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Ring of Honor
METZGER'S ROH TV REPORT 2/22: Lethal defends ROH TV Title, Del Rio vs. A.C.H., final hype for 13th Anniv. PPV

Feb 23, 2015 - 6:50:15 PM
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ROH TV Report
February 22, 2015
Taped 1/30 in Dearborn, Mich.
Report by Mike Metzger (@mD0uble), PWTorch contributor


The ROH TV opening aired.

Tonight: It’s a “Road Rage” edition of ROH TV featuring several big match-ups from the Winter Warriors tour!

1 - A.C.H. vs. ALBERTO EL PATRON

Truth Martini joined Kevin Kelly at the commentary desk. A.C.H. received a nice reaction from the crowd, but Alberto’s pop was much louder. Alberto even circled the ringside area and posed with fans in the front row. The Code of Honor was adhered to and the bell rang. Both men tied up, as Martini said that Alberto disrespected ROH TV champ Jay Lethal when he referred to the ROH World Title as the most prestigious championship in the promotion. Alberto and A.C.H. battled to the corner, where El Patron pounded on A.C.H as the fans counted along in Spanish!

A.C.H. fought back with some forearms and then applied a side headlock. He tried to follow up with a shoulder tackle, but it had no effect on his larger opponent. Alberto talked some trash to A.C.H., who responded with a dropkick! A.C.H. followed up with a back suplex and a two count. Alberto fought back and choked A.C.H. across the top rope. El Patron went for a cover, as Kelly hyped A.C.H. versus Styles at the 13th Anniversary PPV. Alberto charged at A.C.H., but was dumped to the floor. A.C.H. went for a dive, but Alberto caught him in the ring skirt. The skirt actually snapped, but El Patron quickly followed up with an enziguri, as the show went to its first commercial break at the 4:20 mark.

[Commercial Break]

Back at 6:35, A.C.H. hit Alberto with a big flying cross-body from the top rope! A.C.H. followed up with a scoop slam and went up top, but El Patron crotched him on the turnbuckle. Alberto ran up and hit an inverted suplex from the top rope! He went for the cover, but A.C.H. kicked out! Alberto slapped his wrist and the fans chanted “Si,” but A.C.H. got to his feet. Alberto charged at A.C.H., but missed and went shoulder-first into the ring post! A.C.H. followed up with a double foot stomp from the top rope, but could only get a near fall.

A.C.H. talked some trash to Alberto, which actually drew boos from the crowd. Alberto fought back by driving A.C.H.’s arm over his knees and then hit a superkick, but A.C.H. kicked out at two! A.C.H. rolled to the outside. Alberto went to drag him back in, but A.C.H. reversed with a jawbreaker that sent Alberto to the outside. This set A.C.H. up for a beautiful dive where he changed direction in mid-air! Back in the ring, A.C.H. went for the 450 Splash, but missed. Alberto attempted a cross arm-breaker, but A.C.H. countered and hit a German suplex! After a nearfall, A.C.H. went for the 450 Splash again, but El Patron actually caught him in and then applied the cross arm-breaker! A.C.H. had no choice but to tap out after about 10 seconds.

WINNER: Alberto El Patron via submission in 11:30

ANALYSIS: A.C.H. got to hit his awe-inspiring spots, but they were neatly fit into Alberto’s WWE-style match. Not a bad match, just average. A big pop for Alberto was expected, but I found it surprising that the fans booed A.C.H. when he talked some trash to El Patron during the match. I’m very intrigued to see how Alberto and Lethal will mesh at the PPV. (**1/2)

Video Package: ROH World Champion Jay Briscoe and his brother Mark were training ODB, ahead of her match against Maria Kanellis at the 13th Anniversary PPV. They put her through training exercises such as “5 Gallon Curls” and “Stump Choppin’.” The full, uncensored video is available at ROHWrestling.com

After the video, Kevin Kelly did a live read of some of the big matches that will take place at the 13th Anniversary PPV as graphics were shown on the screen.

[Commercial Break]

2 - MICHAEL ELGIN vs. MARK BRISCOE

Both men uneasily shook hands before the bell. The match started and Elgin immediately threw some forearms. He charged at Mark but missed, which allowed Briscoe to hit some Red Neck Kung Fu. Mark knocked Elgin to the outside with Uncle Mule Kick and then hit a huge flip dive onto Elgin! Back in the ring, Mark hit a big chop from the top rope and then pounded Elgin in the corner. Elgin powered out, and then both men traded blows in the corner. Elgin gained the momentum with a kick to the mid-section, followed by a somersault leg drop to Briscoe while he was draped across the middle rope!

Mark fought back with some chops, but Elgin wasn’t phased. Elgin delivered a chop of his own that sent Mark down to the mat. Elgin hit a Yuri Nagi, but then missed a moonsault attempt. Mark went for a Tornado DDT, but Elgin reversed into a suplex. He scored a nearfall, as the show abruptly cut to a commercial at the 3:45 mark.

[Commercial Break]

Back at 6:15, Elgin was still in firm control of the match. He charged at Mark, but ate a boot instead. Both men jockeyed for position, until Mark broke out some more Red Neck Kung Fu. Elgin responded with a stiff blow that sent Mark to the mat. Elgin stopped to pose for the crowd, which opened him up for a clothesline from Mark! Briscoe followed up with an Exploder suplex, which was good for another nearfall. Mark charged at Elgin in the corner, but ate an enziguiri! Elgin tried to follow up, but Mark reversed into a Death Valley Driver! Mark charged at his opponent again, but Elgin got both boots up. Elgin followed up with a big splash from the top rope, but Mark kicked out!

Both men stared each other down and then traded blows. Elgin’s were a lot stiffer than Mark’s. Elgin went for a back suplex, but Mark rolled out and hit Uncle Mule Kick! Mark went up top, but Elgin caught him and delivered a stiff powerbomb! Elgin appeared to go for another powerbomb, but chose to hit a Jay Driller instead to put Mark away!

WINNER: Michael Elgin via pinfall in 10:45.

After the match, Elgin grabbed a spare steel turnbuckle from underneath the ring. He stuck it in Mark’s mouth, but dropped it and fled the ring when Jay Briscoe appeared. Jay went to check on his brother, which opened him, up for a cheap shot from Elgin. Elgin held up the title belt, until Ciampa ran out and attacked him. Hanson then came out, attacked Ciampa, and raised the title himself. Surprisingly, that visual of Hanson hoisting up the title belt not receive a great reaction from the crowd. Jay Briscoe ran in and attacked Hanson. Ciampa and Elgin then reappeared, as all four men brawled around ringside.

ANALYSIS: Basic match that put Elgin over strong. Mark plays a great role as fodder for Jay’s upcoming challengers. The shenanigans after the match were typical in hyping a four-way match. It wasn’t bad, but the visual of all four participants running out and brawling with each other is a bit overdone right now in pro wrestling. (**)

[Commercial Break]

3 - ROH Television champion JAY LETHAL (w/Truth Martini & J. Diesel) vs. RODERICK STRONG - ROH TV Title match

Jimmy Jacobs joined Kevin Kelly on commentary for this match. Lethal and Strong shook hands and the bell rang. Both men went into a chain wrestling sequence to start, until Jay Lethal broke the stalemate with his cartwheel/dropkick combo. They tied up again, and this time Strong hit a kick that sent Lethal to the outside. Strong went to toss him back in the ring, but this allowed Jay to quickly regain control with some stomps to the back of Strong’s head. Both men fought in the corner, until Strong grabbed Lethal from the second rope and nailed a backbreaker out of nowhere!

Both men ran the ropes, until Martini grabbed Strong’s leg. The momentary distraction allowed Lethal to knock Strong to the outside and then hit three consecutive dives onto Strong, as the show went to commercial at the the 3:40 point in the match!

[Commercial Break]

Back at 5:40, Strong had regained control, but ran right into Lethal’s boot. Strong reversed with a backdrop and then a C.M. Punk-like knee in the corner. Strong kept his momentum going and jumped onto J. Diesel on the outside! Back in the ring, Lethal fought back with a huracanrana, Lethal Combination, and then a Koji Clutch! The hold was applied for about 15 seconds, until Strong was able to maneuver to the bottom rope and cause a break.

They jockeyed for position again, this time with Strong hitting a jumping knee strike and a forearm smash! Strong went for a suplex, but B.J. Whitmer ran in and attacked Strong from behind while the ref was distracted by Martini on the apron! Whitmer hit an Exploder suplex in the ring and then another one on the outside, all behind the ref’s back! The show then cut away to a few minutes later in the show. Apparently, the match was stopped after Whitmer’s interference, despite not being shown on TV.

WINNER: No announcement after about 8:30.

After Whitmer’s attack, there was a hard edit where the House of Truth were shown leaving the ringside area, after the match had apparently been thrown out. Strong was shown on the mat. He grabbed a mic and said that if Lethal wasn’t a coward, he would come back and re-start the match. That was all he needed to say, as Lethal ran back to the ring and the bell rang again!

3b - ROH TV champion JAY LETHAL (w/Truth Martini & J. Diesel) vs. RODERICK STRONG - ROH TV Title match

Lethal ran to the ring and immediately stomped Strong. Roddy got up and fought back. Lethal went for the Lethal Injection, but Strong caught him and hit a backbreaker! This was good for a two count. Strong went to follow up, but Lethal reversed with an Ace Crusher. Lethal went up top to follow up, but Roddy got up and crotched him on the top turnbuckle! Strong climbed up top and hit a superplex! He went for the cover, but Lethal kicked out at two!

Strong picked up Lethal for the double-knee gutbuster. Lethal attempted to counter, but Strong caught him in the Strong Hold! He was too close to the ropes, however, as Lethal grabbed the bottom rope for dear life. Martini offered some words of encouragement to Lethal on the apron. Lethal then climbed to the top turnbuckle, but Strong ran over and nailed him with an enziguri! Strong went up top and went for a Gibson Driver, but Lethal fought out. After a brief struggle, Lethal sent Strong to the mat and followed up with the Hail to the King elbow smash! Lethal went for the pin, but Strong somehow kicked out!

Lethal went for the Lethal Injection but missed, which opened him up for a Sick Kick from Strong! Roddy could only score a nearfall, however. Strong went to follow up, but Lethal responded with two superkicks and then applied the Lethal Injection for the victory!

WINNER: Jay Lethal via pinfall in 5:45 to retain the ROH Television Title.

ANALYSIS: Odd editing aside, this was a great TV main event. Lethal continues to bring the goods every time he wrestles, and having someone like Strong to work brought it up a couple of notches. I could have done without the interference and subsequent re-start, but the action after the restart was fast and furious and is definitely worth seeking out. (***)

Backstage: Immediately after the match, the show cut to the gorilla position. Strong came through the curtain and immediately started brawling with Whitmer. This was quickly broken up by wrestlers and officials.

Back in the arena, Jay Lethal was celebrating his victory. Alberto El Patron then ran out and attacked Lethal. Alberto set Lethal up for a move, but Jay wisely exited the ring. Alberto was alone in the ring, as the show faded to black.

FINAL REAX: Maintenance show ahead of the 13th Anniversary PPV. It hyped the two singles title matches nicely, as well as A.C.H.-Styles, ODB-Maria, and Strong-Whitmer. I have been pleasantly surprised with ROH’s ability to properly promote this PPV on their TV show. They’ve come a long way from just last year, when it seemed like their TV product and live events division were being run by two separate entities.

I could have done without all of the last minute brawling between PPV opponents. Yes, it’s the tried-and-true way of hyping a match, but why go along with the crowd? It is just so overdone in WWE and TNA these days. I’d much rather see ROH try something different, like maybe just record some pre-tapes where the wrestlers talk about why their upcoming matches are so important to them. A boy can dream, I guess.


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