By Sean Radican, Torch columnist

RADICAN'S ROH "SUPERCARD OF HONOR VII" iPPV BLOG
APRIL 5, 2013
MANHATTAN, N.Y.
AIRED LIVE ON ROHWRESTLING.COM

R.D. Evans teased Tanihashi, Mike Quackenbush, and Lacey Von Erich before revealing that he was going to be Q.T. Marshall’s partner.

(1) Tadarius Thomas & A.C.H. vs. Q.T. Marshall & R.D. Evans. Evans was pretty funny starting the match and then later blind-tagging himself into the match when Marshall had gotten the upper hand. Thomas got cut off and Marshall and Evans began to work him over. Thomas fired back and finally tagged in ACH, who ran wild on Evans and Marshall. Evans ended up ducking in the corner, so A.C.H. climbed his back and hit an enzuguri on Marshall. A.C.H. applied a cloverleaf on Evans and spun him around into a cloverleaf submission, but Marshall made the save. Marshall and Evans ended up on the outside. A.C.H. hit a crazy step up flip dive to the outside and the fans went nuts. Thomas went for a dive, but Evans wiped him out. Evans went for a springboard on Thomas, who was held by Marshall, but Thomas got out of the way and Evans hit Marshall. Thomas then wiped out everyone with a handspring dive and the fans went nuts.

Evans caught A.C.H. with an inverted clash, but only got a nearfall. The fans chanted for A.C.H., as Marshall signaled for the finish. Thomas made the save and pushed Marshall into Evans in the corner. A.C.H. ended up hitting the big bang on Marshall for the win.

Winners: Tadarius Thomas & A.C.H.

Star rating: (**3/4) – This was a very good opener with Thomas & A.C.H. looking very impressive in the ring.

Shelton Benjamin came down while Kelly and Seltzer were chatting at ringside. Benjamin got a nice ovation from the crowd. Benjamin got on the mic and said he had some bad news and worse news. Benjamin said Charlie Haas is not in the building tonight. Benjamin said the worse news was that he doesn’t have a match. The fans booed. Benjamin pointed to Cheeseburger at ringside. The fans chanted for Cheeseburger. He got into the ring and Benjamin told him he respected him for standing up for Haas. Benjamin said Haas heard that Cheeseburger would be in New York and that’s why he didn’t show up. Mike Bennett’s music played and he came down to the ring with Bob Evans and Maria.

Bennett got on the mic and heeled on the fans for cheering him. He told the fans to shut their mouths while he talked. Bennett wondered why he wasn’t on the card on the biggest weekend of the year. Bennett said wrestling companies and record labels wanted to give him a deal. Bennett said he was sick of listening to Benjamin and someone that looked like Shelton melted in the sun in reference to cheeseburger. Bennett said everyone was wondering which company Bennett was singing with. Bennett was about to announce who he was singing with when Cheeseburger took the mic. Cheeseburger challenged Bennett, his father, and his c—guzzling gutter slut to a match. Bennett punched cheeseburger right in the face. Benjamin got on the mic and said he had found his match.

2 - - Shelton Benjamin vs. Mike Bennett (w/Brutal Bob & Maria). Bennett hit a backdrop on Bob after decking Bennett. Shelton dominated the action for a long period of time. They traded punches until Bennett hit a big spinebuster. Maria got up on the apron and stuck her butt out for the camera while massaging Bennett. Benjamin tried to fire back and began trading punches with Bennett. Bennett hit a diving forearm and began turning the tide on Bennett. Benjamin hit a T-bone suplex, but only got a 2 count. Benjamin went for paydirt, but Bennett hit the box office smash for a nearfall. Bennett hit a running knee in the corner and teased following up with a bulldog a la C.M. Punk, but ended up flipping off the crowd. Bennett set up for the GTS, but Benjamin countered and applied a single leg crab. Maria got up the apron and Bob wiped out Benjamin with a big shoulder tackle. Bennett went up top and hit a top rope leg drop. He then went over to Maria and began kissing her and grabbing her breasts. Maria grinded on the ropes, but Bennett fired up and hit his signature leg whip on Bennett. Maria was still grinding and didn’t realize that Benjamin was up against her. Bennett let her grind on him and went to grab Maria’s breasts, but she realized it was him.

Bennett went to kick Benjamin, but ended up booting Maria to the floor. Benjamin then hit a German for a nearfall. Benjamin knocked Bob off the ropes and hit a slam on Bennett. Benjamin went for a sunset flip, but Bennett sat down on him and Bob held his hands for the pin.

Winner: Mike Bennett

Star rating: (***) – This was a good match with some good sequences down the stretch. Bennett just gets it as a heel and would be a major addition to the ROH roster this year if he sticks around.

After the match, Benjamin got a round of applause from the crowd. The crowd continued to chant for Benjamin, who posed on the ropes for them.

3 - - Michael Elgin vs. Jay Lethal – ROH World Title #1 Contenders match. They went to a really nice sequence and exchanged counters and pinning combinations before coming to a stalemate. Instead of investing in Lethal or Elgin, the crowd chanted “this is wrestling.” Lethal hit a backwards elbow off the second rope and began working over Bennett. Both men began exchanging strikes. Lethal went for a hurricanrana, but Elgin got a Boston crab. Lethal escaped quickly and took Elgin down with a dropkick. The crowd was split chanting for both men as they exchanging strikes. Elgin caught Lethal going for a springboard and hit a powerslam, but only got a 1 count. Elgin hit his signature delayed vertical suplex on Lethal, but only got a 2 count. Lethal countered a buckle bomb, but Elgin grabbed him and applied the crossface. The fans started a “Chris Benoit” chant. Lethal eventually ended up getting the ropes.

Lethal sent Elgin to the floor and hit two dives. Elgin got up on the apron, but Lethal kicked him to the floor and hit a third dive and both men were down on the outside. Lethal set up for the elbow and the crowd started a big “Randy Savage” chant, but Elgin popped up and cut him. Lethal shoved Elgin off, but Elgin nailed him with a big running kick. Holy crap! Elgin stood on the second rope and slowly hit a dead-lift superplex taking Lethal from the apron back into the ring. The fans went nuts, but Elgin got a two count. Both men began exchanging punches in the middle of the ring. The fans really got into the exchange as it wore on and Elgin hit a flurry of punches. Elgin hit two running clotheslines and a black hole slam for a nearfall. The fans fired up and Elgin went for the buckle bomb, but Lethal blocked it. Elgin ended up hitting a German suplex into the turnbuckles on Lethal. Elgin then went up top for a corkscrew senton, but Lethal got his knees up. Lethal followed up with a pop-up neck breaker, but Elgin kicked out. Lethal went up top again, but Elgin popped up. Lethal took Elgin down and applied the Koji clutch. The fans chanted “please don’t tap.” Elgin struggled, but got the ropes.

They went to another big exchange and Lethal countered the chaos theory into a rollup for a nearfall. Elgin hit a ridiculous spinning back fist. Elgin hit the buckle bomb, but Lethal nailed him with a pair of superkicks. Elgin fired up and hit a superkick and a bicycle kick before wiping out Lethal with a clothesline. Elgin covered Lethal, but only got a 2 count. Elgin hit another buckle bomb and went for the Elgin bomb, but Lethal hit an inverted hurricanrana and the Lethal injection. Elgin popped up, so Lethal hit the Lethal combination and went up top. Lethal hit the top rope elbow, but Elgin kicked out at the last second. Holy crap! Lethal placed Elgin up top, but Elgin countered and hit a super Elgin bomb. Elgin hit a back fist, a buckle bomb, and another Elgin bomb for the win.

Winner: Michael Elgin

Star rating: (****1/2) – I just loved this match. That was a ridiculous display of back and forth action with believable nearfalls. The crowd really made the match exciting by exploding as the sequences got better and better. Elgin popping right up after the Lethal injection was an awesome spot.

After the match, S.C.U.M. ran down and beat down Elgin and Lethal. Corino got on the mic and asked if they were proud of their five star match. Corino said they would be remembered as the guy that S.C.U.M. just killed. Corino called out five of ROH’s best.

4 - - Team ROH (B.J. Whitmer & Mark Briscoe & Caprice Coleman & Cedrick Alexander & Mike Mondo) vs. S.C.U.M. (Cliff Compton & Rhino & Jimmy Rave & Rhett Titus & Jimmy Jacobs). The match began as a chaotic brawl. Once the action settled down, S.C.U.M. began to work over Mondo. Corino came in on commentary with Seltzer and Kelly. Mondo finally made the hot tag to Whitmer, who ran wild. Coleman and Alexander then hit stereo dives to the outside onto Compton and Rhino. Mark then hit a crazy flip dive to wipe out several members of S.C.U.M. Whitmer hit an exploder on Rave, but Titus made the save. The action broke down with both teams going back and forth. The action continued hot and heavy with Whitmer eventually hitting a series of chops on Rave. Rave tried to bail, but Whitmer nailed him with a dive through the ropes where the ringpost is. Holy crap! Corino got into with Seltzer and punched him. Corino tossed Seltzer into the guardrail. Whitmer dragged Corino into the ring, but he got cut off by Rhino and Jacobs. They held up Whitmer, who spit in Corino’s face. Titus then ran in and nailed Whitmer with a dropkick.

S.C.U.M. took out some handcuffs, but Mondo ran into the ring. Whitmer got cuffed to the bottom rope. Compton threw power in Mondo’s eyes. Jacobs nailed Alexander with a chain inside the ring. The action continued at a frenetic pace, as Corino apologized for hitting Seltzer, who was not part of their plan. Someone was carried to the back. Rhino hit a gore on Coleman for the pin to end the match.

Corino got on the mic and said the fans were cheering for the wrong team. He said the fans claimed to be intelligent, but they aren’t. Corino said tonight Hardy would become the new ROH TV Champion. He said they would ensure Steen retained his title.

Winners: Cliff Compton & Jimmy Jacobs & Rhett Titus & Jimmy Rave & Jimmy Jacobs

Star rating: (***3/4) – This was a great brawl with good crowd heat. The chaotic energy surrounding the ring during the entire match was a blast to watch unfold.


They went to a video package of Jay Briscoe’s previous shots at the ROH World Title.

Strong got a mixed reaction when he was introduced for his match against Karl Anderson. Anderson had a cool entrance when the sound of a machine gun played when he was introduced by Bobby Cruise

5 - - Karl Anderson vs. Roderick Strong. Kelly and McGuinness talked about the current state of Strong in the company. They said he’s trying to find his place in the company right now. They went back and forth on the mat in the early going before Strong caught Anderson with a leg lariat. Strong worked over Anderson for several minutes until Anderson nailed him with a basement dropkick as he came off the ropes. Anderson began working over Strong’s leg inside the ring. McGuinness mentioned that Anderson’s finisher is the ace cutter. Anderson went for an ace cutter on the guardrail, but Strong ducked it and dropped Anderson stomach first over the guardrail. Strong tossed Anderson back into the ring and hit a back breaker. Strong ducked a bicycle kick in the corner and hit Anderson with a running boot to the head a short time later. Strong then hit an Olympic slam on Anderson. They went to a big exchange of chops. They went back and forth exchanging counters until Anderson hit a big spinebuster and both men were down.

Strong fired back and hit a superkick on Anderson, who was on his knees for a 2 count. He went for the Stronghold, but Anderson fought him off. They went back and forth exchanging forearms on the apron. Anderson finally caught Strong with a big running dropkick on the apron as the crowd gasped. Anderson jumped off the top and hit a neck breaker. He then hit a running powerbomb, but Strong kicked out. Strong slipped away from Anderson and hit the sick kick for a nearfall. Strong then hit a big gut buster on Anderson. Strong followed up with another sick kick, but Anderson kicked out again. The fans applauded with both men slow to get up. Strong lit up Anderson with chops, but Anderson fired up and hit a big jumping piledriver for a 2 count. Strong blocked an ace crusher and nailed Anderson with several forearms. They went back and forth and Anderson hit an ace crusher on the third try to pin Strong.

Winner: Karl Anderson

Star rating: (***1/4) - This was a really good back and forth encounter between two hard-hitting wrestlers. The second half of the match was particularly Strong with some big exchanges that got the crowd into the match. Anderson getting a win over Strong makes me wonder if they have more planned for him in ROH in the future. Kelly and McGuinness were fantastic on commentary highlighting the story that Strong and Anderson were trying to tell.

Strong followed the code of honor after the match.

McGuinness and Kelly previewed the upcoming TV Title match before going to a video package.

Truth Martini and Taven double teamed their Hoopla Hottie before getting into the ring. I bet Larry Dallas is mad. Corino interrupted Cruise while he was doing the formal introductions. Corino then introduced the match as ROH’s final event in the rat trap city that is New York. Corino then gave Hardy a long introduction saying he changed sports entertainment and life in general. The fans chanted “F—k you, Hardy.” Corino said Hardy had slept with so many Divas that C.M. Punk was jealous. Corino called Hardy the Jesus Christ of professional wrestling. The crowd did not like Corino’s introduction one bit.

Hardy threw his shirt into the crowd, but the fans kept throwing it back into the ring.

6 - - ROH TV Champion Matt Taven (w/Truth Martini & Hoopla Hottie) vs. Adam Cole vs. Matt Hardy (w/Steve Corino) – ROH TV Title Elimination match

Cole took out Hardy with a dive during the early stages of the match. Taven tried to catch him with a dive, but he nailed him with a kick as he came through the ropes. Cole went back to Hardy and slammed him in the guardrail. Taven caught him by surprise with a dive and then wiped out Hardy and Cole with a big dive over the top to the outside. The Hoopla Hottie straddled McGuinness and took off her shirt. She asked McGuinness if she looked hot and continued to grind on him. The crowd chanted “Show your t—ts.” I guess there’s no TV Title match going on. Hardy hit a legdrop off the second rope on Cole for a 2 count. Cole knocked Taven out of the ring and hit a neckbreaker over his knee on Hardy for a 2 count. He then applied a figure 4 on Hardy. Taven went up top and hit a big splash on Cole, but he kicked out.

Cole hit a neck breaker on Hardy causing him to DDT Taven. I don’t think those spots are realistic. Hardy nearly pinned both men with a combination move. Taven pushed Hardy into a superkick from Cole and rolled him up for a nearfall. Cole hit a big neck breaker on Taven, but only got a 2 count. This match has been flat so far. Corino and McGuinness argued at ringside. Cole was hung upside down, but he managed to sit up and suplex Hardy, who suplexed Taven off the top. Cole rolled over and covered Taven for a 2 count. Hardy hit the TOF on Taven, but Truth got up on the apron. Cole hit a low blow and got a small package on Hardy for the first elimination. The crowd loved that.

Corino yelled at the ref and told him Hardy had been kicked in the junk. The fans sang the goodbye song while Hardy yelled at McGuinness. Corino got in the ring and offered Cole a handshake. Cole went after Corino. The ref ended up tied up with Corino. Taven shoved Cole into Corino and hit a modified DDT for the win.

Winner: Matt Taven to retain the ROH TV title.

Star rating: (**) – This was a dog and pony show with all sorts of stuff going on the outside of the ring during the match. The crowd fell flat and waited for the next part of the outside dog and pony show to take place instead of reacting to the action in the ring.

Hardy was crying on the commentary headsets after the match, which was funny.

Kelly pitched to a highlight package for the Wolves-ReDRagon match

7 - - ROH World Tag Team Champions ReDRagon (Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish) vs. The American Wolves (Davey Richards & Eddie Edwards). The Wolves took control during the early going and began working over Fish. Fish managed to tag out and O’Reilly went to work on Edwards with some kicks in the corner. Edwards cut O’Reilly off and began working him over before tagging in Richards, who applied an arm/leg combination submission. Edwards came in with the ref distracted with Fish and pulled back on Richards to add leverage to the hold. O’Reilly fired back on Richards and tagged in Fish. Richards took a beating for a long period of time. He finally tagged in Edwards to very little reaction. I wonder what these two teams can do to get the fans into it. These fans have seen a lot tonight.

The Wolves went for stereo dives, but Fish & O’Reilly cut them off. The Wolves then sent them to the outside with stereo hurricanranas before hitting stereo dives through the ropes to wipe out ReDRagon and the fans fired up. The action broke down and the Woleves ended up on the outside where Fish and O’Reilly hit a nice pair of high-risk maneuvers to wipe out the Wolves. ROH showed a replay of the sequence immediately. Edwards ended up taking down Fish and he tossed O’Reilly on top of him. Richards got the tag and hit a double missile dropkick. The crowd fired up a little as Richards began kicking Fish in the corner. O’Reilly ran into the corner, but Richards began nailing him with kicks as well. Richards caught O’Reilly with a German with a bridge for a nearfall after a big sequence and the fans chanted for Richards. O’Reilly fired back slapping Edwards and Richards. He eventually hit a double dragon screw as the crowd got into the action.

Richards got the ankle lock on O’Reilly, who tried to fight out only for Richards to transition it into a trailer hitch. Fish tried to kick him off, but Richards wouldn’t let go. Richards then caught Fish’s leg when he went for a running kick and he applied an ankle lock. The crowd chanted for both men to tap, but O’Reilly got the ropes. That was a great sequence. They went to a big sequence with all four men going back and forth. O’Reilly and Richards went at it and Richards ended a big strike sequence rolling through a German attempt and hitting a doublestomp and everyone was down.

Richards tagged out, but the ref didn’t see it and the ref wouldn’t allow him in the ring. Richards fired back on O’Reilly and Fish with chops as the crowd fired up. O’Reilly fired back on him with Fish and hit a big leg capture suplex with a bridge for a nearfall. The fans chanted for Richards, who continued to be double teamed. O’Reilly went up top, but Richards shoved Fish into him. Richards sent Fish to the outside, but he came back into the picture while Richards was going at it with O’Reilly up top. Edwards ran in and hit a hurricanrana on Fish off the top rope. Richards then jumped up to the top rope and hit a superplex and rolled through into a superplex/superkick combination on O’Reilly, but he kicked out. The Wolves just used ReDRagon’s finisher. O’Reilly took a pair of double stomps from Richards and Edwards, but he kicked out at the last second and the fans went nuts. O’Reilly kicked out sending Richards into a punch from Fish. He then rolled up Richards while holding the tights for the win.

Winners: Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish

Star rating: (***1/2) – The match was flat, but they put together some really good exchanges to get the crowd into the action during the second half. I’d love to see a rubber match between these two teams.

Kelly threw to a highlight package for the Jay Briscoe-Kevin Steen match.

Jay Briscoes got a good pop coming. ROH World Champion Kevin Steen came out next and got a good reaction as well.

Kelly said it has been 839 days since Steen lost in an ROH ring. Kelly also noted that Steen enters the ring through the entranceway unlike the other members of S.C.U.M.

8 - - ROH World Champion Kevin Steen vs. Jay Briscoe – ROH World Hvt. Title match. The announcers talked about not knowing where Steen’s allegiances are when it comes to S.C.U.M. Both men were slow to engage in battle during the early going. Steen went after Jay’s injured shoulder, but Jay cut him off with a dropkick. Jay cut off Steen on the outside and backdropped his way out of a powerbomb attempt, but once they got back inside the ring a few minutes later, Steen dropped him with a DDT. Jay fired back with a big rolling elbow and Steen dropped to the mat. The fans began chanting for Jay as he went on the attack. Steen fired back a short time later and shoved Jay shoulder-first into the ringpost. Steen continued to work over Jay’s arm inside the ring. Jay tried to fight back, but Steen hit a shoulder breaker over his knee. Steen then applied an arm bar, but Jay got the ropes.

Jay finally hit a stunner variation off the top turnbuckle and the fans fired up with “Man up” chants. Jacobs ran down to the ring, but Mark ran out and cut him off. Steen cut Jay off up top and snapped his arm over the top rope. He then hit a cannonball in the corner on Jay for a 2 count. Steen countered Jay on the outside and powerbombed him onto the apron. Steen then went up top for a swanton, but Jay got his knees up and hit a neck breaker. Jay covered Steen, but only got a 2 count. Members of S.C.U.M. ran out to the ring. Veda Scott grabbed Cliff Compton. Nigel screamed something inaudible. Coleman and Alexander ran out to get rid of Titus and Compton. McGuinness was really good on commentary here urging Jay to get the job done. Both men traded punches and the crowd went nuts. Steen went for the F cinq, but Jay slipped out. Both men then hit clotheslines and were down on the mat as the ref counted. Several members of the ROH roster came out and surrounded the ring. Steen lifted Jay and hit the F cinq as the fans went nuts. He only got a 2 count. They went back and forth and Steen hit a package piledriver, but Jay kicked out and the fans went crazy. Several more members of S.C.U.M. came through the entrance way, but the ROH wrestlers fought them off. Steen stopped Hardy, who ran in from the other side of the ring, from giving Jay a TOF. Steen walked into the Jay-driller, but he kicked out. The fans went crazy as Jay went for another Jay-driller, but Steen countered it into the cross-face. The entire building was on their feet, as Jay broke free from the submission. Jay hit a huge lariat on Steen and hit the Jay-driller for the win.

The fans went crazy after the pin. Streamers filled the ring as Jay celebrated with his brother and uncle. Papa Briscoe then got into the ring and hugged Jay. Cary Silkin gave Jay the ROH World Title and he held it up for the crowd as more of Jay’s family members celebrated with him. Steen recovered and grabbed the mic from Jay. The fans chanted “That was awesome” before Steen could speak. A “Thank you Steen” chant then broke up. Steen dropped the mic and shook hands with Jay before hugging some of Jay’s family members. A “ROH, ROH” chant broke out, as Papa Briscoe put the title around Jay’s waist. The fans chanted “You deserve it” at Jay. Jay got on the mic and said tonight honor lived and S.C.U.M. died. He asked Wayne, the music guy, to play his old music.

Winner: Jay Briscoe to win the ROH World Title

Star rating: (****1/4) – This was just an amazing moment that ROH fans aren’t likely to forget anytime soon. The match itself told a good story with Steen working over Jay’s injured arm throughout the match. Things really picked up down the stretch with S.C.U.M. being fended off by the ROH wrestlers from interfering. The crowd heat reached a fever pitch for the final stretch with Steen thwarting Hardy from hitting a TOF on Jay. The post-match celebration was a fantastic moment for Jay, who truly deserved this moment after giving his heart and soul to ROH for over ten years.

Overall thoughts: (9.0) – This was an amazing show with an amazing conclusion. The fans gave the show fantastic energy from start to finish. I really enjoyed how the S.C.U.M. vs. ROH angle played out throughout the show.

The matches on the show were very good from top to bottom, but it’s the moments this show provided that made this show special whether it was Elgin and Lethal having a fantastic match only to be beat down by S.C.U.M., which lead into a crazy ten man tag or the finish of the main event where the crowd became unglued as Jay fought through injury and adversity to overcome Steen and outside interference from S.C.U.M.

The rest of the card was bolstered by some very good matches including Bennett-Benjamin, Wolves-ReDRagon, and Anderson-Strong. Steve Corino was also a highlight throughout the show as S.C.U.M.’s mouthpiece. He was great on commentary during the Ten Man Tag and his introduction of Matt Hardy before the TV Title match was incredible.

Now that the replay has been fixed by ROH, this is a must-see show. The crowd energy was incredible at Hammerstein and seeing Jay Briscoe win the ROH Championship is a must. It’s hard not to be excited about the direction of the company after this iPPV.


***

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