PWTorch.com - METZGER'S ROH TV REPORT 4/5: A.J. Styles vs. Briscoe main event, plus Elgin, A.C.H., War Machine in action leading to big episode next week

Ring of Honor
METZGER'S ROH TV REPORT 4/5: A.J. Styles vs. Briscoe main event, plus Elgin, A.C.H., War Machine in action leading to big episode next week

Apr 6, 2015 - 7:57:44 PM

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ROH TV Report
April 5, 2015
Taped 3/7 in Baltimore, Md.
Report by Mike Metzger (@mD0uble), PWTorch contributor

The "ROH: Creating Excellence" signature aired.

The show opened with a video package about The Decade’s newest young boy, Colby Corino. To recap, the 18-year-old son of Steve Corino betrayed his father and accepted The Decade’s offer to join them on last week’s episode.

The ROH TV opening aired.

1 - WILL FERRARA vs. MICHAEL ELGIN

Ferrara had new, upbeat theme music. Kelly called Elgin “the man who says he will destroy Ring of Honor if he doesn’t get his way,” in an attempt to perhaps stick an old Kevin Steen label on Elgin. Both men shook hands and the bell rang. Elgin immediately stomped Ferrara in the corner. Ferrara tried to fight back with a couple of shoulder tackles, but could not move his larger opponent. Elgin took control and pancaked Ferrara onto the mat. Elgin applied a hold, while an overdub of Kelly hyped the rest of tonight’s matches.

After about 30 seconds, Ferrara fought out of the hold. He collided with Elgin and went for a Tornado DDT out of the corner, but Elgin caught him. Elgin went for the delayed vertical suplex, but Ferrara fought his way out of the ring. Ferrara came back in and rolled up Elgin for two. Ferrara followed up with sunset flip powerbomb into a pinning combination for a two count. Ferrara tried to maintain control, but ate a stiff forearm from Elgin.

Elgin hit a Falcon Arrow for another two count at 3:30. A frustrated Elgin went to the outside and repositioned the timekeeper’s table on the outside. Elgin then dragged Ferrara to the ring apron and positioned him for a powerbomb, but Ferrara wriggled free and then rolled up Elgin for two! Elgin fought right back with a clothesline, a forearm, and then a Buckle Bomb. Elgin followed up with a revolution Elgin Bomb in the middle of the ring for the pin!

After the match, Elgin powerbombed Ferrara again as the crowd booed.

WINNER: Michael Elgin via pinfall in 4:40.

ANALYSIS: Solid win for Elgin, as Ferrara’s push seems to be on hold for now. Elgin was damaged quite a bit in the last year (much of it self-inflicted), but at least now he stands in a less-crowded pool of top contenders following the departure of Tommaso Ciampa from ROH. (**1/4)

[Commercial Break]

2 - WAR MACHINE (Hanson & Raymond Rowe) vs. ANTHONY GREENE & CAM ZAGAMI

For those who missed it (or more likely forgot about it), Rowe returned during the main event of the 13th Anniversary PPV. Kelly called War Machine the “Modern Day Road Warriors,” as the fans threw streamers in the ring. Both teams shook hands and the bell rang. Rowe started the match with Zagami and just destroyed him. Rowe did a cool sequence where he a hit a chain of two backbreakers and a big powerbomb, all without letting go of Zagami!

Rowe let Zagami tag Greene and then immediately suplexed the fresh man across the ring. Hanson tagged in and hit the Cartwheel Clothesine on Greene. Rowe came back in and they hit a huge double-chokeslam on Greene. They followed up with their finisher, where Rowe lifted Greene into back suplex position and Hanson came off the top with a legdrop!

WINNERS: War Machine via pinfall in 2:04.

War Machine’s music was interrupted by Michael Elgin. Elgin referenced ROH matchmaker Nigel McGuinness saying he was going to punish him for his actions at the 13th Anniversary PPV. Elgin said that he felt justified in punishing ROH back. Elgin then quoted his mother who used to say “I brought you into this world, so I can take you out.” This was a reference to him endorsing War Machine last year when they first started teaming. Hanson and Rowe looked ready for a fight, as Kevin Kelly wondered if the impromptu match would happen.

[Commercial Break]

(During the break, Samoa Joe pitched his latest t-shirt and ROH compilation DVDs.)

2b - WAR MACHINE (Hanson & Raymond Rowe) vs. MICHAEL ELGIN - handicap match

The bell rang and Kevin Kelly announced that the match was made official during the break. Hanson started the match against Elgin. He went for the Spin Kick of Doom, but Elgin rolled to the outside. They brawled for a moment on the outside, until Hanson brought him back in and hit a side slam. War Machine double-teamed Elgin for a moment, which allowed Hanson to score a nearfall. Hanson tagged Rowe, but Elgin fought out of the corner. He charged at Rowe, but got slammed down to the mat.

Hanson powerbombed Rowe onto Elgin, who quickly rolled out of the ring. Rowe went outside after Elgin, but got hit with a steel chair for his troubles. The ref called for the bell and the match was stopped.

Post-match, Hanson ran after Elgin, but it was quickly broken up when several ROH officials ran down to the ring to restore order.

WINNERS: War Machine by disqualification in 2:00.

ANALYSIS: It looks like War Machine is in the midst of a huge push. I’m all for spicing up the tag division, but it is currently stacked with several babyface teams. Maybe the ROH tag division is in for some actual storyline developments in the near future, but only time will tell. (n/a)

Backstage: ROH World Champion Jay Briscoe cut a promo on his upcoming title defense against Samoa Joe on ROH TV next week. He talked about how he distinctly remembered their first match in ROH over 10 years ago. Briscoe recalled Samoa Joe kicking his ass back then. He said it was now 2015 and he wasn’t a young, scared kid anymore. He closed it out by saying Joe would have to kill him to take his title.

[Commercial Break]

3 - Q.T. MARSHALL vs. A.C.H.

A.C.H. extended his hand for Code of Honor, but Marshall responded with a boot to the gut. A.C.H. tried to charge at Q.T., but Marshall did an impressive backflip off the apron and onto the floor to get out of the way. Marshall took control on the outside. He rolled A.C.H. back into the ring and pummeled him with some forearm smashes. A.C.H. tried to fight back, but ate a dropkick from Marshall. Q.T. followed right up with a backbreaker and a two count.

The fans chanted “A.C.H.” while Marshall continued to dominate. He whipped A.C.H. into the turnbuckle a couple times and then flexed his bicep for the crowd. A.C.H. began to fight back with some strikes, but Marshall overpowered him. Marshall whipped A.C.H. into the corner again and taunted the crowd. He charged at A.C.H. in the corner, but missed! A.C.H. mounted a comeback which culminated with a beautiful German suplex into a pinning combination for two!

A.C.H. nailed Marshall with an enziguiri, but Marshall broke up the momentum with a suplex and another nearfall. Marshall climbed up top and went for a 450 splash, but missed! That was ugly! A.C.H. came right back with a 450 of his own for the victory!

WINNER: A.C.H. via pinfall in 4:38.

ANALYSIS: Standard match, but good bounce back win for A.C.H. who has jobbed quite a bit to some higher profile opponents recently. (**)

After the match, The Decade came to the ring with their new young boy, Colby Corino. Colby held open the ropes for Whitmer and Page as they entered the ring. Whitmer grabbed the mic and talked trash to A.C.H., whom he referred to as “Albert.” Whitmer said that no one liked, nor respected A.C.H., yet he was being given opportunities he didn’t deserve. Whitmer said that he failed in those endeavors, yet he still came out to the ring full of “false confidence.” Whitmer told A.C.H. that when his mother looks at him in the eyes, she knows that he’s truly a failure!

This incensed A.C.H. He was about to go after Whitmer, but Colby Corino tapped him on the shoulder. The momentary distraction allowed Whitmer to attack A.C.H from behind. Page quickly followed up with his behind-the-back piledriver. ROH officials again ran out to the ring to break things up.

Backstage: Mark Briscoe cut a promo on A.J. Styles ahead of their main event match tonight. He talked about how they had crossed paths in the past, but never fought one-on-one. Mark said that Styles walked around like a cockstrong, dominant rooster, but Briscoe would buck back. Briscoe said it would be an honor to do battle with Styles tonight!

[Commercial Break]

4 - IWGP World Hvt. champion A.J. STYLES vs. MARK BRISCOE - non-title match

The Code of Honor was adhered to and then the bell rang. They tied up in the center and went into a chain wrestling sequence for the first minute until it ended in a stalemate. They tied up again and went into another chain wrestling sequence, this time with A.J. coming out on top at the 3:00 mark. They jockeyed for position again, until Mark was able to apply another headlock on the mat. The camera panned to Mark Briscoe’s father in the crowd. Back in the ring, both men ran the ropes until A.J. nailed a beautiful dropkick!

Mark quickly reversed and knocked A.J. to the outside. He quickly followed up with a dropkick through the ropes! Mark went for a blockbuster off the apron, but A.J. side-stepped it! Styles then took control on the outside by slamming Mark onto the hockey boards! Styles glared into the camera, as the show went to a break at 5:00.

[Commercial Break]

Back at 7:00, Briscoe had taken control and was pummeling Styles in the corner. Mark went for some Red Neck Kung Fu, but A.J. fought back with a backbreaker! Styles took his turn at pummeling his opponent in the corner. A.J. slammed Mark and then dropped a knee on his head. He went for the cover, but Briscoe kicked out at two. A.J. applied for a Muta Lock, but quickly let go.

A.J. then applied a Calf Killer, but Mark tried to fight out of it with elbows to Styles’s head. Mark eventually broke the hold, but A.J. came right back with some vicious stomps to Briscoe’s knee. Mark kicked Styles away and then nailed A.J. with a stiff lariat! Mark pummeled with A.J. with some Red Neck Kung Fu, followed by some stiff chops. A.J. tried to fight back, but Mark quickly countered with a Yuri Nagi! Briscoe followed up with a fisherman buster, but Styles kicked out at two!

Briscoe picked up Styles, but A.J. reversed into a back suplex. Styles went for the Styles Clash, but Briscoe rammed him into the corner instead. Mark positioned A.J. on the top, but Styles shoved him down and then hit his moonsault/inverted DDTl combo! Styles went for the Styles Clash, but Briscoe reversed into jackknife cover for two! Both men quickly got to their feet, but went right down after a double-clothesline!

Styles fought back with pele kick. A.J. snapped Briscoe’s leg across on the apron, but Mark came right back with a mule kick on the apron! Briscoe then followed up with his Cactus Jack elbow drop! Briscoe rolled back in the ring, as the referee counted. The count got to 17 when A.J. was finally able to roll back into the ring. Styles came off the top rope, but Briscoe caught him and then dropped him on the mat. Briscoe went up to for Froggy Bow, but Styles got the knees up! Styles hit a sick brainbuster, followed by the Styles Clash for the victory!

WINNER: A.J. Styles via pinfall in 16:26.

ANALYSIS: Good match. I didn’t like the lack of explanation for the momentum changing hands during the break, but this was solid throughout. Mark Briscoe always seems to put on a convincing effort, despite being used as a utility guy for the most part. (***)

After the match Styles and Briscoe shook hands, while Kevin Kelly hyped next week’s Supercard of Honor showcase episode, which will feature Jay Briscoe defending the ROH World Title against Samoa Joe and ROH TV Champion Jay Lethal versus Jushin “Thunder” Liger!

FINAL REAX: Decent episode focusing on ROH’s mid-card. I don’t mind Elgin working with War Machine, although he may have to find a new partner following Tommaso Ciampa’s departure from the company. I am looking forward to seeing War Machine work with other teams during their climb through the tag team rankings. It will be nice to see A.C.H. involved in an actual storyline with the Decade, and not just being featured as a high-flying attraction. A.J. Styles continues to dominate Ring of Honor, although it never seems to amount to much as his priorities lie with New Japan Pro Wrestling. Perhaps the upcoming ROH-NJPW co-promoted shows might shake things up? One thing’s for sure: I’m looking forward to next week’s stacked Supercard of Honor episode!