas this weekend, even though those dates are not televised (aside from online VOD viewing later on).

Also similar to WCW in that a broadcasting company owned the wrestling promotion, ROH continues to improve the production of their TV shows even amid recent departures and uncertain futures for some personnel.

The audio of the crowd was very much improved on this show. That could also possibly be a product of the environment. The theater seating and intimacy of Center Stage allows for better acoustics than the usual flat floor seating arrangements of many ROH shows.

The episode from this past week opened with a video package recap highlighting the ROH World title match at Wrestle Kingdom 11 in the Tokyo Dome. Adam Cole won the title by defeating Kyle O’Reilly. Footage of the match was mixed with a Cole promo boasting about himself being the first three-time ROH World Champion. Cole also indicated that was the end of his feud with O’Reilly.

The Tempura Boyz (Sho & Yo) defeated Coast 2 Coast (Shaheem Ali & Leon St. Giovanni) and Cheeseburger & Will Ferrara in a three-way tag match

Still on excursion from New Japan, Yo and Sho look to be getting a small push on these tapings as the focus of this match was making the Tempura Boyz into contenders. Everybody got to shine in this match and it got wild despite being short on time.

Cheeseburger did a dive to the outside after springboarding off the top rope. Sho followed that with a flip dive to the floor. Giovanni then did a crazy 450 splash on a pile of bodies. With that, The Young Bucks appeared on stage as the show cut to commercial.

After the break, Nick and Matt Jackson were providing guest commentary alongside Kevin Kelly when they announced the winners of this match would get a shot at their ROH tag team titles.

Ali and Giovanni got their moment to shine as they hooked Ferrara in the tree-of-woe. They then delivered stereo missile dropkicks into the corner. In doing so, Giovanni leapt into his dropkick after springboarding off the top rope going “coast to coast” to the opposite corner, hence their tag team name.

Soon thereafter, Yo and Sho singled out Ali and executed their Shock and Awe finisher. Sho covered Ali for the pinfall.

Afterwards, The Young Bucks got in the ring to congratulate the Boyz. The Bucks offered them a title shot for the ROH World tag titles “next week.” As The Tempura Boyz high-fived each other, Nick and Matt superkicked them.

After the superkick party, the Bucks introduced Adam Cole and he sauntered to the ring for a promo. During “story time with Adam Cole, BAY BAY,” Cole ran down his list of potential challengers and dismissed them all.

When mentioning the Decade of Excellence tournament, it was notable that he failed to mention Christopher Daniels.

ROH World TV Champion Marty Scurll defeated Juice Robinson to retain his title

Alex Shelley provided guest commentary. In the match itself, Scurll and Robinson began by having exchanges to showcase their technical wrestling abilities. When the action spilled outside of the ring, Scurll dropped Robinson with a soccer kick as the show went to a commercial break.

After that break, Robinson had the advantage as he jumped off the top rope with a flying headbutt for a near fall. Robinson followed with a few more near falls. Scurll cut him off and hoisted Robinson for a brainbuster.

Robinson made a comeback and got another near fall with a falling powerbomb after he blocked Scurll from applying his submission finisher. Robinson rolled through when Scurll gave him a superplex, and Robinson cradled Scurll for a near fall. Moments later as they battled on the floor, Scurll moved out of the way as Robinson cannonballed into a guardrail.

Back in the ring, Scurll used a piledriver, and Robinson kicked out. Scurll hushed the crowd so they could listen as he snapped the fingers of Robinson. Still, Robinson fought back. As he went for his Pulp Friction finisher, Scurll countered and trapped Robinson with a crossface chicken wing. Robinson tapped out and Scurll retained via submission.

Following the match, Scurll got the house mic to cut a promo about wanting more competition. Scurll said he was declaring an open challenge. Chris Sabin led a group on stage that included Jay White, Jonathan Gresham, Lio Rush, and Donovan Dijak. They all glared at Scurll.

After a commercial break, Kevin Kelly conducted an interview with all the prospective challengers that Sabin led out. They will have a six-person match on the next episode to determine a challenger for the TV title.

Jay Lethal defeated Jay Briscoe to advance in the Decade of Excellence tournament

In the rotating guest commentator role, Frankie Kazarian was in the announce booth for color commentary on this match. As the match began, Adam Cole appeared on the stage and would eventually also provide guest commentary at ringside.

Early on, Briscoe hit a Jay Driller and Lethal kicked out. During the match, Kevin Kelly noted that Lethal was like kryptonite to Briscoe, in that Jay had rarely ever beaten the other Jay. That played into the story of the match with Briscoe finally overcoming a Lethal obstacle.

Briscoe definitely got his licks in, and he dove outside with a tope suicida at one point. From there, Briscoe dominated on offense for a while. Lethal cut him off and dropped Briscoe with a Diamond Cutter. Lethal followed that with a Lethal Combination for a two count. Briscoe also kicked out of a couple more near falls.

Lethal countered an attempted superplex to knock Briscoe off the top rope, setting up Lethal jumping off the top attempting Hail to the King. Briscoe put a boot up to block it only for Lethal to land on his feet, grab Briscoe’s boot, and apply a figure four.

In the closing moments, Briscoe kept going for his finisher and Lethal would counter. Briscoe also countered a Lethal Injection as they traded moves. Briscoe finally delivered a roaring elbow and a lariat to cover Lethal for the pinfall.

Briscoe and Lethal shook hands afterwards as Cole stared them down. Cole said on commentary that he figured Briscoe would win the tournament. Or will he? Find out in the coming weeks on ROH TV.

On the next episode of ROH TV, a six-man scramble match to determine a number one contender for the World TV title. Plus, The Young Bucks defend the World tag team titles against The Tempura Boyz.

The latest episode begins airing this weekend in syndication. The show is then available Monday evening via the FITE TV app before airing on Wednesday at midnight ET on Comet TV, including that channel’s online live stream. The episode is then available to watch on Thursday via the official ROH website.

ROH TV results: Cody the American Nightmare vs. Steve Corino

Posted on by Chris Aiken

Cody the American Nightmare entered Ring of Honor on their television episode this past week as Steve Corino departed the company. The legendary Jushin Liger and Jay Lethal also collided in a Decade of Excellence tournament match on a show taped at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia.

Nigel McGuinness joined Kevin Kelly on commentary. That is notable because this episode began airing in syndication last weekend as Nigel was overseas in his native England calling the UK Championship tournament live on the WWE Network.

The entrance of The Rebellion opened the show. Part of their gimmick is vowing to turn ROH upside down. So, they adopted wearing the ROH logo upside down on their gear. Now they have incorporated that into their entrance as well with several ROH banners turned upside down as a backdrop while they march to the ring.

A recap showed Lio Rush pinning Caprice Coleman on a previous episode. The Rebellion subsequently attacked Rush. Jay White and Donovan Dijak made the save, setting up a six-man tag match on this episode.

Lio Rush, Donovan Dijak & Jay White defeated Caprice Coleman, Kenny King & Rhett Titus

Though a quick television match, it got exciting by the end with daredevil acrobatics. Similar to a really good New Japan opener with American tendencies, it was action packed and included two hot tags.

Dijak shined early on displaying power moves at the start. Dijak caught Coleman in mid-air, then heaved him over the top rope to the floor. The Rebellion underhandedly shifted the momentum and began briefly working over Rush. Using his speed and agility to escape the clutches of The Rebellion, Rush tagged out to White. He proceeded to clean house with a flurry of offense. Moments later, his offense was cut off and his outcome looked bleak as the show faded to a commercial.

After the break, Rush ran wild and went into a series of dives. As he dove through the ropes, White and Dijak both simultaneously springboarded into moonsaults out of the ring to the outside. A series of intricate high spots followed with everybody in the mix.

The babyfaces cleared the ring of heels, except for Coleman. White slammed Coleman with a uranage to set up Rush jumping off the shoulders of Dijak for a frog splash on Coleman. Dijak followed that by leaping to the top rope into a moonsault. Rush then covered Coleman for the pinfall.

Afterwards, The Rebellion looked to get their heat back by delivering a beat down. Yet instead of attacking Rush, they let him slide. They apparently wanted to recruit him to join The Rebellion. Chris Sabin ran down and The Rebellion quickly exited the scene.

Showcasing the ROH World TV Champion, a video package highlighted Marty Scurll. With trippy visual effects, the tone fit “The Villain” character very well with Scurll doing a heelish voiceover. The vignette ended by plugging Scurll as appearing in person on the next episode.

A recap aired of the ROH debut of Cody the American Nightmare at Final Battle. A voiceover from Jay Lethal assured their feud was not yet settled after Cody used a low blow in their last match. Brewing tension with Steve Corino and Cody was also notable in the highlights of the video package.

Cody had an elaborate entrance, and once in the ring, started to address the audience. He claimed that the fans were not there to judge him. Rather, he was judging them. Nobody judges him according to Cody.

Cody claimed that ROH smelled of mediocrity. He went on to taunt the fans for being marks for Japan. A fan heckled him about his wife. Cody demanded the fan be thrown out of the building.

Cody basically told the crowd they were not worthy of seeing Brandi. He added they should buy his merch while they can and follow him on social media, because he would not be around this place long. After he got his plugs in, the entrance of Steve Corino interrupted Cody’s speech.

Playing off the angle with Kevin Sullivan and BJ Whitmer, the sinister side of Corino returned one more time to confront Cody. On the last TV episode, Whitmer promised a brother being sacrificed, Cody is supposedly that person. He is a Rhodes, continuing a feud between Sullivan and the Rhodes family that dates back over 30 years to Dusty Rhodes’ legendary run in Florida.

Together with that narrative, they tied in another feud from the past between Corino and Dusty in the original ECW from 1999-2000. The only place Corino ever defeated Dusty was in the ECW Arena, which was the same building as this meeting between Corino and a son of Dusty.

Cody used parts of that history to cut a heel promo on Corino that began with Cody swatting Corino’s ball cap off his head. Cody recalled Corino calling out Dusty for not making eye contact. Reversing the roles now, Cody then told Corino to look him in the eye. Cody said he had no respect for Corino.

Corino said Dusty was his hero. He went on to make a Genghis Khan reference about sacrificing one of two brothers. Corino gave Cody a choice between him and his brother. Cody slapped Corino across the face. Corino retaliated with a bionic elbow, and strutted like the “Dream” as the show went to commercial break.

Cody defeated Steve Corino

Corino started the match by pummeling a backpedaling Cody much like Dusty did to Corino in their feud back in ‘99. Cody cut off Corino with a springboard missile dropkick. Cody mockingly did a cartwheel and taunted the crowd.

Cody began to pepper Corino. To thwart a hope spot, Cody spat water in Corino’s eyes and chop-blocked his knee. An overconfident Cody kept toying with Corino. Cody teased a bionic elbow, but Corino countered with an elbow drop and fired up into a comeback. Corino honored the memory of Dusty by doing the flip, flop, and fly.

Corino folded up Cody with a package piledriver, possibly as an ode to Corino’s former partner-in-crime who is now currently the champion of an entire universe elsewhere. Much like Whitmer on the last episode forgoing a cover during a match to attempt a sacrifice, Corino retrieved a golden spike. Referee Todd Sinclair stepped in to keep Corino from using the spike.

With Corino distracted and the referee’s attention diverted, Cody kicked Corino with a low blow. Cody springboarded off the ropes with a disaster kick. Cody measured Corino before delivering a bionic elbow drop, and Cody covered him for the pinfall.

Jay Lethal ran in during the aftermath to attack Cody. Bailing out of the ring, Cody fled through the crowd and retreated to sanctuary.

Lethal cut a promo saying Cody is the one that entered Lethal’s home turf to supposedly prove himself as one of the best. Lethal vowed revenge for the low blow at Final Battle. He also dismissed Cody because of his cheating tactics.

“It proves two things,” Lethal said about Cody. “One, you’re just smoke and mirrors. And two, you do not belong here [in ROH].”

Lethal went on to call out Jushin Liger for their bout, which was the last match in the first round of the Decade of Excellence tournament. The rest of the tournament took place at the recent TV taping in Atlanta and is set to air in the coming weeks.

Jay Lethal defeated Jushin Thunder Liger to advance in the Decade of Excellence tournament

Liger seems to still somehow defy his age in the ring. He put Lethal over strong using his carpentry skills to build him up. Coming off a declaration of revenge and a run-in by Lethal earlier in the show, he shined in a victory over a living legend.

After dominating almost from the start, Lethal sent Liger to the floor with a springboard dropkick. Lethal then did a trifecta of dives through the ropes. With Liger reeling, Kevin Kelly tried to cover for him by speculating Liger was jetlagged from the flight over after Wrestle Kingdom. This match was taped in December though, before the Tokyo Dome show.

Liger did mount a comeback leading to a tilt-a-whirl into a backbreaker. When Lethal took a powder, Liger leapt off the apron doing a somersault senton. Liger kept the momentum through a commercial break.

Lethal took over on offense with a Lethal Combination. Lethal showcased a newer signature spot of his where he picked up Liger in a torture rack. Lethal then went into a modified rolling fireman’s carry slam. Upon landing, Lethal immediately transitioned into a crossface. Liger got a foot on a rope to break the hold.

Lethal jumped off the top rope for Hail to the King, but Liger countered upon impact with a crucifix for a near fall. Liger with a last ditch flurry of offense began hitting a series of palm strikes. A frankensteiner off the top from Liger led into the finish. Lethal dashed the hope spot and used a superkick to set up the Lethal Injection. Lethal then pinned Liger.

After the bell, the crowd chanted “thank you Liger” as Lethal and Liger shook hands. Liger raised Lethal’s hand to signify the winner. They bowed to each other before the show closed.

The next episode of ROH TV airing this weekend in syndication features Marty Scurll and Will Ospreay. The show is available next week for streaming on the FITE TV app before airing Wednesday night at midnight ET on Comet TV, including on their free live stream. The episode is then available on Thursday to the general public via the official ROH website.

ROH TV results: Swerves, a drone superkicked & a tournament continues

Posted on by Chris Aiken

Ring of Honor television from this past week featured the continuation of the Decade of Excellence tournament, The Young Bucks superkicking a drone out of the air, and Bull James being swerved and then beaten down in an angle on the show.

The current episodes airing are from the tapings in Philadelphia and are lame duck shows in one way. Taped the night after Final Battle but before Wrestle Kingdom in the Tokyo Dome, Kyle O’Reilly was still ROH World Champion at the tapings in Philly, but he lost the title to Adam Cole at the Dome.

This past weekend, ROH taped TV at Center Stage in Atlanta. Until those shows begin to air, expect little mention of the ROH World title on TV with no mention this past week.

The show opened with a recap from “last week,” meaning the last episode that aired from the tapings in Philly. The previous week was a 2016 retrospective and the week prior to that was a special from the UK. Nevertheless, the recap showed Christopher Daniels advancing in the Decade of Excellence tournament.

Daniels cut a promo saying it was his legacy to win the ROH World title. Despite being in ROH for more than a decade, Daniels said there was no expiration on legacy.

Someone else associated with ROH for more than decade, Jay Briscoe, also cut a promo about the tournament hyping himself up.

Jay Briscoe defeated BJ Whitmer (w/ Kevin Sullivan and Punishment Martinez) to advance in the Decade of Excellence tournament

It started with old school psychology with Whitmer as the dastardly heel raking the eyes and using underhanded tactics to cut off the fiery babyface. Sullivan tripped the leg of Briscoe at one point, and Briscoe jumped out of the ring to confront him.

Martinez squared off with Briscoe for a brief standoff that was broken up when Whitmer blindsided Briscoe. Later on, Martinez and Sullivan interfered when they posted Briscoe. Nevertheless, Briscoe fought back and dove through the ropes with an elbow suicida. Fans chanted “man up” as Briscoe began to dominate.

Whitmer begged for more, then he cut off Briscoe with an exploder suplex for a near fall. Sullivan yelled at Whitmer to forget the pinfall and “sacrifice” Briscoe. Whitmer grasped a golden spike that was handed to him and prepared to apparently unleash horrific violence.

Mark Briscoe ran down to storm the ring and make the save. He never touched Whitmer so that he wouldn’t get brother Jay disqualified. Chicken just distracted Whitmer and did a dive onto Martinez. Briscoe delivered the Jay Driller to advance in the tournament.

Afterwards, Whitmer gave a cryptic message about finishing something next week with a sacrifice of some sort.

Silas Young & Beer City Bruiser defeated Alex Reynolds & Jon Silver

Bruiser finished his pre-match beer before he and Young heeled on their opponents during the Code of Honor. They attacked Reynolds and Silver at the outset and began to pummel them.

Young and Bruiser worked over Reynolds before Silver cleaned house after a hot tag. After failing to do so earlier in the match, Silver suplexed Bruiser and popped the crowd. The underdog babyfaces ran wild briefly before being overtaken. Bruiser squashed Silver with a Banzai Drop and Young scored the pinfall.

Young got the house mic and basically said he and Bruiser were looking for a third drinking buddy and tag partner. He introduced Bull James, much to the dismay of Bruiser.

Young was putting over James before they swerved him. Young and Bruiser attacked James to administer a beat down that ended with Bruiser jumping off the top rope with a mighty frog splash.

Six-Man Tag Team Champions The Kingdom defeated Cheeseburger, Joey Daddiego & Will Ferrara

Much like the previous match, babyface Cheeseburger was attacked by the heels during the Code of Honor handshake. Kingdom signaled for their triple-team finisher, but Daddiego and Ferrara made the save. Through a commercial break, The Kingdom began working over Ferrara.

Eventually, Cheeseburger ran wild after a hot tag. From there everybody began jumping in. Cheeseburger dropped Vinny Marseglia with a palm strike. Cheeseburger then went to hit TK O’Ryan with the same, but O’Ryan instead used a pumphandle into a tombstone. Marseglia immediately leapt off the top with a senton bomb. Matt Taven then climbed up for a frog splash and he covered Cheeseburger for the pinfall.

Following a recap of the Broken Matt Hardy angle from Final Battle, ROH World Tag Team Champions The Young Bucks addressed the audience during an in-ring promo. Matt Jackson first off apologized for being hoarse, and attributed it to screaming for joy after signing supposedly the most lucrative contract in company history. “Thanks for staying,” the crowd chanted in response.

Nick Jackson claimed them retaining the tag titles at Final Battle proved they are the best team in company history since they defeated the Briscoes, which is the longest tenured team in ROH. Nick then brought up the Hardy angle.

“These two spot monkeys can’t be broken, and we won’t be deleted,” Nick said.

The lights in the building suddenly went dark. In the darkness, a drone flew to the ring and, with the lighting having returned, it hovered around Nick and Matt.

The Young Bucks superkicked the drone and it crashed to ringside. Speculation was the drone was Vanguard 1, meaning it was sent by Matt Hardy.

Chris Sabin defeated Colt Cabana to advance in the Decade of Excellence tournament

Sabin’s MCMG tag team partner, Alex Shelley, provided guest commentary alongside Kevin Kelly and Nigel McGuinness. In the match itself, Cabana showed he is very much underrated in terms of his psychology in this entertaining match.

Sabin was getting the better of Cabana when Cabana positioned himself so he could deliver a closed fist punch without the referee seeing him. He then sent Sabin out to ringside, and moments later he also taunted Shelley.

Cabana maintained the advantage until climbing to the top turnbuckle and missing a splash. Sabin made a comeback. After some near falls, The Boys ran down to ringside and began fanning Cabana. Distracted and irritated, Cabana turned his attention to The Boys. Sabin caught Cabana with a tornado DDT and transitioned into an inside cradle for the pin.

On the next episode of ROH (#278), the debut of Cody (Rhodes) the American Nightmare on ROH TV. Plus, Jay Lethal and Jushin Liger meet in a singles match. The episode is available on various streaming platforms throughout this week and airs Wednesday night at midnight ET on Comet TV. That channel on its website has a live stream for online viewing.

ROH on YouTube:

ROH TV results: Will Ospreay and Marty Scurll Reach for the Sky

Posted on by Chris Aiken

Ring of Honor television from this past week featured highlights from the company’s tour of the United Kingdom. Showcasing matches from the Reach for the Sky tour, establishing Will Ospreay and Marty Scurll as new characters to the ROH TV audience was the main focus of the show.

Ospreay appeared in all three matches on the show while Scurll was in two. The show opened with a video package highlighting the ROH roster being a part of the UK tour. The first match shown from the tour was Ospreay in his ROH debut challenging for the World TV title in Liverpool.

Will Ospreay defeated ROH World Television Champion Bobby Fish to win the title

Since Ospreay would most likely be a favorite to fans in his home country, Fish went heel during the introductions by teasing he would raise the Union Jack flag. Instead, Fish swerved the crowd by raising the TV title overhead and stepping on the flag before trying to play it off as an accident.

They grappled early on before Ospreay began to fly. When he did proceed to take flight, it was impressive as usual. Ospreay did a roll through and leapt into a swinging neckbreaker for a cool high spot. Ospreay was also selling his knee.

Fish went for a superplex, but Ospreay blocked the attempt. Fish still came back with a kick that knocked Ospreay off the top rope, sending him crashing hard down to the mat. Fish followed up with an exploder suplex in a corner for a near fall. Fish then went for a vertical suplex only for Ospreay to counter into a stunner. From there, they really picked up the pace.

Ospreay hit a standing moonsault, then went for a corkscrew moonsault off the top. Fish got his knees up to block it. Moments later, Ospreay kicked Fish with him perched on the top and followed with a schoolboy for a near fall.

Still selling his knee, Ospreay went for a springboard into a backflip. Fish caught him in a kneebar on the way down. Ospreay struggled to break free, then did a back bridge into a pinning attempt for the three count to win the title.

Afterwards, Fish went back to being a babyface by showing good sportsmanship when he presented Ospreay with the title and raised the new champion’s hand.

ROH World Tag Team Champions The Young Bucks defeated Will Ospreay & Marty Scurll to retain their titles

Taped in Leicester and joined in progress, this was billed as a dream match. There was some comedy in the match. Like most Young Bucks matches, there was so much flying and so many high spots that describing it in words is difficult.

Ospreay was doing his signature flying arsenal. Young Bucks of course did double team moves. So did Ospreay and Scurll. They mocked the Bucks with “suck it” gestures. The Bucks did the Rise of the Terminator spot with the crowd clapping along to the beat.

Nick and Matt Jackson looked to dispatch Ospreay with a superkick version of the Doomsday Device on the floor. Matt also did a springboard tornado DDT, sending Scurll off the apron to the floor. Nick hit a 450 splash off the top for a near fall.

The Bucks went for a Meltzer Driver, but Ospreay leapt off the top out of nowhere to block it. Scurll delivered a tombstone to set up Ospreay hitting a series of moonsaults and springboards. Nick then broke up a subsequent pin attempt with a senton bomb.

Referee Todd Sinclair went down after taking a superkick. Scurll gave Nick and Matt a low blow. Scurll grabbed his umbrella and was about to use it as a weapon when Ospreay stopped him. Scurll then grabbed the Jacksons and encouraged Ospreay to hit them with the umbrella. The crowd chanted for him to use it.

Ospreay went to hit them with the umbrella, but he struck Scurll instead. The Bucks then both superkicked Ospreay. They executed More Bang for Your Buck on Scurll. Ospreay dove in to break up the pin attempt at the last second.

For the finish, The Bucks went for the Meltzer Driver on Scurll. Ospreay did a springboard as Nick was also springboarding into the ring with Ospreay giving Nick a Frankensteiner. In taking the move, Nick flipped over and still delivered the assisted tombstone to complete the Meltzer Driver. Nick then covered Scurll for the pin.

Scurll would challenge Ospreay afterwards, leading to their TV title match.

Marty Scurll defeated ROH World Television Champion Will Ospreay to win the title

Taped in London, this was part of the final stop of the UK tour. The entire entrances and introductions of both were shown, then the match was joined in progress after a commercial break.

They were chain wrestling when the show returned from the break. That led into Ospreay beginning to fly as they exchanged moves until a stalemate. The crowd was eating it up. They began exchanging strikes and chops. Ospreay applied an octopus stretch, yet Scurll escaped as they again began exchanging strikes.

On the outside, Ospreay jumped off the apron into a shooting star press on the floor. Scurll crawled under the ring, snuck around the opposite side, and dropped Ospreay with a clothesline.

Back in the ring, Ospreay went for a Rainmaker when Scurll grabbed Ospreay by the fingers and hyperextended them in a signature spot from “The Villain.” Moments later as Scurll hoisted Ospreay for a suplex, Ospreay countered into a stunner.

Ospreay started a series of moonsaults and springboards. When Ospreay went to springboard off the middle rope, Scurll caught him in a crossface chickenwing. Ospreay escaped only to get cut off once again when Scurll delivered a pop-up powerbomb followed by a lariat for a near fall. Ospreay also kicked out after a DDT.

For the finish, Scurll retrieved his umbrella and threatened to use it. He threw it down when Ospreay dared Scurll to hit him. Scurll instead again snapped the fingers of Ospreay. After a knee strike, Scurll began repeatedly stomping Ospreay in the head. Scurll then applied a chickenwing and Ospreay tapped out.

ROH TV results: reDRagon & Dalton Castle vs. Adam Cole & Young Bucks

Posted on by Chris Aiken

Ring of Honor television from this past week featured fallout from Final Battle along with the start of the Decade of Excellence tournament to determine who challenges for the ROH World Championship at the next pay-per-view.

The show opened with a recap of Kyle O’Reilly winning the World title at Final Battle. Highlights of the bloody no DQ match were censored yet it still conveyed the violent nature of the encounter.

Then, after the canned intro and such, new champion O’Reilly addressed the crowd at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia. Taped the night after winning the title, O’Reilly looked to set the tone for his tenure as champion. The promo turned into a scene similar to a Raw opening segment.

O’Reilly used the company tagline of having “the best wrestling on the planet” to put over the title and himself winning it. He name dropped some former ROH champions that went on to greater stardom. His victory speech would have to wait as Adam Cole interrupted him.

Cole went on to call the title change at Final Battle a “travesty” as he complained about the outcome, while also insisting he is still the rightful champion. Basically, he was being a sore loser.

Dalton Castle interrupted Cole’s rant as he strolled on the scene. He was playing the Uno card game backstage when he overheard Cole going on and on. Castle pointed out the peacock himself owns a pinfall over Cole in a tag match while Cole was still champion. Therefore, he insisted he was the number one contender.

Bobby Fish was next on the scene to interrupt. He gushed about his tag partner winning the world title. However, Fish noted he won the Survival of the Fittest tournament so he also has a claim to a title shot.

Cole interrupted again, continuing to rant and be a sore loser. He did vow to eventually become the first three-time World champ in ROH history.

O’Reilly concluded the segment by cutting an impassioned promo about fighting until the death to remain champion. He also wished luck to all his challengers as the babyface champion showing good sportsmanship, even despite that fighting to the death thing.

This all led to authority figure Nigel McGuinness making a six-man tag team match for later on with Cole teaming with The Young Bucks against reDRagon and Castle.

Besides the opening segment being about future challengers for the World title, the first match on the show was the beginning of a tournament where the winner gets a title shot at the 15th Anniversary PPV. The Decade of Excellence tournament will play out over the next several weeks of TV. Entrants in the tourney are all ROH veterans having debuted in the promotion at least a decade ago. In the first match of the tournament, Chicken meets the Fallen Angel.

Christopher Daniels (w/ Frankie Kazarian) defeated Mark Briscoe to advance in the Decade of Excellence tournament

Pre-tape promos inserted into the show revealed a back story. Mark Briscoe debuted in ROH 15 years ago under the guidance of Daniels. Briscoe kept getting the better of early exchanges here until Kazarian distracted him so Daniels could dastardly gain the upper hand.

Through a commercial break, Daniels shined up Briscoe for a comeback. Chicken ran wild with clotheslines and high flying. The intensity picked up and Briscoe later jumped off the apron with a Cactus Jack elbow. Briscoe tried to follow that with a Froggy Bow, but Daniels rolled out of the way. Daniels then hit the Angel’s Wings and scored the pinfall.

Lio Rush defeated Caprice Coleman (w/ Rhett Titus & Kenny King)

Formerly known as The Cabinet, the heel stable is now called The Rebellion. They cut a promo before the match. Kenny King offered Rush a spot in their stable. Rush declined, basically saying he and them have different ideals. Coleman cut a promo on Rush.

The match itself lasted mere seconds with Rush playing the matador to Coleman’s charging bull. Rush rolled up Coleman with a schoolboy for the pin. The Rebellion began a beat down on Rush afterwards. They laid him out before Donovan Dijak and Jay White ran down to make the save.

reDRagon & Dalton Castle (w/ The Boys) defeated The Young Bucks & Adam Cole

O’Reilly and Cole were about to square off when Nick and Matt Jackson attacked O’Reilly from behind. Castle and Fish jumped in and a brawl ensued. Bullet Club was cleared from the ring as reDRagon dove to the outside. The Bucks retaliated with a superkick party to set up them and Cole doing the Rise of the Terminator spot popularized by Kenny Omega. They then powerbombed all three opponents onto the apron. Working over O’Reilly, Bullet Club did a comedy spot before a commercial break.

Bullet Club cut off a hope spot when O’Reilly fired up. Eventually, Castle turned the tide as he ran wild off a hot tag. Castle cleaned house with suplexes. There was a triple suplex spot involving everyone as well. Fish got to shine before he and O’Reilly executed the Two Man Smash Machine. The Bucks cut them off and exploded with a flurry of moves. They even superkicked The Boys on the floor.

For the finish, Nick Jackson went for a 450 splash off the top, but O’Reilly caught him in a triangle choke. Fish dispatched Cole with a Falcon Arrow and Castle delivered a Bang-a-Rang on Matt Jackson. O’Reilly transitioned into an armbar and Nick tapped out for a submission.

On the next episode of ROH TV airing this weekend in syndication and later this week on various streaming platforms, highlights from the Reach For the Sky UK tour featuring Will Ospreay and Marty Scurll.

From ROH on YouTube:

ROH TV results: Women of Honor

Posted on by Chris Aiken

Ring of Honor television from this past week featured a special episode entirely devoted to women in ROH. Women of Honor was the theme for a show taped in Baltimore.

As reported in the latest issue of the Observer, the next year could see more emphasis on the Women of Honor brand as ROH offered contracts to several women wrestlers. Signing women talent was hardly ever a priority in the past with ROH. That is likely changing much like the landscape elsewhere in terms of women in wrestling.

This past week’s episode of TV could be a sign of the future direction with their women’s division. ROH also taped TV recently and spoilers indicate a greater emphasis on the women’s division including a no DQ match in the ongoing feud with Taeler Hendrix and Mandy Leon.

Episodes from that recent taping will begin airing this weekend in syndication with a new first-run show featuring fallout from Final Battle. The fresh episode becomes available throughout next week on various streaming platforms. The weeks ahead will indicate if several women’s matches taped most recently, like the no DQ match, will air on TV. Most of the matches from the WOH division are exclusive to the internet, with a new match released Wednesdays on their YouTube channel.

For this WOH special show though, it was all about the women’s division. Ian Riccaboni provided commentary alongside Nigel McGuinness. Of course, this was taped long before news broke that Nigel was leaving ROH for a job with WWE. Riccaboni is the regular commentator for Women of Honor matches, sharing the booth with various people at different tapings. Likely, this is his last time calling a match with Nigel.

Since the viewing audience would likely be unfamiliar with much of the women’s roster, sit-down interviews with the wrestlers were edited in before some matches to help establish their characters and storylines.

Deonna Purrazzo defeated Candice LeRae

They grappled at the outset with Purrazzo working an arm, which would play into the story of the match. LeRae fired up, leading to a tope to the outside. She followed that up with a near fall after a dropkick. Purrazzo cut her off by snapping her arm on the top rope.

Purrazzo continued to work an arm until LeRae made a comeback. LeRae jumped off the top rope with a double foot stomp. Purrazzo kicked out at two for another near fall. LeRae executed a groin suplex, but Purrazzo countered. Back to working the arm, Purrazzo applied a Fujiwara armbar and LeRae got a rope break.

Moments later, LeRae applied a submission hold using the Black Widow. Purrazzo escaped, countered a DDT, dodged some kicks, and finally applied a Fujiwara armbar in the middle of the ring. LeRae tapped out for the submission as she continued selling her arm afterwards.

Veda Scott & Kennadi Brink defeated Sumie Sakai & Faye Jackson (w/ Solo Darling)

The babyfaces, Sakai and Jackson, shined early on until Scott hit Sakai with a cheap shot. The heels then began to work over Sakai. When Scott made a blind tag, it irritated Brink. So she snatched Scott in a fireman’s carry and flung her into Sakai.

They continued to work over Sakai until a hot tag to Jackson. Solo Darling was at ringside with her magic sugar drink, which was apparently a PED she was giving to her friends in the match. Jackson cleaned house and got a near fall after using RVD’s Rolling Thunder. Jackson and Sakai later used The Quebecers old finisher, but the pin attempt was broken up. Brink then applied the Anaconda Vice and Jackson tapped out.

In a sit-down interview before the next match, Mandy Leon described her continuing feud with Taeler Hendrix and insisted Hendrix is sending Jessicka Havok to basically do her dirty work. Havok is tasked with eliminating the threat of Leon.

Mandy Leon defeated Jessicka Havok

Havok played the monster heel role and Leon was a female version of David battling Goliath. Havok pummeled Leon for some time before Leon applied a sleeper hold. Havok escaped and cut off the hope spot. Havok hoisted up Leon to execute her Beautiful Disaster finisher. Havok picked her up to break the count on Havok’s own pin attempt as she was not finished. 

Havok wanted to deliver more punishment so she grabbed a chair. Deonna Purrazzo ran down to the ring and jumped on the apron to make the save. Leon rolled up a distracted Havok with a schoolgirl for the pin.

Afterwards, a livid Havok laid out both Leon and Purrazzo to get her heat back.

Kelly Klein defeated ODB

The action spilled outside the ring early on. ODB posted Klein and also whipped her into a guardrail. Klein tried to make a quick comeback but ODB cut her off. Back in the ring, Klein eventually gained the advantage and started working over ODB.

Soon thereafter, ODB fired up and ran wild. ODB would almost finish off Klein, but she would fight back and counter. On the last near fall, Klein kicked out after a spear. A moment later and Klein countered her way into applying a guillotine choke. ODB slowly faded and referee Todd Sinclair stopped the match. With the ref stoppage and the win, Klein remains undefeated in her run with ROH.

From ROH on YouTube:

ROH TV results: Briscoes vs. Addiction on the Final Battle go-home show

Posted on by Chris Aiken

Ring of Honor television from this past week was the go-home show leading to Final Battle. Taped in Baltimore and featuring the final hype for ROH’s biggest show of the year, the show also arguably featured two good matches.  

Alex Shelley provided guest commentary on the first match alongside announcers Kevin Kelly and Steve Corino. Shelley gushed about both wrestlers in the opening match.

Lio Rush defeated Jonathan Gresham

These two had a heck of a match. Rush continues to shine when given any opportunity. Gresham more than held his own as well in this one. They did some chain wrestling and flashy exchanges in the early portion of the match. Traditionalists might not like the fast pace and lack of long selling, but the excitement seen was impressive.

As the match progressed, the spots became more physical and more intricate. They exchanged many near falls down the stretch. Gresham kicked out of a Rush Hour finisher. Moments later, Rush downed him with the Rush Hour a few more times before he leapt off the top with a very high frog splash. Rush then covered him for the pinfall.

Afterwards, Chris Sabin joined Shelley at ringside. They had “business” to attend to. On the house mic, Shelley first put over the previous match and its participants. Sabin called them the future of ROH. They are taking on a mentor role, according to commentary from Kevin Kelly. Motor City Machine Guns were almost over-the-top in being babyfaces. Maybe that is a sign that this leads to a heel turn down the line.

A sit-down promo with Kyle O’Reilly hyped the main event for Final Battle. On the PPV, O’Reilly challenges Adam Cole for the ROH World Championship. In this promo, O’Reilly talked about their history leading into the title match. He talked about them teaming back in the day in Future Shock and their transition from friends to enemies.

O’Reilly also mentioned that Cole has continually cost him winning the World title. O’Reilly vowed to win the title at Final Battle. He brought up a previous bloodbath they had in the Hammerstein Ballroom, which is also the site of this year’s Final Battle. The promo was tremendous and was edited together well to include clips of their history. Watch it here.

Later in the show, the final segment was Cole’s rebuttal. He talked about many of the same things as O’Reilly, except he put his spin on it. Edited together with clips of their history like the earlier promo, it got over the story they are trying to tell. Watch Cole’s promo here.

In another hype segment, a Final Battle control center rundown talked about the full card for Final Battle.

The Briscoes defeated The Addiction

Addiction refused to participate in the Code of Honor handshake beforehand. That would play into the aftermath following the lengthy match. It went through two commercials breaks, which is fitting since the match basically had three stages.

The first stage led to Mark and Jay Briscoe shining as they looked to dispatch Daniels and Kazarian. In the second stage, Addiction worked over Mark, getting heat on him to build to the hot tag.

In the third and final stage, Jay ran wild off a hot tag. Addiction got in some near falls during the match, and the two teams had heated exchanges in the closing moments. Lots of big moves at the end. Mark kicked out after Celebrity Rehab. A few moments later, Briscoes blocked a Best Meltzer Ever.

Eventually, Jay took out Kazarian with a Death Valley Driver. Daniels then took a Jay Driller, and Mark followed up with a Froggy-bow before covering Daniels for the pin.

After the match, The Briscoes offered their hands for Addiction to shake. A tense staredown ensued until Addiction relented and shook their hands just as the show closed.

The next episode of ROH TV features an eight-man tag match.

ROH TV results: The Kingdom vs. Bullet Club; Bobby Fish vs. Dragon Lee

Posted on by Chris Aiken

The rise of a new version of The Kingdom began on the latest episode of Ring of Honor television. Taped in Lowell, MA, the show featured Matt Taven returning to TV with a new stable facing off against Adam Cole and the Bullet Club.

Also on the episode, Dragon Lee earned a TV title shot against Bobby Fish. In the opening match, Big Mike played cat-and-mouse with trickster Toru Yano.  

Michael Elgin defeated Toru Yano

Taped before breaking his orbital bone, Big Mike was his usual self here. So was Yano. The early portion of the match was Yano begging off. He offered a left handed handshake then tried to turn it into a test of strength. He failed that test as the power of Elgin proved too great. Elgin then pummeled Yano before knocking him out of the ring.

On the outside, Yano grabbed a pair of snips that he used to cut loose a turnbuckle pad. Yano gained a momentary advantage using underhanded tactics like choking Elgin with the tag rope. But Big Mike would soon fire up.

Elgin got a near fall when he executed a falcon arrow. Moments later, Elgin retrieved the snips and cut loose another turnbuckle pad. Upon blocking a buckle bomb, Yano sent Elgin into an exposed buckle. Referee Todd Sinclair blocked an attempted low blow only for Yano to use him as a human shield. Yano then used a low blow anyway and cradled Elgin for a two count.

Elgin hoisted up Yano and dropped him on an exposed buckle with snake eyes. Yano still kicked out even after a lariat clothesline. So, Elgin finished him off with a sit-out powerbomb and covered him for the pinfall.

Hyping a TV title match on the next episode, Bobby Fish cut a promo on Hangman Page. Besides being a title match, there is a grudge to settle as Page injured Fish in storyline when he attacked him with a chair. Fish would later have his ribs taped and that played a part in the story of the next match.

Dragon Lee defeated World TV Champion Bobby Fish in a non-title proving ground match

In an effort to get him over and introduce him to the TV audience, a video package highlighted Dragon Lee and aired earlier in the show before this match. On commentary, Kevin Kelly and Steve Corino played up the injury to Fish. Dragon Lee was at first reluctant to target the taped ribs until doing so later in the match. That was after Fish turned up the intensity.

They started off with mat wrestling that led to dives and heated exchanges down the stretch. Fish sold the ribs during the match, fighting through the pain. Lee applied a submission hold but Fish got a rope break. Fish had a last minute flurry, but Lee rolled him up with a la magistral cradle for the pin. In winning the “proving ground” match, Lee gets a future title shot for beating the champion.

The announcers put over Fish having to defend the title in “seven days” against Page on the next episode of ROH TV. In reality, the matches took place several weeks apart. Nevertheless, the injury angle unfolded on TV the past several weeks so the storyline is consistent.

The Kingdom defeated Bullet Club to advance in the six-man tag tournament

The back story here was the history between Adam Cole and Matt Taven. Formerly, Cole was the leader of The Kingdom with Taven as a stablemate. Cole went on to leave the stable before joining Bullet Club. Taven reformed The Kingdom in his image after being sidelined by an injury and now seeks vengeance on Cole.

With Taven as the leader of a new Kingdom, TK O’Ryan and Vinny Marseglia debuted as members of the new faction. They would face Cole and The Young Bucks in this match as part of the first round in the B block of the six-man tag team championship tournament.

As part of their grand entrance, a scribe read a proclamation from a scroll as a little person held candles and a microphone in introducing Taven and his new Kingdom. The new stable attacked Bullet Club before the bell to start the match. They thrashed Cole and the Jackson brothers, leaving them laying heading into a commercial.

Just after the break, Bullet Club came back with triple superkicks. They went to do the Rise of the Terminator spot, but The Kingdom tripped them up. Bullet Club responded by powerbombing them all on the ring apron, then redoing the Terminator spot to set up triple dives through the ropes. Cole almost ate it as he exploded across the ring, but he recovered nicely. Bullet Club would go on to do some comedy before Kingdom cut them off.

Kingdom worked over Matt Jackson for some time doing double and triple-team combinations. For the hot tag, Nick Jackson ran wild before a commercial, and was he still running wild as the show returned from the break. Relating to the back story, Cole and Taven eventually came face-to-face. They had mostly avoided each other until squaring off late in the match. A slugfest ensued.

Taven spat at Cole, so Cole superkicked Taven’s braced knee, then Cole sent a snot rocket at Taven in retaliation. They traded near falls as the others would also jump in. The Bucks of course had a superkick party. Cole jumped off the top rope into a wicked Canadian Destroyer that folded up Taven. When the dust settled after the action peaked in the closing moments, Kingdom isolated Matt and O’Ryan covered him for the pin.

ROH TV results: Katsuyori Shibata vs. Bobby Fish; big six-man tag match

Posted on by Chris Aiken

Ring of Honor television from this past week featured what was supposed to be Bullet Club vs. Los Ingobernables. However, it didn’t quite work out that way. Plus, Bobby Fish defended the TV title against NEVER champion Katsuyori Shibata.

Jay Lethal, Michael Elgin & Kyle O’Reilly defeated Adam Cole, Hangman Page & Yujiro Takahashi

(Photo: six-man dream match in ROH… or maybe not)

A six-man tag match announced last week began as Bullet Club vs. Jay Lethal, Tetsuya Naito & EVIL. As the match progressed, Adam Cole squared off with Lethal. Suddenly, Naito and EVIL both bailed on the match, leaving Lethal outnumbered as they left the scene.

Lethal was being pummeled when Michael Elgin came down to be a substitute tag partner for Lethal. Matchmaker Nigel McGuinness gave his blessing. In storyline, Elgin is the next challenger for Cole’s world title at the next pay-per-view.

After a hot tag, Elgin cleaned house on Bullet Club. As the Club cut off Elgin, Kyle O’Reilly stormed to the ring to volunteer as another substitute tag partner. O’Reilly ran wild after tagging in. He eventually squared off with his rival, Cole, as O’Reilly wants both revenge and a future title shot.

Despite being beaten down while being outnumbered earlier in the match, Lethal scored the deciding pinfall after hitting Takahashi with the Lethal Injection and covering him.

(Photo: the winners with their sights set on Adam Cole)

After the match, all three babyfaces glared at Cole. Each of the three has their own issues with him. Lethal is the former champion looking to regain his title, Elgin is the next challenger in line, and O’Reilly continues his blood feud with Cole.

Later in the show, Lethal demanded a match against Naito for his treachery in bailing on him. McGuinness granted him a match at the next PPV. He also reminded Lethal of the last time Lethal “begged for a match,” referring to Lethal losing the title to Cole after their feud became personal.

ROH World Television Champion Bobby Fish defeated Katsuyori Shibata to retain his title

They exchanged kicks and strikes early on. As the match unfolded, Fish began to work a leg. Prince Nana came down to ringside during the match. Nana provided guest commentary as he supposedly was scouting for Donovan Dijak, who faces the winner at the next PPV.

Fish was working over Shibata when he fired up. Shibata began to pummel Fish. Shibata went for the penalty kick but Fish dodged the attempt and applied an ankle hook submission.

(Photo: stereo submission holds)

As Fish was applying a leglock, Shibata countered with one of his own. Both had each other locked in submission holds.

The pace quickened in the closing moments as they exchanged strikes and suplexes. Shibata went for an armbar but Fish fought to counter. Then, Shibata went for a triangle choke and Fish countered by bridging into a cover and pinned him.

Dijak walked out on the stage to stare at Fish. Shibata also indicated that he wanted a rematch.

In other news, McGuinness announced the suspension of Steve Corino is over and he will return to commentary on the next episode.

Also on the next episode that begins airing in syndication this weekend, it’s Kazuchika Okada & Roppongi Vice vs. Kamaitachi & The Addiction.