In a surprising ceremony at Times Square in New York City, WWE’s Performance Center coach and former ECW wrestler Steve Corino married his long-term girlfriend.
Corino, a former ECW World Champion, married his girlfriend at Times Square in a ceremony that was officiated by NXT’s Director of Creative Operations, Ryan Katz.
“One of the greatest joys in life is getting to experience love, and then share in the experience of love. Last night, I officiated my third wedding, but this one was special because it was a surprise. What?! Yes, not only was the wedding a surprise, but it started with a surprise engagement,” he wrote.
“Under the bright lights of Times Square, [Steve Corino] married his childhood sweetheart and found his lifelong queen. It was an honor to be a part of the experience, and I wish the happy couple the best in eternal love.”
Corino’s in-ring career lasted from 1994 to 2016, where he once held the ECW World Title and also had a rivalry with the legendary Dusty Rhodes. In 2016, Corino joined WWE and became a full-time trainer with the promotion, and has since remained with the promotion.
WWE NXT coach Steve Corino won indie gold on Sunday night while making his surprise return to the ring.
In his first singles match in nearly five years, Corino defeated Kaitlyn Marie to win the Premier Wrestling Federation Championship. The indie promotion is based in North Carolina, with Corino being a part owner of the company and its Carolina Wrestling Academy. This is the seventh time he’s held the PWF Championship.
‼️NEW CHAMPION‼️
Tonight at #PWF25thAnniversary, “The King of Old School” Steve Corino made a surprise return to professional wrestling after more than five years to challenge Kaitlyn Marie for the PWF Championship!
Sunday’s event was PWF’s 25th anniversary show. Kaitlyn Marie was originally schedule for a title defense against Krule (Mads Kruler Krugger) before Corino subbed in as her opponent.
It was noted that, when he competes in the ring going forward, Corino will be doing so exclusively for PWF. He also holds a full-time position with WWE as a staff member at the Performance Center.
The last singles match Corino had prior to this was in 2021, when he faced off against his son Colby for PWF. Steve Corino did compete in PWF’s Premier Tag League tournament in December 2025, though he did so under a mask and was billed as Mr. Wrestling 3.
Corino is a former ECW World Champion who wrestled all over the world during his career, including in Japan for Zero1. He also worked as a commentator for ROH and NJPW before joining WWE in his behind-the-scenes role. Corino was inducted into GCW and Orange Crush’s Indie Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2024.
It was announced last month that Corino’s son Colby, who is working toward his own in-ring return after undergoing emergency neck and back surgery in 2025, has re-signed with the NWA.
Former ECW World Champion Steve Corino has reportedly signed a new deal to continue in his behind-the-scenes role with WWE.
Bodyslam.net reports that the 51-year-old Corino has signed a new multi-year WWE contract. He’s worked behind the scenes in WWE/NXT since 2017 as a coach and producer.
The report states that Corino will continue to be a tag team coach at the WWE Performance Center along with producing for NXT, and he has shown interest in having some NXT talent compete for his Premier Wrestling Federation indie promotion.
“In addition, I was told that Corino is interested in getting some NXT Talents to come in and work some potential PWF (Premier Wrestling Federation) shows,” Bodyslam.net wrote. “Steve Corino is part owner of both PWF and the Carolina Wrestling Academy, along with Jacob Hammermeier, and his son Colby Corino.”
Corino was inducted into Game Changer Wrestling & Orange Crush Magazine’s Indie Wrestling Hall of Fame earlier this year. He had a two-decade career in the ring and was also a commentator in the past, calling shows for ROH and NJPW.
The 50-year-old Corino tweeted that he’s honored to be part of the Indie Hall of Fame. He’s being inducted by his son Colby Corino, who is a wrestler for the NWA.
Steve Corino wrestled in ECW, ROH, and all over the world during his two-plus decade career in the ring. He was a one-time ECW World Heavyweight Champion. Since 2017, Corino has worked behind the scenes in WWE. He’s a coach and producer in NXT.
Corino is a former color commentator for ROH and NJPW.
Corino came out of retirement in 2021 to face his son Colby in a match for Premier Wrestling Federation. It’s the only time the elder Corino has wrestled since 2016.
The 2024 Indie Wrestling Hall of Fame ceremony is taking place from the Sheraton hotel in downtown Philadelphia. It starts at noon Eastern time on April 7 and will stream live on YouTube for free.
The Briscoes (Jay & Mark Briscoe), Trent Acid, and indie wrestling superfan Kevin “Whack Packer” Hogan are also part of this year’s Hall of Fame class. Jay Briscoe, Acid, and Hogan are being inducted posthumously.
In a new interview, second generation wrestler Colby Corino went into detail as to his contractual situation with WWE or lack thereof.
Speaking to Matt Koon, Corino confirmed rumors that broke earlier this year that he received a WWE offer and had verbally agreed to a deal. He was told a background check was required which he wasn’t concerned with since he already had one done years prior as part of his first WWE tryout.
The 26-year-old had been preparing to move his family to Florida in a leased apartment following getting an offer which he began to get anxious about due to not hearing anything for nearly a month.
“We were supposed to move to Florida on a Sunday and the Monday before, I get a call. I get told there was a problem with my background check and there was something from seven years ago that I needed to handle that and after that, I’d be good to go. Now, I’m good to go and it seems like that’s not the case anymore,” he explained.
He went on to say that he doesn’t have all the information about what happened, but for now, “It’s not a closed door, but it’s kind of a ‘not right now’ thing.”
He had no idea if the situation was due to a rumored hiring freeze caused by the impending merger between WWE and Endeavor.
The son of former ECW star and current WWE NXT producer/trainer Steve Corino, Colby wrestled once on 205 Live against Mansoor in 2020 in addition to working against Erik of the Viking Raiders during a Raw Underground segment.
He said he isn’t sure what is next for him, but isn’t rushing to figure it out or go anywhere.
MLW World Champion Steve Corino defeated Mike Awesome in a long-awaited rematch.
One half of the MLW tag champions CW Anderson was in action against “Dr. Death” Steve Williams.
In tag team action, Ekmo Fatu (aka Umaga) debuted as the newest member of the Samoan Island Tribe.
Show Review:
The show opened with Corino backstage cutting a promo on Awesome. He said the last time they met, Awesome walked in the champion and tonight, he is walking in the challenger. Corino also announced this is Awesome’s last shot at the title.
“Dr. Death” Steve Williams defeated CW Anderson (4:15 televised)
Anderson jumped Williams at the bell, but it didn’t take long for Williams to shake it off and knock Anderson out of the ring after a series of jabs. Williams, who was getting on in his career at this point, still hit a dive to the outside onto Anderson. They brawled around ringside and Anderson got tossed over a table and then into the crowd going into a commercial break.
Back in the ring, Anderson stopped Williams in his tracks with a superkick, but Williams kicked out. He fought back and had the match won after his running powerslam but the referee got knocked down in the process.
Anderson’s partner Simon Diamond interfered and superkicked Williams and it looked as though Anderson was going to backdoor his way out of this one. But, Williams kicked out at the last second. The Sandman chased Diamond away and Williams fought back, hitting his backdrop driver to pick up the win.
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– Da Hit Squad (Mafia and Monsta Mack) were backstage and said they were proud to be in MLW. They wanted to see who the toughest and baddest were and that it was time for the fresh blood to take over in MLW…and time for the Samoans to step aside.
– CM Punk was behind a bar and welcomed us to Hybrid Happy Hour, offering Raven a toast to his recent loss to Punk. He then tossed a shot over his shoulder and said Raven will need to play under his rules — straight edge rules — and that he will find out why being straight edge means Punk is better than him.
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Da Hit Squad defeated The Samoan Island Tribe by disqualification (5:12)
Ekmo Fatu (aka Umaga) appeared as a surprise replacement for Mana in the SIT and went straight to work on Da Hit Squad as all four brawled around ringside from the get-go. Fatu missed a big crossbody on the outside and ended up going through a table, but was quickly back in and superkicked both Squad members to save Samu from a double team splash in the corner.
He was on the receiving end of a double suplex and then a big top rope frog splash from Mack, but Samu pulled the referee out as he made the cover. Fatu then hit a swinging uranage and both Samoans hit the Rikishi-style running hip attack into the corners. Samu then let the viewers know why he had been shouting “teabag” at the end of his recent promos by hitting a bronco buster on Mack.
During the melee, the Samoans had thrown the referee out of the ring, leading more officials to stop the action and award the match to the Squad via DQ. The action broke down again as officials struggled to keep order. After the next break, we heard that a no DQ match had been signed for the next set of tapings.
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– Awesome told Corino it will be “two for two at Taboo” because the last time he was at this building, he knocked out Masato Tanaka by power bombing him out of the ring through a table, adding “history will repeat itself tonight.”
– Before their upcoming CMLL Tag Team Title shot at the next tapings, Jose and Joel (Los Maximos) said to expect the unexpected.
– Sabu and Bill Alfonso warned Christopher Daniels that Sabu is going to spike him in the eye again when they meet at the next tapings. We did not see the first attack, but Joey Styles caught us up. Apparently, it was retaliation for Sabu being jumped in the parking lot recently.
– Mikey Whipwreck and Sinister Minister had some words for Sabu. Minister said Daniels hasn’t forgotten about Sabu’s first spike to the eye, and retaliation is coming for him. As Whipwreck was messing around in the background, he found a spike that Sabu had hidden. Minister warned Sabu that mind games won’t work with him and his Army of Darkness.
MLW World Heavyweight champion Steve Corino defeated Mike Awesome (10:54)
Corino was taking his time with his entrance, so Awesome jumped him the minute he came through the ropes. Awesome hit a German suplex and clotheslined Corino to the outside. Awesome was backdropped into the crowd by Corino who then ran Awesome into the ring post. As Corino was again taking his time getting back into the ring, Awesome floored him with his slingshot shoulderblock from the apron.
Corino ducked a clothesline and floored Awesome with a low dropkick to take advantage. Corino rocked Awesome with two chair shots to the head (one unprotected) and one to the back.
Awesome caught Corino on the top rope and superplexed him across the ring for a close two count. It was then Awesome’s turn to duck a clothesline and rock Corino with three chair shots to the head this time. He then went to the top and hit a top rope chair shot onto a helpless Corino. A sit out Awesome bomb and top rope big splash followed, but somehow Corino kicked out.
Awesome called for the table and set two up in opposing corners of the ring as Styles reminded us he knocked out Masato Tanaka in this building by putting him through a table. The referee got knocked down and Corino superkicked Awesome, but Awesome responded with two running powerbombs through the two corner tables.
He covered Corino as the referee was coming around, but Corino kicked out after a labored count from the referee.
As both were getting to their feet, Corino hit Awesome with what looked like a roll of quarters. Diamond and Anderson ran in and held Awesome for Corino to hit him with a chair, but Terry Funk ran in and took everyone out with a trashcan. He swung a chair, Corino ducked, and it clocked Awesome right in the face. Corino then covered Awesome for the three count as the Extreme Horsemen held Funk down.
The Horsemen continued their beatdown on Funk and wrapped their wrist tape around Funk’s neck, hanging him from the ring. As Underground went off the air, Sandman and Williams made the save to even the odds.
Next Week:
The Sandman faces Simon Diamond with a shot at the Extreme Horsemen’s MLW tag titles on the line.
Hints of a new faction were given as the end of the main event between Sabu and Mikey Whipwreck (with the Sinister Minister) when chaos ensued with the arrival of Christopher Daniels and Jerry Lynn.
Show Review:
We opened with a video package of new MLW World Heavyweight Champion Steve Corino and the Extreme Horsemen, highlighting their recent dominance over both the tag team and singles division. We saw CW Anderson and Simon Diamond capture the tag titles, a Horsemen beatdown on Terry Funk, and Corino capturing the title last week with a shocking upset over Mike Awesome.
Joey Styles then delved into more detail of last week’s double title switch as Awesome halted the near one year reign of Satoshi Kojima, but then Corino cashed in on a title shot with a little help from the Horsemen.
Christopher Daniels (w/ Jerry Lynn) defeated Billy Fives (4:55 televised)
Daniels and Lynn entered to Marilyn Manson’s “Disposable Teens” — a nice change to hear some licensed entrance music. Fives seemed to be quite popular with the local audience but Styles said this was his first look at him in the ring. Fives, who still wrestles once a year after a five year stretch of no activity, played up to the fans before slapping Daniels across the face as we went to an early commercial break.
After the short break, Fives was firing up on a comeback and hit a backdrop, clothesline and a running leg lariat into a leg drop for a two count. Daniels stopped him in his tracks with a face first drop (Last Rights) to completely change the momentum. Daniels then hit the Best Moonsault Ever, but only got a two count.
Fives then came close to winning after a reverse DDT. He then hit Daniels’ own Last Rights finisher on him, but Lynn got on the apron and distracted both Fives and the ref. This gave Daniels just the right opening he needed to hit another Last Rights for a second time to pick up the win.
After the match, Styles said Paul London challenged Lynn to a Young Lions two out of three match challenge where London must win two matches to earn his spot on the MLW roster.
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– We cut to the parking lot where the Extreme Horsemen’s stretch Hummmer pulled up and they disembarked, along with two bikini laden models.
– We saw footage from the closing moments of the recent Steve Corino vs. Terry Funk barbed wire match and the return of the Sandman who came to Terry Funk and Steve Williams’ aid. Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” played in full as Sandman took his time to rescue his friends. Funk was wrapped head to toe in wire and stuck in the corner of the ring while Williams was being repeatedly beat down and choked with a steel chair as Sandman drank and smoked his way through the crowd before eventually taking out the Extreme Horsemen.
– We went back to more recent footage with Williams arriving at the building and getting jumped by CW Anderson and Simon Diamond while getting out his car. They busted him open and hit him with trash cans before ramming him headfirst into a wall.
– Backstage, CM Punk ran into Simply Luscious and asked her what it feels like to be disappointed in Raven losing his focus. She looked pretty disgusted having to talk to Punk as he rambled on before asking her to think about the future and think about straight edge. Styles connected the dots for the viewers and said that Luscious has some history with someone in the locker room. Could it be Punk? Could it be Raven? Styles then recapped the Punk vs Raven feud.
– The heavyweight title rankings were back this week. Jerry Lynn remained in #10, Michael Shane was back at 9 (falling one place from last week), CM Punk dropped a spot to #8 as did La Parka at #7, Raven at #6, and Sabu at #5, Masato Tanaka jumped right in at #4, and after losing the title last week, Kojima is now #3 ranked behind both Terry Funk and Mike Awesome who are both #1.
– We heard from Homicide who told us he was locked up ten years ago and now he feels like he is locked up again…but he likes it. He is bringing some damage and ruckus to MLW.
– Awesome said that he is going for “two at Taboo” at the next set of tapings in Orlando and wants to challenge Corino to a match where the only way to win is to knock out your opponent.
– Corino had a chance to respond, but he also addressed Funk’s recent challenge. Corino said Awesome gets the first shot and Funk will need to wait his turn. Corino respects Awesome, but his stupidity led him to lose his title last week. He then told Funk that he will sign the World title contract for a match against him after he beats Awesome in Orlando at the next tapings.
Styles said we were going to see the rubber match between La Parka and Sabu, but it was Whipwreck who entered with a black cloak and a La Parka mask before the Sinister Minister came out and unmasked Whipwreck. Styles questioned what Whipwreck and Minister had done with the real La Parka before we just moved on to the new match.
They exchanged single leg takedowns before Whipwreck took down Sabu with an armbar. Whipwreck then connected with a dropkick before Bill Alfonso made his heroic comeback to ringside after his beating from La Parka.
Sabu locked in a camel clutch, but Whipwreck threw him to the outside. Moments later, Sabu hit the Air Sabu chair assisted plancha from the top rope into the crowd.
After a quick break, it was Whipwreck’s turn to take to the sky as he dove over the top rope onto Sabu on the outside. There was now also a table set up in the corner of the ring which Sabu used as he set Whipwreck against it and hit a chair assisted leg lariat to put Whipwreick through it. A triple jump legdrop was followed by a chair assisted camel clutch, given Sabu the submission win.
After the match, Sinister Minister went face to face with Alfonso, but Sabu came to his manager’s aid and pulled out a spike. Before he could use it, Sabu was jumped by Daniels and Lynn. Whipwreck, Minister, Daniels and Lynn then left together as MLW Underground went off the air.
MLW returned to its roots with this week’s Anthology focusing on Steve Corino and the Extreme Horsemen. Corino battled Dusty Rhodes and Terry Funk in a three way Florida Death Match that saw the debut of the Extreme Horsemen after the bloody battle. The Horsemen then entered the two ring, double cage War Games match when they took on Funk and his Funkin’ Army.
Show Review:
Steve Corino defeated Dusty Rhodes and Terry Funk in a three-way Florida Death Match (13:07)
War Memorial Auditorium | Ft. Lauderdale, FL | December 2002
Funk and Corino were on the same page early as they took turns going one-on-one with Rhodes, eventually using their numbers advantage and a trash can to get the legend down on the mat. However, their alliance was short lived as Funk turned his back on Corino and clobbered him with the trash can.
A brawl outside the ring included Rhodes exposing Funk’s backside (to the horror of both Joey Styles on commentary and the live audience), a steel chair that did the rounds with everyone taking turns, and a few bionic elbows for good measure.
Inside the ring, Rhodes hit Funk with a shovel, but moments later, he took the handle to the groin as he was jabbing Corino. To make matters worse, Funk drove the shovel into Corino’s throat and on the outside of the ring, he slipped off the guardrail and caught his leg between the rungs.
As Rhodes was hitting Corino with some more bionic elbows, CW Anderson and Simon Diamond interfered and took out Rhodes’ ankle with a steel chair. Rhodes was taken to the back so it left Funk on his own against Corino, Anderson, and Diamond.
Being the underdog lit a fire in Funk as he ran wild and waffled all three men with another trash can. The numbers game eventually caught up with Funk, however, as Corino floored him with a DDT. The referee refused to count the pin due to the interference so Corino gave him a DDT, too. Replacement referee Jon Finegan eventually made the count and declared Corino the victor.
The Funkin’ Army (Terry Funk, Sandman, “Dr. Death” Steve Williams, Sabu & Bill Alfonso) defeated The Extreme Horsemen (Steve Corino, Barry Windham, CW Anderson, Simon Diamond & PJ Walker) (20:16)
War Memorial Auditorium | Ft. Lauderdale, FL | September 2002
Anderson and Sandman were out first for their respective teams. We got the full Metallica “Enter Sandman” entrance which was a delight to see and hear unedited. In a smart piece of booking, we not only got to see Sandman make the entrance at his own pace but since the entrants were only two minutes apart, the action never lagged and no one was exposed in the ring for too long.
Then-MLW World Champion Corino was third out and interestingly announced as “The King of Kings” which sounds familiar. Corino had barbed wire wrapped around his fist and, of course, he took the wire to Sandman’s forehead, busting him open more than his Budweiser can did during his entrance. They harkened back to ECW with a caning spot as Anderson held Sandman and draped him between the two rings set up for the match.
Funk was out next to even the sides, throwing a chair into the ring from the elevated entrance stage and immediately going straight for Corino to continue their ongoing war. We were told Funk had an upcoming title shot and chose a dog collar match for the stipulation. Funk dragged Corino from one ring to the other and dropped the champion with a piledriver.
The Horsemen got the upper hand when Simon Diamond entered to make it 3-2 in their favor. Both Global Crown Tag Team Champions (MLW’s first name for the belts) were now in the ring as Diamond took a chair to Funk while Anderson ran Sandman’s face against the steel fence.
Steve Williams was next out to even the score as we were told this was the last member of Funk’s team. Jerry Lawler was originally supposed to be in the match but “the evil McEmpire” pulled him out according to Styles. Funk had agreed to take the match even though they were two men short as Barry Windham had been recently added to the Horsemen team.
PJ Walker (Justin Credible) brought a ladder out as he gave the Horsemen a 4-3 advantage. He and Anderson whipped Sandman into the ladder as Funk seesawed between the ropes as Corino fired off right hands. But moments later, the crazy Funk did his signature airplane spin ladder spot, taking out some of the Horsemen in the process.
Windham was supposed to come in next, but Sabu made a surprise return and ran wild, evening the odds and bringing Funk’s team back into the match. Sabu’s left arm was heavily taped up and did not look fully healed from the injury that had previously kept him out of action.
Windham was out next and the Horsemen’s bounty hunter took out all members of Funk’s team. However Bill Alfonso, who came out with Sabu, got on the mic to declare the uneven teams were bullsh*t and he became the fifth member of Funk’s team.
Sabu came off the top rope and put Walker through a table with a legdrop. Funk then brought a flaming branding iron into the ring, branded Corino across the back, and spat fire into his eyes. He then locked in his famous spinning toehold to make Corino give up, winning the match for his team.
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– Josef Samael told us in a propaganda video that he and CONTRA will abuse their power and spread their evil message throughout the world.
– It was then time for Pulp Fusion, the weekly video update on the current stars of MLW:
Low Ki and King Mo continued their war of words, only Ki was talking in Japanese and Mo was gloating he had beat him so bad he had knocked him loopy.
Mance Warner was on the phone to “Dirty” Dutch Mantel trying to book a bear to fight him in his triple cage.
The Parks were working out with sledgehammers and tractor tires while the Von Erichs were working on their grip strength with some rope and squeezing apples.
“Filthy” Tom Lawlor was debating the legitimacy of the Von Erichs whereabouts, saying they were in front of green screens all the time. He was stressing out and said he didn’t need this before his big trip as he wiped his brow with what looked very similar to a New Japan Pro Wrestling scarf.
Myron Reed told us to open our minds and vibe with him as he is dropping an album soon called “BANGers 4Ever”.
Konnan asked where Salina had been all this time. He said she was not on his level and told her the devil knows more because of his age, not because he is the devil.
Hammerstone was playing his guitar before he drank some of his own special Dynastic coffee brew that made him work out like a mad man.
Logan Creed has been unleashed. From where? I have no idea.
Salina de La Renta finished the montage by telling us all she knows we want it, she knows we need it, and said everyone is asking her where she has been when everyone should be asking, “What has she done?”
Next week: CONTRA Unit gets the Anthology treatment
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.
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