ROH TV Report
January 18, 2015
Taped 1/3 in Nashville, Tenn.
Report by Mike Metzger (@mD0uble), PWTorch contributor

The show opened with backstage comments from ROH World champion Jay Briscoe. Referencing last week’s promo, Briscoe said it had “been done confirmed” that he would put his title on the line against a member of The Kingdom on tonight’s show. He wondered who from the group would challenge, but more important to him was whether or not they’d put up his property, the renamed “Title of Love.”

The ROH TV opening aired.

Kevin Kelly and Steve Corino welcomed us to the show from ringside. Aside from the main event ROH World Title match, the viewers were promised an update on the #1 contender situation and an exclusive interview with ROH’s newest talent, Alberto el Patron (Del Rio)!

1 - CEDRIC ALEXANDER vs. FRANKIE KAZARIAN (w/Christopher Daniels)

The Code of Honor was adhered to before the bell and Daniels joined Kelly and Corino on commentary. Alexander and Kazarian started with some chain wrestling that ended in a stalemate after about 30 seconds. They tied up again, and this time Kaz came out on top by jumping up and hitting Cedric with both knees. Kazarian sent Cedric into the corner and then drove both feet to Cedric’s face, as the show went to its first break at the 1:35 point in the match.

[Commercial Break]

Back at 3:45, Cedric reversed a suplex attempt on the apron and sent Kaz crashing to the outside. Alexander followed Frankie out and chopped him. Back at the commentary desk, Kelly announced that Alberto El Patron would face Christopher Daniels on next week’s episode. Daniels hyped the match, as Kazarian regained control and applied a rest hold. Cedric eventually broke free, but Kazarian quickly followed up with a side Russian Legsweep, which was good for a two count.

Cedric fought back with two consecutive suplexes, but Kazarian escaped the third. Kaz tried to regain control, but Alexander reversed with a DDT for a two count. Cedric climbed the ropes, but Kaz cut him off. Cedric remained in control with a Michinoku Driver and another nearfall. Cedric charged at Frankie, but Kaz reversed into a belly-to-belly suplex! Kazarian covered his opponent, but Alexander kicked out at two!

Kazarian followed up with a couple of submission holds, but Cedric quickly broke free. Both men jockeyed for position on the apron for a moment, until Frankie hit a springboard DDT, which was good for another nearfall! Frankie crotched Cedric on the top rope. Alexander fought him off with some blows, but Frankie immediately sprang up and nailed a sunset flip powerbomb. Cedric no-sold it, however, and hit his 540 degree kick out of nowhere! Alexander went for his missile dropkick in the corner, but Kazarian ducked. Cedric recovered quickly and climbed the top rope, but Kaz caught him in an Ace Crusher as he came off the top, Randy Orton-style! Kazarian applied his finisher, which used to be known as the Tomikaze when Tommy Rogers of the Fantastics tag team used it many years ago.

WINNER: Frankie Kazarian via pinfall in 10:15.

ANALYSIS: I like how these guys took their time in the beginning, but there wasn’t anything very special about this match. Toss in the babyface vs. babyface dynamic, the lack of any type of character development for Kazarian, and the blatant no-selling by Cedric, and its no surprise that this was a letdown by ROH standards . (**)

Backstage: Matt Taven thanked Jay Briscoe for going to ROH Matchmaker Nigel McGuinness and demanding an ROH Title match against a member of The Kingdom because he was the lucky Kingdom member who would receive the shot. Taven promised to be crowned the new champion tonight.

[Commercial Break]

Clips aired of Will Ferrara defeating J. Diesel last week on ROH TV to advance in the Top Prospect tournament.

2 - DONOVAN DIJAK vs. JAKE DIRDEN — 2015 Top Prospect tournament quarter-final match

Dijak is 6’7” and has the body type of a WWE main-eventer. Dirden is reminiscent of Balls Mahoney and Cactus Jack, but is 6’8”. Kelly painted the picture well on commentary, as he brought up that Dirden was the only man to be dismissed from an ROH training camp because he’d injured several people during the tryout. Caprice Coleman joined the desk, and talked about how Dijak was a two-sport athlete who had a degree in philosophy. Both men shook hands, but then got in each other’s face.

Dirden went to apply Don Muraco’s old Asiatic Spike (a taped up thumb strike, also used by Bray Wyatt), but Dijak fought him off. Dirden whipped Dijak into the corner and followed up with a nasty boot to the face. Dirden raked the face of Dijak in the corner, as the Decade came out to observe the match from ringside. Dirden charged at Dijak, but Donovan responded with a big boot of his own! Dijak knocked Dirden to the outside, and then delivered a huge flip dive to the outside!

Dijak rolled Dirden back into the ring and went for a discus elbow, but Dirden reversed into a huge chokeslam, which was good for a two count. Dirden followed up with a Saito suplex, but instead of going for the pin, he motioned for the Asiatic Spike again. The brief distraction allowed Dijak get to his feet and lift Dirden up for what appeared to be a Torture Rack, but then dropped Dirden head-first over his knee, a move he calls “Feast Your Eyes.” Dijak covered Dirden for the victory!

WINNER: Donovan Dijak via pinfall in 3:55.

ANALYSIS: This was not your typical “big man” match, as both competitors were agile and athletic. Dirden has a good look to him, but I think Dijak’s athleticism and overall look won the crowd over. The match was short, but looking forward to seeing more from Dijak in the Top Prospect tournament. (*1/2)

[Commercial Break]

Back from break, a shadowy silhouette stood in front of a screen playing ROH clips. There seemed to be a distorted voice speaking as well, but it was hard to hear. It only lasted about 30 seconds, but it was very ECW-like in presentation.

Alberto El Patron Debut

Kevin Kelly then introduced Alberto El Patron to the ring. Alberto came out to generic Mexican-sounding music. The fans were hot for him, as they threw streamers and chanted, “Alberto! Alberto!” El Patron jumped into the crowd, and they began to chant, “Si! Si! Si” Back in the ring, Kelly said that “El Patron” meant the boss. He asked Alberto what he meant to accomplish in ROH. Channeling the Rock a little, Alberto said that he was finally in ROH. El Patron said he thought he wouldn’t be allowed to wrestle for a year, but here he was with the best wrestlers in the world. He said he was not a sports entertainer, he was a wrestler and the crowd ate it up!

After more “Si” chants, Alberto proclaimed he was there to challenge for the ROH World Title. He respectfully asked his “amigo” Jay Briscoe to come out and give the fans what they want. Instead, Jay Lethal’s music sounded and out came Lethal and Truth Martini.

Martini took the mic and said that he never once cared about anything Alberto had done in his career, until about 20 seconds ago when he said he wanted to fight the best. This worked out because his man, Jay Lethal, was the best. Lethal took the microphone and said that he, not Jay Briscoe, was the #1 man in Ring of Honor. He went on to say that the ROH TV Championship was the #1 title in ROH. Lethal then demanded an apology from El Patron for the erroneous statements.

Alberto took the mic and said he was sorry. But, everywhere he’d wrestled, the World champion was always the number one guy. This incited Lethal, but El Patron went took off his shirt and challenged Lethal to a match right there and then! Martini grabbed the microphone and said he saw through Alberto’s plan- he wanted to shoot his way right to the top and fight the best wrestler in the company. Martini told Alberto that he would have to “climb the ladder” before being given an opportunity to face the “greatest first generation wrestler of all time,” Jay Lethal. El Patron posed for the crowd, as Lethal and Martini left the arena.

[Commercial Break]

Clips aired from last week’s episode when the #1 contender match between Michael Elgin, Tommaso Ciampa, and Hanson ended in a no contest after referee Todd Sinclair was on the receiving end of big dive to the outside by Hanson.

Back in the arena, Nigel McGuinness came out and said that he had an announcement to make. Before proceeding with the announcement, he asked Jay Briscoe to come out to the ring. Briscoe came out with a microphone and hyped the next PPV in Las Vegas. He said that he was a gambling man, so why not just make all three men the #1 contender. Briscoe suggested a Four Corner Survival match for the title. Before McGuinness could respond, Briscoe said he would give him time to think about it, and then called The Kingdom out to the ring.

3 - ROH World champion JAY BRISCOE vs. MATT TAVEN (w/ Michael & Maria Bennett) - ROH World Title match

The Kingdom came out and surrounded the ring. Briscoe went after Maria, which opened him up to an attack from behind by Taven. The bell rang and Briscoe fought back with some fists and a headbutt. The champ proceeded to stomp Taven in the corner, but Taven got up and chopped Briscoe into another corner. Taven hit a kick from the apron and went up top, but Briscoe sent him crashing to the mat. Taven tried to get up, but Briscoe kicked him to the outside.

Briscoe went outside and threw Taven into the hockey boards. Briscoe pummeled Taven on the outside. Maria then distracted Briscoe with the “Title of Love,” which opened him up for a big dive from Taven! Back in the ring, Taven distracted the ref while Bennett threw Briscoe into the hockey boards on the outside. Taven rolled Briscoe back into the ring, but then threw him right back out, where Bennett was waiting to attack him again. Briscoe was thrown back in and Taven went for a frogsplash, but Jay got his knees up! Briscoe began to fight back, but was tripped by Maria from the outside. Taven hit a big kick and scored a convincing nearfall, as the show went to a break at the 4:30 mark.

[Commercial Break]

Back at 6:30, Taven was still in firm control. He hit a superkick and went for the cover, but Briscoe kicked out. Corino brought up the fact that no one had heard from Adam Cole since Final Battle. Taven charged at Briscoe, but Jay hit a reverse STO that sent Taven face-first into the turnbuckle! A fistfight in the center of the ring ensued, with Briscoe coming out on top! Briscoe hit a big back drop, a superkick, and then a swinging neck breaker, but he couldn’t put Taven away!

Briscoe got Taven in the corner and went for the 10 punches of doom, but Taven escaped at 9 and then superkicked Jay’s knee from behind! With Jay crotched on the top turnbuckle, Taven went for a super hurracanrana, but Jay reversed into a super powerbomb! Briscoe immediately followed up with a Jay Driller for the victory!

WINNER: Jay Briscoe via pinfall in 10:20.

ANALYSIS: Match of the night, although it was really just average. There is something to be said for a solid face-heel dynamic and the champion being put over strong against a challenger who is lower on the totem pole. (**1/2)

After the match, Bennett attacked Briscoe from behind with the “Title of Love.” Maria came into the ring and taunted the beaten-down Briscoe, saying he couldn’t have his “property” because she owned it now. She asked Briscoe if he was going to fight her, but then said that he didn’t have the balls to fight her. Mark Briscoe ran down and chased the Kingdom out of the ring. Mark grabbed the mic and challenged the Kingdom to a match against him and Jay next week. Kevin Kelly hyped that match and Alberto El Patron’s debut, as the show faded to black.

FINAL REAX: This wasn’t the typical ROH episode packed with three-plus-stars matches, but I think it was worth watching. It was newsworthy in that it provided a solid indication of the next PPV main event and that it featured Alberto El Patron’s debut promo. I, for one, am very much looking forward to Lethal-Alberto, as I think Lethal is perhaps the hottest singles act ROH has right now.

[Torch art credit Travis Beaven (c) PWTorch.com]

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