ROH TV Report
March 22, 2014
Taped in Philadelphia, Pa.
Report by Mike Metzger, PWTorch VIP Member

A new ROH signature aired. They showed clips of several ROH alumni including Daniel Bryan, C.M. Punk, and A.J. Styles, as well as current stars Kevin Steen, Michael Elgin, and Jay Lethal. Their new tagline is “ROH: Creating Excellence.” Not quite WWE’s level of production values, but at least ROH seems to have a vision now.

They aired a recap of Nigel McGuinness announcing that the ROH World Title match at “Supercard of Honor” will feature Adam Cole defending his title against self-proclaimed champion Jay Briscoe in a Ladder War. They also showed Michael Bennett and Mark Briscoe getting involved which set up tonight’s main event: The Briscoes will reunite to face the team of Adam Cole and Michael Bennett!

The ROH TV opening aired.

1 - ADRENALINE RUSH (ACH & TADARIUS THOMAS) & ANDREW EVERETT vs. THE DECADE (RODERICK STRONG & JIMMY JACOBS & B.J. WHITMER) - six-man tag team match

The heel trio refused to shake the hands of their younger opponents. Everett and Strong started out with some chain wrestling for the first minute. Everett came out on top with a beautiful dropkick. Thomas tagged in, slammed Strong and went for the pin, but could only get a two count. Strong was able to force Thomas into his corner. After chopping Thomas, Strong tagged in Whitmer. B.J. continued to dominate with some chops of his own. Thomas was able to fight back with a one of his capoeira kicks to the face.

After a nearfall, Jacobs distracted Tadarius from the outside. This allowed Whitmer to throw Thomas to the outside where Jacobs attacked him. Jacobs threw Thomas back in the ring, as the show went to commercial at 2:50 of the match.

[Commercial Break]

Back at 5:20, The Decade was still in control of the match. They had ACH in their corner but he fought back against all three men, rolled all the way to his own corner and tagged in Thomas. Tadarius used his capoeira offense against Strong until Whitmer grabbed him from behind. Thomas rolled through, however, and nailed Whitmer with a kick. Thomas briefly fought bought both Strong and Whitmer by himself, culminating with a German suplex into a pinning combination on Strong. Unfortunately for Thomas, Jacobs ran in and broke up the cover.

Whitmer and Jacobs double-teamed Thomas with some charges in the corner. Strong tried to make it a triple-team effort with a charge of his own, but Thomas moved out of the way and tagged in Everett. The newcomer was a house of fire as he immediately nailed a top rope dropkick on Whitmer. Everett then hit a beautiful a shooting star press onto Jacobs and Whitmer on the outside, followed by another shooting star press onto Strong in the middle of the ring! It looked to be over, but Jacobs was somehow able to make the save.

Thomas dove onto Jacobs and Whitmer on the outside. A.C.H. then followed up with a flip dive of his own that got tremendous air. Back in the ring, Everett went for a 450 splash on Strong, but Strong moved out of the way. Roderick was able to nail Everett in the face with a knee and then followed up with a backbreaker for the pinfall victory.

WINNERS: The Decade via pinfall at 8:20. (**1/2)

ANALYSIS: Borderline spotfest here, but The Decade’s heel tactics helped tell a story. Thomas, A.C.H., and Everett looked very impressive hitting all of their big spots. Sometimes Thomas’s capoeira offense is hit or miss, but it looked very crisp and believable tonight. A.C.H. is always impressive, but he took it up a notch tonight with that dive to the outside. Possibly the highest elevation I’ve ever seen a wrestler achieve—it really needs to be seen to be appreciated!

[During the commercial, Michael Elgin hyped next week’s main event between himself and A.J. Styles. Elgin admitted that he asked for the match because he doesn’t deserve to be ROH World Champion if he can’t beat Styles first. Elgin then demanded that Adam Cole watch his match next week, as it would be a preview of things to come for the champion.]

Back from commercial, the screen turned a shade of red as Romantic Touch made his entrance. R.D. Evans was out next as the announcers declared that his “streak” was now at 40-0.

2 - ROMANTIC TOUCH vs. R.D. EVANS

Touch adhered to the Code of Honor by kissing the hand of both Evans and the referee. Touch then approached Veda Scott who was on the ring apron. Evans snuck up behind Touch and went for an immediate schoolboy, but could only get a two count. Touch regained control and monkey-flipped Evans out of a corner. Touch again went after Veda, but this opened him up to an attack from Evans.

Evans went for a big splash, but Touch moved out of the way. Touch followed up with two backdrops. He taunted Evans and then crotched him into a corner. Touch then hit a neck breaker, but could only get a nearfall.

Touch went for a hip toss, but Evans reversed it into a pinning combination. Touch dropkicked Evans to the outside and then nailed him with a flip dive! The referee began counting as Touch began to stalk Veda Scott at ringside. He eventually cornered her, but Veda crawled under the ring. Touch then followed her under the ring. Evans was able to roll back into the ring at the count of nineteen. Touch was counted out. Veda came out from under the ring looking disheveled. Touch then reappeared and lit up a cigarette. Steve Corino made the obvious sexual insinuations on commentary.

WINNER: R.D. Evans via countout at 4:20. (n/a)

After the match, Evans completely ignored poor Veda and declared that he was the only real man left standing. This brought out “Pro Wrestling’s Last Real Man” Silas Young who chased Evans and Veda away with his leather strap. Face-turn for Silas, perhaps?

ANALYSIS: Total comedy-filler. Wrestling fans: the next time you want to complain about WWE being rated PG, please watch this segment and realize that just because it’s raunchy doesn’t make it good.

[During the commercial, the first-ever edition of the “Fish Tank” starring Kyle O’Reilly and Bobby Fish aired. They brought out their guest Cheeseburger. The tag champs mocked him and then beat him down. I guess if you want even more wrestling comedy, you can view the whole segment at ROHWrestling.com.]

3 - ADAM PAGE vs. CEDRIC ALEXANDER

Roderick Strong joined the commentators for this match. Strong is still mad that Cedric recently used a backbreaker in a match. Both men locked up to start the match. They exchanged holds for the first ninety seconds, until Cedric came out on top with a headscissors takedown. Cedric followed up with some chops and then nailed Page with a dropkick. Cedric scored a nearfall and then battled Page to the corner. Cedric threw Page into the air. Page tried to lift himself onto the turnbuckle, but lost his balance and then fell to the outside. Ugly spot.

Cedric allowed Page to get back into the ring. They exchanged holds again. Page had Cedric in the ropes, and this time Page nailed his opponent to the outside. Page brought Cedric back in the ring. Alexander nailed his opponent with a fist. Page charged at Cedric, but Alexander got his boot up and then delivered a kick to the face of Page from the second rope. Cedric hit another kick, but Page was able to hit a powerslam out of nowhere. Cedric regained control with an innovative side slam.

Page rolled to the outside and Cedric followed. This allowed Page to nail Alexander with a shooting star press from the apron to the floor! Page rolled back into the ring, as the referee counted. Roderick Strong advised Page to take the count-out victory. Page ignored him and dragged Cedric back into the ring. He went for a top rope move, but Cedric rolled out of the way and nailed Page with a dropkick and then hit his Lumbar Check backbreaker for the pin.

After the match, Roderick Strong came into the ring to confront Cedric, but Alexander just walked away. Strong then turned his attention to Adam Page who was sulking in the corner. Page, unlike Cedric, seemed to accept Strong’s criticism.

WINNER: Cedric Alexander via pinfall at 6:30 (**)

ANALYSIS: Okay match. Another solid win for Cedric as his singles run continues. Nice to see them setting something up between Cedric-Strong, but I don’t see how Cedric really fits into the whole “The Decade has a problem with all the returning superstars” storyline.

[Commercial Break]

4 - THE BRISCOES (JAY & MARK) vs. ROH champion ADAM COLE & MICHAEL BENNETT (w/Maria)

The Code of Honor was not adhered to (obviously). Jay and Bennett started off. Jay immediately delivered headbutts and stomps to Bennett in the corner and then tagged in his brother. Mark continued the assault on Bennett with some blows of his own in the corner. He quickly tagged Jay back in. Jay delivered another headbutt and then a shoulder block to Bennett as Maria watched on from the outside.

The quick tags continued as Mark came back in. He delivered some chops to the chest of Bennett, but the “Superhero Superstar” was able to battle back with a dropkick. This allowed Bennett to tag in Cole at 2:00. Cole couldn’t take advantage, however, as Mark started delivering his Redneck Kung Fu.

Jay tagged back in and delivered a headbutt to Cole this time. Jay lifted Cole onto his shoulder, tagged in Mark and then dropped Cole to the mat. This allowed Mark to come in and immediately deliver a double-footstomp to the prone champion on the mat. Mark continued to control for the next few moments, until he again tagged in his brother. The Briscoes tried to double-team Cole, but the champion rolled out of the ring.

The Briscoes chased after Cole and Bennett and attacked them on the outside. Back in the ring, Mark chased after Cole but was met with an elbow from the champion. Cole delivered an enziguri and a dropkick, but could only get a two count. ROH went to commercial at 5:00 of the match.

[Commercial Break]

Back at 7:00, Bennett was dominating Mark Briscoe. Cole tagged back in and nailed Mark with some blows in the corner. He quickly tagged Bennett back in. Bennett went for a backdrop on Mark, but the younger Briscoe landed on his feet and tagged in Jay!

Jay came in like a house of fire and nailed Bennett with some fists. Briscoe nailed Bennett with a dropkick and then ran after Cole, who dropped to floor to avoid contact. This allowed Bennett to fight back, but his offense was short-lived as Jay hit a huracanrana. Jay hit a neckbreaker and went for the cover. Cole tried to break it up, but was intercepted by Mark. The Briscoes double-teamed Bennett with Jay’s Falcon Arrow, immediately followed up by Mark’s Froggy-bow. Jay could only get a two-count, though.

Mark and Cole fought on the outside, while Jay continued to dominate Bennett in the ring. Bennett fought out of a hold and nailed Jay with a side effect. Cole, having backdropped Mark on the outside, was able to tag in at 9:30 and just hammer the number one contender with blows. Cole went for a suplex, but Jay blocked. Cole was able to maintain control with a dropkick to the knee, followed by a shining wizard. Cole and Bennett double-teamed Jay in the ring. Jay tried to fight back, but the two-on-one attack was too much for him. Cole and Bennett culminated this double-team with a double shoulder tackle to Jay.

The heels began to celebrate, but this allowed Mark to deliver a double-dropkick to both men out of nowhere. Mark threw Bennett out of the ring and then nailed him with a flying blockbuster from the apron to the floor! Back in the ring, the Briscoes had Cole cornered. They double-teamed the ROH champion with a double-shoulder tackle of their own. They went for a doomsday device, but Bennett popped up out of nowhere and speared Mark to the floor. This allowed Cole to deliver two consecutive superkicks to the back of Jay’s head. Cole went for the cover, but Jay kicked out.

Cole went for a Canadian Destroyer from the top rope, but Jay reversed into a backdrop. They jockeyed for control for about thirty seconds until Briscoe kicked Cole in the face and nailed him with the Jay Driller. Jay was able to cover Cole and score the victory!

WINNERS: The Briscoes via pinfall at 14:15 when Jay pinned Adam Cole. (***)

After the match, Jay asked the camera, “what more do I have to do?” The announcers reminded us that this is the second pinfall that Jay has scored on Adam Cole in recent weeks. Back in the ring, Jay Briscoe hoisted up both the official ROH World Title as well has his own version as the show faded to black.

ANALYSIS: Good match. It had a gradual build to it, which I liked. I also appreciated the quick tags from the Briscoes, showing they had much more experience as a team. If ROH is following WWE’s booking philosophy, it looks like Cole will be retaining the title at “Supercard of Honor.”

FINAL THOUGHTS: Good show, but not very newsworthy. I would recommend checking out A.C.H.’s incredible dive if you can find it. I still can’t believe how high up in the air he was!

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