Ring of Honor TV Report
June 15, 2014
Taped 5/10 in Toronto, Canada
Report by Mike Metzger (@mD0uble), PWTorch VIP Member

The ROH TV opening aired.

Tonight: A showcase of the incredible action that went down last month at the ROH-New Japan co-promoted show in Toronto.

A video package aired, which chronicled the history between The Decade and Cedric Alexander. Essentially, Cedric stole Roderick Strong’s finisher and The Decade thought it was quite disrespectful. Poor Cedric had received weekly beatings from Decade members, and it culminated with a one-on-one match at Global Wars.

1 - CEDRIC ALEXANDER vs. RODERICK STRONG

Cedric immediately ran down the aisle and attacked Strong. He knocked Roderick to the outside and then nailed him with an amazing dive! Cedric brawled with Strong for a moment on the outside, and then threw him back in the ring. Cedric delivered some chops, but Strong fought back with some stomps. Cedric reversed and then pummeled Strong in the corner with several boots. Strong was able to gain control, however, when Cedric got caught up in the ropes. This allowed Strong to nail Cedric several times, as the show went to commercial at the 2:30 point in the match.

[Commercial Break]

Back at 5:00, Strong was still in control. Cedric tried to fight back with blows. It broke out into a chain wrestling sequence, culminating with Alexander nailing Strong with a 540 kick. Cedric delivered some headbutts to the satisfaction of the crowd. He followed up with a springboard clothesline, but could only get a nearfall on Strong. Roderick tried to fight back, but Cedric reversed into a Michinoku Driver for a two count. Cedric tried to remain in control of the match, but Strong was able to hit a backbreaker out of nowhere.

Strong went for an STO, but Cedric reversed into a crucifix pinning combination for two. Strong settled Cedric down with some chops on in the corner, and then placed him on the top turnbuckle. Strong went for a superplex, and despite some pushback from Cedric, he was able to nail it and score a nearfall. Strong followed up by applying the Strong Hold. After a minute of struggling, Cedric was able to reverse into a pinning combination, but could only get two.

Both men started exchanging slaps. Strong came out on top with running knee charges. Cedric came back with a huge dropkick in the corner. Cedric hit the Kick To Kill and then another big spinning kick off the ropes, but could only get a two count! Cedric went up top, but Strong moved and delivered his “Death by Roderick” double knee gutbuster. Somehow, Cedric was able to fight back and apply his Lumbar Check, but he could not put Strong away. Strong went for another backbreaker, but Cedric reversed into an inside cradle to score the victory!

After the match, The Decade came out and beat down Cedric Alexander. They set up several steel chairs in the ring, and Strong suplexed Cedric right on top of them.

WINNER: Cedric Alexander via pinfall in 13:20 (shown on TV).

ANALYSIS: Cedric Alexander and Roderick Strong had an instant classic in the ring. The match had everything in terms of back-story, ring psychology, and just how the match came off live. It was definitely a star-making performance for Cedric Alexander. I really think the creative minds of WWE and TNA need to take note of how to make a star in 2014 - you do it by having your guys go out there and have great match like this. (***3/4)

Backstage, Adam Cole cut a promo about Kevin Steen, hyping the ROH World Title match that will air later tonight.

[Commercial Break]

A graphic aired, announcing Matt Taven will challenge Jay Lethal for the ROH World TV Title at Best in the World. This was followed up with a video package that showed the history between Taven and Truth Martini. Some new promos from Lethal, Martini, and Taven were sprinkled throughout the package. At Best in the World, Taven said it will be one-on-one because Truth Martini will be handcuffed at ringside.

ANALYSIS: Excellent video package, with some solid promo work from both Lethal and Taven. Kudos to ROH for going with the right match-up here I think this match certainly has “Match of the Night” potential at Best in the World.

[Commercial Break]

(During the commercial, ROH hyped that the complete Global Wars and War of the Worlds iPPVs were available through ROHwrestling.com. Better late than never, I guess.)

Back from break, a Kevin Steen-Adam Cole hype video aired.

2 - ROH World champion ADAM COLE vs. KEVIN STEEN - ROH World Title match

Both men shook hands, but Steen didn’t let go right away. He furthered the mind games by kissing Cole’s hand. Cole charged at Steen in response, but was knocked down for his troubles. Steen delivered some chops, but Cole attacked the knee of Steen. Cole followed up with some stomps to the knee. Steen rolled to the outside. Cole went for a springboard plancha to the outside, but missed with Steen casually walked away. The show went to commercial at 1:45.

[Commercial Break]

(During the break, the Briscoes hyped their match against Matt Hardy and Michael Bennett at Best in the World. Jay was a little worried because he didn’t want to get ROH kicked off traditional PPV after their first show because things might get crazy in Nashville.)

Back at 4:10, Steen was having his way with Cole around the ringside area. Steen played to his hometown crowd, and then crotched Cole directly into the ringpost! An “Ole” chant broke out, but Cole was able to shove Steen head-first into the ringpost. Steen no-sold it, however, and then lifted Cole crotch-first into the ringpost yet again!

Steen rolled Cole back into the ring, and then punched him nine times in the corner, as the fans counted along in Spanish. Instead of a tenth blow, Steen decided to bite the head of Cole! The champ was able to steal the momentum by going back to the injured knee of Steen. Cole hit a Knee-D-T and then applied a leglock. Steen tried to fight back with some chops, but Cole went right back to working the knee. Cole went for a move in the corner, but Steen caught him and DDT’ed him off the middle rope, Randy Orton-style!

Steen went to follow up, but Cole was able to roll to the outside and pull Steen down by the legs. He applied a figure four on the the ringpost. Cole eventually let go, and Steen rolled to the outside. Cole posed for a moment in the ring, and then followed Steen to the outside. Steen immediately greeted the champ with a powerbomb onto the ring apron, as the show went to another commercial at 11:10.

[Commercial Break]

Back at 12:50, Steen climbed to the top rope and hit a senton on Cole, but could only get a nearfall! Steen went for a Package Piledriver, but Cole fought out. Steen went for the F-Cinq, but Cole fought back with a brain buster over his knee! Steen went up top, but Cole dropkicked the knee! Cole went for a superplex, but Steen was able to reverse it into a side-suplex of his own from the top!

Steen went for a cannonball splash into the corner, but Cole moved out of the way. He went for the Package Piledriver again, but his knee buckled! This opened him up for a figure-four leglock from Cole! The champion applied the hold for about 30 seconds, but Steen was able to reverse the pressure and break it up. Cole went for the Florida Key, but Steen fought out of it. He went for a Sleeper suplex, but Cole again kicked the knee. Steen fought right back with a pop-up piledriver and then applied a sharpshooter! Steen couldn’t hold it for long, however, as his knee gave out.

Steen hit another Sleeper suplex, but could only get a nearfall. Michael Bennett ran out, but Steen greeted him with a Package Piledriver. This allowed Cole to superkick Steen in the back of the head, and then deliver a release German suplex. This allowed Cole to hit the Florida Key, but he could only get a two count! The fans chanted “Kill Steen Kill,” as Cole slapped Steen in the face. Steen came back with a slap of his own. Cole went for a superkick. Steen blocked, but Cole kicked him in the knee!

Cole went for a Canadian Destroyer, but Steen was able to reverse into another sharpshooter! Again it was also short-lived, as Cole made it to the ropes this time. Cole rolled to the outside, and then nailed Steen with an enziguiri through the ropes.. Cole went up top, but Steen stopped him and hit a brainbuster from the top, head-first onto the turnbuckles! Steen could only get a two count, however, as Steve Corino said he “almost crapped himself” on commentary. Both men jockeyed for position, but Cole hit a superkick out of nowhere and pinned Steen!

WINNER: Adam Cole in 21:45 via pinfall to retain the ROH World Title.

ANALYSIS: This was a solid main event for Global Wars. Cole was brilliant at times in how he worked the knee. It was definitely right up there with Cedric-Strong in contention for “Match of the Night” honors at Global Wars, so it makes sense that ROH would feature it on their TV show. (****)

Next Week: Clips of the “Road to Best in the World” shows that took place on June 6-7.

FINAL REAX: I mentioned in last week’s report that ROH really needed to spend some time hyping the rest of the Best in the World card, and that is exactly what they did this week. I think ROH should use this approach more often, where they feature some great matches, while weaving in up-to-date promos and video packages throughout. It’s a bit of a throwback, but it provides more synergy between their online hype machine and the TV show. It’s definitely a step up from airing a two-month-old TV taping.

ROH still has a lot of work to do in order to improve the PPV hype on their TV shows, though. One week away from the PPV, there was not one mention of Christopher Daniels and Frankie Kazarian debuting as Bad Influence on the PPV. We all know that TNA is in free fall mode, but ROH is going to have the be a little more proactive in getting the word out there that they are a viable alternative to WWE.

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