ROH TV Report
March 22, 2015
Taped 3/7 in Baltimore, Md.
Report by Mike Metzger (@mD0uble), PWTorch contributor

The ROH TV opening aired.

Tonight: Jimmy Jacobs challenges Jay Briscoe for the ROH World Title!

1 - ROH World Tag Team champion BOBBY FISH vs. RODERICK STRONG

“This is going to be a very entertaining match with two tremendous fan favorites,” or so said Kevin Kelly. So it’s yet another babyface vs. babyface match, but at least ROH finally decided that reDRagon is on the face side of the equation. Kelly also said that he spoke to Strong and he considers his feud with the Decade “in the rearview” and is now focused on regaining a championship in 2015.

Both men shook hands and then the bell rang. The tied up in the center and went into a chain wrestling sequence that lasted about a minute, until Strong applied a modified surfboard followed by a nearfall. Fish came back with a dropkick and then delivered some stiff kicks to Strong’s leg. He suplexed Strong, but it was only good for a one count. Fish charged at Strong in the corner, but Strong crotched Fish on the top turnbuckle and then yanked him down with a neckbreaker-like maneuver. Strong was now in firm control, as he chopped Fish a couple times in the corner. Strong followed up with a backbreaker, as the show went to break at the 3:30 mark.

[Commercial Break]

Back at 6:00, Strong hit a running knee in the corner and another backbreaker, which was good for a two count. Kevin Kelly pitched the the ROH Code Line again at 1-800-885-4ROH. While Kelly made his pitch, Fish hit a Falcon Arrow and got a two count. Bobby was in control, until Strong hit an enziguiri out of nowhere! Strong’s comeback was short-lived, as Fish hit a backbreaker of his own, followed by a moonsault from the second rope! Fish went for the cover, but Strong kicked out at two.

Fish went up top, but Strong cut him off with a jumping enziguiri. Roddy went up top and hit a superplex and then immediately picked up Fish for a double knee gut buster! He went for the cover, but Fish kicked out! Both men got to their feet and then traded elbows in the center. Strong came out on top with a Sick Kick, followed by End of Heartache for the victory.

WINNER: Roderick Strong via pinfall in 9:56.

ANALYSIS: Good match, although it was hard to get into at first because both guys seemed to just be thrown out there in ROH’s “both guys are decent, so this should be good” specialty match. At least Kevin Kelly threw it out there that Strong was trying to get back into title contention. Fish was solid and Strong brought things up a notch. (**1/2)

[Commercial Break]

Jay Lethal/Donovan Dijak confrontation

Top Prospect Tournament winner Donovan Dijak made his entrance, as Kelly and Corino talked about the success of past winners. Still shots of ROH TV champion Jay Lethal’s victory over Alberto El Patron from the 13th Anniversary PPV then aired. The House of Truth then made their entrance and Martini took the microphone. He called Dijak a “star on the rise,” but warned him that he found himself on the other side of the ring from “the greatest wrestler in the entire world,” Jay Lethal. Martini promised Dijak that he would lose if he faced Lethal.

Martini then pivoted into his sales pitch where he spoke of his own past accomplishments. He said it was going to be the greatest day of Dijak’s life. Martini extended his hand to Dijak, as the crowd chanted “no!” Dijak hesitated, as he looked out into the crowd. Dijak slowly extended his hand and shook Martini’s! Dijak then shook hands with Lethal as well. The entire House of Truth then posed in the ring, but this was cut short by the entrance of “Party Peacock” Dalton Castle!

Castle did his over-the-top entrance, where he unveiled the magnificent peacock feathers underneath his robe. Then his two male attendants, who wore nothing but shiny boxer shorts, stripped him down to his ring gear. Castle took the mic and introduced the two male attendants as his “boys.” He made reference to them helping him stretch his hamstrings, and then turned his attention to Lethal. The “boys” then posed as human furniture and Castle lounged on top of them, as he challenged Lethal to a match.

Lethal turned his back to Castle and the House of Truth appeared ready to leave the ring. Castle acknowledged this and calmly said that he’d have to just challenge Jay Briscoe for the ROH World Title, instead. This played on Lethal’s anger toward those who say the ROH World Title is the #1 championship in ROH, as the champion ran in and attacked Castle!

[MM Reax: I think it was a poor decision to turn Dijak so soon. I’ll have to wait and see how everything plays out, but Dijak seemed to have a real connection with the crowd during the Top Prospect tournament. I’m guessing we’ll see Dijak ultimately turn on the House of Truth and then cash in his title shot on Lethal when the time is right, but this turn just feels like ROH yanked the carpet out from under Dijak before he even got both feet onto it.]

2 — ROH TV champion JAY LETHAL (w/Truth Martini & J. Diesel) vs. DALTON CASTLE — ROH TV Title match

The bell rang for this impromptu match, as Lethal threw Castle’s “boys” out of the ring. Lethal then set his sights on Castle and just pounded him on the mat repeatedly. Lethal ripped off his t-shirt and chopped Castle in the corner. Castle fought back with some chops and a back drop, as the show went to a commercial at the 0:45 point in the match.

[Commercial Break]

(During the break, Jimmy Jacobs cut a promo about tonight’s main event against Jay Briscoe. He referenced how Briscoe just “gave away” a title match to Samoa Joe. He said he earned his shot and promised to win the ROH World Title because he “had to.”)

Back at 3:15, Castle was still in control of the match. Castle hit a nice huracanrana off the apron, which sent Lethal to the floor. Back in the ring, Castle hit a couple of amateur-style slams. Lethal fought back, however, and then hit a trifecta of big dives onto Castle on the outside! Lethal taunted a fan dressed as Jushin “Thunder” Liger at ringside and then threw Castle back into the ring. Lethal came off the top, but Castle caught him and hit an over-the-shoulder suplex!

Dalton hit a few clotheslines and then posed for the crowd. He charged at Lethal in the corner, but ate a boot instead. Castle fought on, however, and hit a nice dead-lift back suplex on Lethal, which was good for a two count. The referee checked on Lethal, while Dijak yanked Castle off the apron and hit his Feast Your Eyes finisher on the outside! Dijak rolled Castle back into the ring, where Lethal was waiting with a Lethal Injection to put him away.

WINNER: Jay Lethal via pinfall in 8:10 to retain the ROH TV Title.

ANALYSIS: This was a mess. I really hated the fact that Castle just got a title shot like that, despite being eliminated in the very first round of the Top Prospect tournament. Will Ferrara would have worked much better, as he made it all the way to the finals against Dijak. Castle is an interesting character. While a wrestler with homoerotic undertones being cheered is a positive sign for our society, Castle comes off more like a 1980s gay stereotype similar to Orlando Jordan in TNA. (*3/4)

[Commercial Break]

Back from break, ROH World Tag Team champions reDRagon were set for a backstage promo. Unfortunately for them, the Knights of the Rising Dawn hijacked the production truck. A distorted voice said that their targets had been selected, seeming to reference reDRagon. The voice also promised that “change would soon come” and the power of their collective knowledge “cannot be stopped.” The pixelated promo flashed to clips of the KRD interfering in several ROH title matches recently.

3 - ROH World champion JAY BRISCOE vs. JIMMY JACOBS - ROH World Title match

Th bell rang and both men immediately exchanged punches. Briscoe came out on top, but Jacobs hit a double-leg takedown and pounded Briscoes on the mat. Jacobs knocked Jay to the outside and then immediately followed up with an impactful dive to the outside. Jacobs then slammed Briscoe’s head in the hockey boards on the outside. They brawled around the ring, where Jay regained control of the match. Jacob fought back, however, and nailed an ace crusher off the hockey boards! The show then cut to a break at the 1:50 mark.

[Commercial Break]

Back at 3:50, Briscoe kicked out of a pin attempt. Jacobs slapped Briscoe in the face. Jay responded by asking for more. Jacobs obliged several times, until Brsicoe got to his feet and headbutted Jacobs repeatedly! Jacobs stood his ground for a moment, but found himself on the receiving end of a Death Valley Driver from Briscoe. Jay followed up with several kicks to Jacobs’ face, followed up with a roaring elbow. Briscoe hit a neckbreaker and covered Jacobs, but Jimmy kicked out at two!

Briscoe went for a suplex, but Jacobs reversed into a guillotine choke! Jay fought out of it, but Jacobs came right back with a spear and a nearfall. Jimmy went up top, but Briscoe caught him with an elbow to the face. Jay climbed up and appeared to be going for a Jay Driller from the top rope, but Jacobs reversed and hit Sliced Bread from the top rope! Jimmy went for the cover, but Briscoe kicked out!

Jacobs got frustrated, but in a more depressing way Jimmy grabbed the ROH World Title belt and just stared at it. He put it down and it appeared to motivate him. He hit two Ace Crushers and then a spear! Jacobs then locked on another guillotine choke! Briscoe’s arm went down twice, but not the third time! Jacobs kept the hold on tight, but Briscoe got to his feet! Somehow, Jacobs immediately reversed into a rollup for two. Briscoe overpowered Jacobs and went for the Jay Driller. Jacobs tried to escape, but Briscoe delivered several knees to the face and then hit the Jay Driller for the victory!

WINNER: Jay Briscoe via pinfall in 11:00.

After the match, Jay Briscoe called for the Code of Honor. To the surprise of everyone, Jacobs actually shook Briscoe’s hand, as the show faded to black!

ANALYSIS: This match told a great story of Jacobs pulling out all the stops to win the ROH World Championship. His movements showed such a sense of urgency. The match hit a real crescendo when Jacobs found himself desperately frustrated. His drawing inspiration from looking at the title belt was a little corny, but sometimes it just works. Briscoe played his part well also, as he just brutalized poor Jimmy throughout the match. Great send-off for Jacobs and a must-see for any fan of his. (***1/2)

Next Week: Samoa Joe’s ROH in-ring return against ROG World Tag Team champion Kyle O’Reilly!

FINAL REAX: Very newsworthy edition of Ring of Honor TV this week. My only critique is that ROH packs a lot of content into one hour of programming. While the show consistently features solid in-ring action, ROH might benefit a lot more by whetting the fan’s appetite with more promos and video packages. The Briscoe-Jacobs storyline could have been fleshed out over several weeks, but we barely got a Jacobs promo (during a commercial break, no less) just ten minutes before his match tonight. ROH’s TV product has come a long way in the last year, but they can’t stop there if they want to become the #2 U.S. promotion.

We suggest these recent related articles...

METZGER'S ROH TV REPORT 9/27 & 9/30: NJPW vs. ROH Series continues - Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Adam Cole, Sydal vs. KUSHIDA, more

METZGER'S ROH TV REPORT 9/20 & 9/23: New Japan's top champions Okada & Goto in tag main event, ROH/NJPW announcement, more; Reax to post-PPV episode

METZGER'S ROH TV REPORT 9/13 & 9/16: The Kingdom vs. War Machine main event, ReDragon vs. House of Truth, final build-up to "All-Star Extravaganza" PPV, more; Reax