ROH TV Results
July 26, 2014
Dearborn, Mich.
Report by Mike Metzger (@mD0uble, PWTorch VIP member

The Ring of Honor TV opening aired.

Tonight: ROH airs matches from last week’s Dearborn, Mich. tapings, including a four-corner tag team match for a future shot at the ROH World Tag Team Titles!

1 - ROH tag champions REDRAGON (Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish) vs. MONSTER MAFIA (Joshua Alexander & Ethan Gabriel Owens)

The Code of Honor was adhered to, while Fish played to the crowd. O’Reilly and Alexander locked up to start. Alexander hit a few clotheslines and then tagged in Owens. Owens stomped Fish and then tagged his partner right back in. Alexander was struck by O’Reilly, who then tagged in Fish. Alexander threw Fish into O’Reilly on the apron and scored a nearfall.

Alexander tagged Owens. Owens struggled with Fish on the middle turnbuckle, but O’Reilly ran over and shoved Owens all the way to the floor. O’Reilly raked the face of Owens, and then rolled him back into the ring. Fish scored a nearfall and tagged O’Reilly. Kyle hit a snapmare and then drove his knees to the face of Owens. He got a two count and then tagged in Fish. Owens started a comeback by throwing some fists, but was quickly cut off by some solid double-teaming from the champs. Fish scored a couple of nearfalls.

Fish continued to dominate with some knee strikes, followed by a springboard senton from the apron and onto Owens. O’Reilly was tagged in and applied a chinlock. Owens, who was getting a solid reaction from the live crowd, battled out and went for the hot tag. He was cut off by a fresh Bobby Fish. Fish failed to follow up, however, when Owens delivered a release overhead suplex, freeing him up to make the hot tag!

Alexander, who resembles Rick Steiner with the trademark singlet and headgear, came in and cleaned house with some big suplexes. He isolated Fish in the ring, and hit a nice double-team tornado DDT on Fish. Owens was tagged back in, they tried a double power bomb, but were outwrestled by Fish. Fish hit a suplex on Alexander and tagged in O’Reilly. O’Reilly hit several kicks, but was countered with a stiff fist to the face from Alexander. Owens came in and traded kicks with O’Reilly. Monster Mafia then hit a sick double team move, where Alexander set O’Reilly up for a torture rack, but tossed O’Reilly’s prone body to Owens who then powerbombed him! It appeared to by over, but Fish made the save. Mafia was really over in front of their local fans.

They isolated O’Reilly for a moment, but Fish grabbed Owens and slammed him into the hockey boards on the outside. Back in the ring, reDRagon hit a flurry of big offensive maneuvers, followed by Chasing the Dragon for the pin! Both teams shook hands after the match, as the crowd cheered on in approval.

WINNER: reDRagon via pinfall at 8:15

ANALYSIS: I’ve been a critic of ROH being inefficient with their TV product, but this match could be the future of wrestling television. It was basically a squash for the champs, but they were able to work a hell of a match with local talent who were over. The match itself was hard to cover, but fun to watch. This show has a hot, “night after the PPV” feeling so far thanks to the crowd. (***)

[Commercial Break]

A video package aired, recapping Michael Elgin’s victory over Adam Cole at Best in the World to become the 20th ROH World Champion.

2 - MOOSE vs. HAKIM ZANE

Moose had decent entrance music, but looked very green when he pumped his fist to the lyrics, “Moose! Moose!” The former NFL offensive lineman appeared huge, at least by ROH standards, as he looks to be about 6’4”. Moose started the match by merely intimidating Zane into the corner. Zane attempted to battle his way out, but Moose hit him with a huge dropkick. Moose splashed Zane in the corner, but was slowed down when Zane took out his knee. Zane came off the top, but Moose just shot him out of thin air with a nasty headbutt from his thick skull. Moose hit a big running tackle, where he even did a somersault after impact and scored the pin.

WINNER: Moose via pinfall in 1:35

ANALYSIS: Very simple squash for Moose. He looked good for what they allowed him to do. (n/a)

After the match, Veda Scott and Ramone appeared at the entrance way. Veda reiterated her offer from Best in the World, where she asked Moose to join her so she can change his life the same way she did for R.D. Evans. Moose’s only response was to stare Ramone down. Ramone took off his tie and removed his suit jacket, but Veda said that she had pressing business and had to go. She warned Moose that her offer wouldn’t last forever.

[Commercial Break]

Back from break, a graphic appeared for next week’s main event, a Golden Gauntlet match for a ROH World Title shot between B.J. Whitmer, Matt Taven, Cedric Alexander, Jay Lethal, Caprice Coleman, and Romantic Touch. Taven cut a backstage promo where he said he was the greatest ROH TV champion and would soon become the greatest ROH World Champion after winning next week’s match.

3 - RODERICK STRONG & JIMMY JACOBS (w/Adam Page & TaDarius Thomas ) vs. WAR MACHINE (Rowe & Hanson) vs. DANIELS & KAZARIAN vs. THE BRISCOES - Four Corner Survival match for an ROH World Tag Team Title shot at Field of Honor in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Daniels and Hanson started the match. Bobby Fish joined the commentators at ringside. Daniels tried to overpower Hanson, but to no avail. Daniels played to the crowd and then delivered some kicks to the knee of Hanson. Daniels followed up with some punches, but Hanson cartwheeled out of the way and clotheslined Daniels! Jacobs tagged in, as the fans chanted “Fallen Angel.” Before Daniels and Jacobs could lock up, Mark tagged himself in by slapping the back of Hanson.

Mark delivered some Redneck Kung Fu and then did a somersault flip onto Jacobs in the corner. Kazarian tagged in and got a one count on Jacobs. Kazarian tagged Daniels, and the team formerly known as Bad Influence double-teamed Jacobs with a pair of moonsaults. Hanson tagged in, allowing Jacobs to roll to the outside so he could be attended by Page and Thomas. In the ring, Hanson powerbombed Rowe onto Daniels, but could only get a two count.

Jay tagged Daniels to enter the match. Briscoe wrestled Hanson into the corner and headbutted him. Mark tagged in and hit Hanson, while Jay held him back. Mark hit a Froggy Bow from the top, but the pinfall attempt was broken up by Rowe. The Briscoes and War Machine stared each other down in the center of the ring, as the show went to commercial at the 5:15 mark of the match.

[Commercial Break]

(During the break, Jay Lethal cut a promo where he declared he would earn the title shot in next week’s main event.)

Back at 8:25, Mark was in control of Hanson. Jacobs tagged in, but was suplexed by Mark. Daniels tagged Mark, and then delivered a suplex of his own to Jacobs. After a two count, he delivered an elbow to Jacobs and scored another nearfall. Daniels fought Jacobs and Strong on the apron, but Strong was able to back suplex Daniels across the ring apron. Daniels rolled back into the ring and was covered by Jacobs, but kicked out at two.

Strong tagged in and chopped Daniels. Strong hit a backbreaker, followed up with an elbow from Jacobs off the second rope. Jacobs applied a chinlock, but Daniels elbowed his way out of it. Jacobs knocked him back down and tagged Strong back in. They double-teamed Daniels, but the pin attempt was broken up by Kazarian. Things started to break down, as several men brawled on the outside.

Back in the ring, Strong stomped Daniels and then applied an abdominal stretch. The crowd cheered Daniels on, and Daniels responded by hip tossing his way out! The comeback was short-lived, though, as The Decade double-teamed Daniels. Jacobs applied a front facelock to Daniels on the mat. Daniels again started to power out, this time with a suplex! Strong ran in, though, and knocked Kazarian off the apron. He and Jacobs then took turns chopping Daniels in the corner, but Daniels fought back and hit both men!

It was too much for Daniels, however as Jacobs hit him with a swinging neckbreaker. Jacobs bounced off the ropes and hit an elbow, but could only get a two count. Jacobs applied a leglock and then tagged in Strong while he held Daniels at bay. Roderick hit a back suplex and then applied a camel clutch to Daniels. “The Fallen Angel” fought to his feet, but was held in the corner by Jacobs on the outside. Jay Briscoe tried to run in to break it up, but was held back by referee Todd Sinclair.

Strong continued to control the match with another hold, but Daniels reversed into a stunner! Daniels desperately tried to make a tag, but was dropkicked by Strong. Daniels kicked out at two, as the show went to another break at 16:50.

[Commercial Break]

(During the break, ROH Matchmaker Nigel McGuinness appeared backstage and announced a four-way ROH World Title match between champ Michael Elgin, Jay Briscoe, Adam Cole, and A.J. Styles at Field of Honor in Brooklyn, N.Y.)

Back at 20:20. Daniels was still playing the babyface-in-peril. Strong hit the double-knee gutbuster and Jacobs hit a big spear, but Jacobs could only get a two count! Daniels and Jacobs exchanged blows in the center. Eventually, Daniels hit an STO and got the hot tag to Kazarian! Jacobs tagged Strong in, but Kazarian was able to get the upper hand with a springboard legdrop. Kazarian held off both Strong and Jacobs for a moment and then hit Strong with a big tornado DDT off the ropes!

Rowe tagged in, causing Strong to tag out. Daniels came back in, but perhaps too soon, as Rowe slammed him to the mat. They did the spot where each guy comes in and hits a big move. When the smoke cleared, Rowe and Mark were battling in the ring. They locked up and their momentum caused them to both go over the top rope, but not before Strong blind-tagged himself into the match. Strong covered an exhausted Daniels, but somehow Daniels kicked out!

Things again broke down, this time between Daniels/Kazarian and The Decade. After a string of offense, Daniels hit the Best Moonsault Ever on Strong and pinned him for the victory!

WINNERS: Daniels & Kazarian via pinfall in 24:15.

ANALYSIS: This was basically Daniels/Kazarian vs. Strong/Jacobs with the Briscoes and War Machine playing supporting roles. The match told a good story, but having the two extra teams out there watered things down. ROH still gets a “D-” for how they have presented the team formerly known as Bad Influence. They could have easily shaved off the extra spots from War Machine and the Briscoes, and instead had Daniels/Kazarian cut a promo, which they still have not done since their vignette at War of the Worlds in May. (**3/4)

After the match, Page and Thomas ran in and attacked Daniels and Kazarian. This prompted everyone to brawl in the ring. The Decade left the ring, as the three babyface teams stared each other down in the middle of the ring to close the show!

FINAL REAX: Critique of the main event aside, this was a hot “night after the PPV” show that ROH desperately needed after a month of re-runs and video packages. The show was very newsworthy, as the top two title matches at Field of Honor were revealed. ROH still has a lot of work to do in order to re-generate the buzz they had back in May, yet the lineup for Field of Honor initially feels more like Battleground than Summerslam on a WWE Scale.

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