ROH TV Report
August 2, 2014
Dearborn, Mich.
Report by Mike Metzger (@mD0uble), PWTorch VIP Member

The ROH TV opening aired.

Tonight: An episode-long “Golden Gauntlet” match for a future shot at the ROH World Title!

1A - B.J. WHITMER (w/The Decade) vs. CAPRICE COLEMAN - First Fall of Golden Gauntlet match for future ROH World Title shot

Whitmer refused to shake Coleman’s hand before the match. A brief “Coleman” chant rang out from the crowd. Both men applied some wristlocks to start. After a minute, Whitmer knocked Coleman down with a shoulderblock. Coleman came back with some armdrags, but was knee’d in the midsection by Whitmer. Coleman fought back with a spinkick, but could only get a two count.

Both men exchanged chops in the corner and then in the center of the ring. It was broken up when Whitmer raked Coleman’s eyes. Coleman attempted to battle back with some more chops, but Whitmer cut him off with a forearm to the face. Whitmer played to the crowd. He hit a suplex, but could only get two.

Whitmer remained in-control with some fists. Both men again exchanged chops in the corner. It looked like Coleman would make a comeback, but B.J. raked his eyes yet again! Whitmer applied a chinlock. After 30 seconds, Coleman battled out of the hold, but was again taken down by Whitmer.

B.J. began stomping Coleman, as the fans chanted “bl*w job Whitmer!.” Whitmer slapped Coleman, who proceeded to slap him right back! Whitmer again took Coleman down to the mat and stomped him in the corner. Whitmer slammed Coleman to the mat, as the show went to commercial at the 6:10 mark of the opening fall.

[Commercial Break]

(During the commercial, we [finally] heard from the team of Christopher Daniels & Frankie Kazarian, who cut a backstage promo. They hyped their upcoming rematch against reDRagon at Field of Honor in Brooklyn, N.Y.)

Back at 9:50, Coleman and Whitmer collided in the center. Referee Paul Turner counted to five, and both men got to their feet. Coleman charged at Whitmer in the corner. Coleman missed, but was still able to hit a flying cross-body from the top for a two count. He wrestled it out with Whitmer in the center, and applied a facelock. He was able to take Whitmer down to the mat, while keeping the hold applied, but Whitmer eventually made it to the ropes.

Coleman positioned Whitmer on the top turnbuckle for his standing huracanrana, but Jacobs held onto Whitmer, causing Coleman to crash-land onto the mat. Whitmer hit a huge lariat and scored the pin!

ADVANCING: B.J. Whitmer via pinfall in 12:00.

ANALYSIS: Very basic match for these two, which made sense given the gauntlet stip. (*1/2)

1B - B.J. WHITMER (w/The Decade) vs. MATT TAVEN - Second Fall of Golden Gauntlet match

Whitmer stomped Taven as soon as he entered the ring. Taven created some movement and then dropkicked Whitmer from the top rope! He got a nearfall, but Whitmer quickly regained control. He chopped Taven in the corner a few times, until Taven battled out with chops of his own. Whitmer tried to cut off the momentum, but ate a standing dropkick from Taven!

Taven went for a dive, but Whitmer walked to another part of the ringside area. Taven rolled to the outside and superkicked Whitmer! He was distracted by The Decade, though, allowing Whitmer to regain control. B.J. rolled his opponent back in the ring and just dominated him for another minute or so. During the onslaught, he locked Taven in the ropes Sheamus-style, and just viciously chopped him right on the chest!

Whitmer whipped Taven into the corner, but Taven hit his spot where he does a backflip on the mat and then spinkicks Whitmer from the second rope! Both men jockeyed for position. Whitmer came out on top with a powerslam and a nearfall of his own. Whitmer followed up with a series of suplexes, but was still unable to put away his opponent. The show went to a break at 5:00 of the second fall.

[Commercial Break]

Back at 7:30 of the fall, Taven was climbing to the top turnbuckle. Whitmer ducked Taven’s splash, but Taven came right back with an enziguiri. Taven went up top and almost slipped, but was able to hit a frog splash to score the pin!

ADVANCING: Matt Taven via pinfall in 8:00

ANALYSIS: More basic stuff, but a little more high-energy than the first fall. (**)

1C - MATT TAVEN vs. ROMANTIC TOUCH - Third Fall of Golden Gauntlet match

Touch did his full ring entrance and the Code of Honor was adhered to. They even hugged, but Touch tried to take advantage with a roll-up for two. They hugged again, but this time Taven took control and wrestled Touch to the mat. They continued this sequence for about 30 seconds, until Taven shoulder blocked Touch to the mat and imitated his opponent by gyrating for the crowd!

They did a sequence where they each tried to get a big move in, which culminated in Touch hitting a back elbow from the corner into a charging Taven. Touch scored a couple of nearfalls, but could not put Taven away. Touch, perhaps frustrated, started just pounding on Taven. He threw Taven to the corner, but Taven jumped to the top rope and hit a big moonsault! Taven went for another moonsault, but Touch moved. This didn’t stop Taven, as he hit a Falcon Arrow, but could still only get a two count.

Touch went for a big move, but Taven fought out. Touch immediately followed up with a belly-to-belly suplex for another nearfall. Touch, perhaps more frustrated than before, stomped on Taven. Matt fought back, however, and took Touch down with a spin kick. Taven followed up with a senton, but still couldn’t put away Touch.

Taven came off the ropes again, but was dropkicked out of thin air by Touch! It looked to be over, but Taven kicked out. They jockeyed for position, but Taven was able to hit the Climax to eliminate Touch.

ADVANCING: Matt Taven via pinfall in 5:45.

ANALYSIS: More good action with some comic relief. (*3/4)

[Commercial Break]

1D - MATT TAVEN vs. JAY LETHAL (w/Truth Martini) - Fourth Fall of Golden Gauntlet match

This match started in progress, as both men battled in the center of the ring. They fought to the outside, where Taven whipped Lethal into the hockey boards. Taven followed up with a running boot to the face of Lethal! Taven slammed Lethal on the floor, and then rolled him back into the ring. This gave Lethal an opening, however, as he went back outside and rammed Taven into the barricade.

Back in the ring, Taven was able to create separation and deliver a flying sidekick to the face of Lethal! The TV champ rolled out of the ring, which set up Taven for a big dive to the outside! Taven was distracted by both Martini and Seleziya, but took care of his problem by throwing Seleziya into Martini! Back in the ring, Taven hit another sidekick and then a swinging neckbreaker, but could only get a two count!

Seleziya carried Martini to the back, which popped the crowd. Taven called for a big move, but got caught by Lethal. Taven did a backflip from the mat, but it set him up for a superkick from Lethal! Lethal hit the Lethal Combination, but could only get two! Lethal grabbed his title belt and brought it into the ring. Lethal went to hit Taven with the belt, but Taven ducked and then superkicked Lethal! Taven went up top, but J. Diesel grabbed Taven’s leg and crotched him. This allowed Lethal to hit the Lethal Injection to advance!

ADVANCING: Jay Lethal via pinfall 6:00 (shown on TV).

ANALYSIS: Ringside shenanigans aside, exciting match between these two. They seemed to have a little more chemistry than they did at Best in the World, but this match was much shorter. (**)

J. Diesel walked out of the arena through the crowd, as Kevin Kelly and Nigel McGuinness berated Diesel for destroying whatever credibility he had left.

1E - JAY LETHAL vs. CEDRIC ALEXANDER — Final Fall in Golden Gauntlet match

Alexander charged into the ring and immediately rolled Lethal up for two. He continued his onslaught with some chops and another nearfall, as the show went to commercial at the 0:30 mark.

[Commercial Break]

Back at 3:15, Cedric was still in control as Lethal rolled to the outside. Alexander went after him, but Lethal rolled right back into the ring. This allowed Lethal to take control, as he delivered some big chops to the chest of Alexander. Cedric battled out with some strikes. He hit a snapmare and then a kick to the back of Lethal’s head, but could only get two Cedric drove his knee to the chest of Lethal, but could only get another two count.

Cedric charged at Lethal in the corner, but Lethal lifted his opponent and crotched him on the ropes! Lethal hit a big dive to the outside. The fans chanted “One More Time!” which was the perfect setup for Lethal to wave his finger and deny them another dive. Instead, Lethal stomped Taven on the outside and rolled him back into the ring. Cedric was stunned, as Lethal hit a Macho Man-esque double axehandle blow from the top rope!

Lethal applied a rest hold, as the fans cheered on Cedric. Lethal let go of the hold so he could taunt the crowd. Lethal called out for Martini to return, but to no avail. He didn’t let this bother him, as he continued his offensive attack on Cedric. Lethal went up top for another axehandle, but denied the fans and clotheslined Cedric instead!

Lethal chopped Alexander, and then charged at him with a foream smash. He went for another one, but Cedric reversed and hit a tornado DDT in the corner! The ref counted, as both men struggled to their feet. Cedric seemed to be a step ahead of Lethal, but both men began trading blows in the center. Lethal came out on top with a kick to the midsection and a DDT for a nearfall! The show went to another commercial at the 10:00 mark of the fall.

[Commercial Break]

Back at 12:00, Lethal was still in control. Cedric reversed into a pinning combination for a two count. Cedric positioned Lethal on the top rope, but Lethal battled back and sent Cedric to the mat. Lethal immediately followed up with Hail to the King, but could only get two! Both men battled in the center of the ring and exchanged super kicks! Cedric came out on top with a huge lariat, and both men were down on the mat!

Both men got to their feet at the count of seven. They exchanged blows again in the center. A simultaneous shot from each man sent both men to the mat at the same time. They again struggled to get back to their feet. When they did, they exchanged blows again. Lethal went for the Lethal Combination, but Cedric reversed. Lethal tried again, but Cedric exploded with offense. He hit a 540 spin kick and a charging couple of charging dropkick! Cedric followed up with the Lumbar Check for the victory at 15:45!

WINNER: Cedric Alexander via pinfall at 15:45.

ANALYSIS: Match of the night, as it was booked to be. I’ve been unable to put my finger on exactly why I’ve been so high on Cedric Alexander recently, but I saw it tonight - it’s his Daniel Bryan-like explosion into a flurry of offense. Elgin-Alexander as a novelty title shot for Cedric will be fun, but what I’m really looking forward to is the eventual Lethal-Alexander feud for the TV Title. (***)

After the match, ROH World champion Michael Elgin appeared at the entranceway to applaud Cedric on his victory. Both men stared each other down from afar to close the show.

FINAL REAX: Fun show, as I really enjoy theme episodes when they’re used correctly. An episode-long gauntlet match is the type of thing someone will either love or hate, but one thing can be said: This is a show wrestling purists can point to when they’re given the straw-man argument of, “so, you really want a whole show of just matches?” It was an efficient way for ROH to fill an hour of TV while weaving in several storylines at the same time. Recommended viewing for the novelty of an episode-long match, if for no other reason.

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