Ring of Honor METZGER'S ROH TV REPORT 4/12: Big title matches of Joe vs. Briscoe for ROH World Title, Lethal vs. Liger for TV Title from WrestleMania Weekend
Apr 13, 2015 - 6:18:53 PM
PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO BOOKMARK US & VISIT US DAILY
The camera panned a packed house for ROH’s WrestleMania weekend show. The wide shot of the arena gave the impression that there was a bare bones budget for production values, as the usual entrance way was missing and the ring was enclosed with blue ropes. An overdub of Kevin Kelly announced tonight’s matches, including ROH World Champion Jay Briscoe defending his championship against Samoa Joe!
An anime style video played and out came Jushin “Thunder” Liger! While this was going on, an upset Adam Cole introduced himself on commentary. He accused ROH of expecting something extra out of him since he’s been on the shelf and company officials feel he’s ready to vent. Cole told the viewing audience that he was simply here to do a job, and that was it.
The show cut to a pre-taped promo from Jay Lethal and Truth Martini backstage. Lethal didn’t think Liger could understand a word that he said. But just in case someone wanted to translate, he wanted to let Liger know that he viewed him as merely a stepping stone. Lethal went on to say that their match was indeed personal because if he was victorious tonight, he would become the longest reigning ROH TV Champion in company history. Lethal said he planned to never lose the title and would not let Liger get in the way of his plans.
1 - ROH TV champion JAY LETHAL vs. JUSHIN “THUNDER” LIGER - ROH TV Title match
Apparently, the House of Truth wasn’t worth flying out to California. Liger got a huge ovation and many streamers from the crowd. Fun fact: Lethal wasn’t even born when Liger made his pro wrestling debut in 1984. Both men shook hands and backed into their respective corners. They wrestled on the mat for about 30 seconds, until there was a stalemate. They wrestled on the mat again, this time Liger applied a submission hold. Lethal struggled for a few seconds until he was able to grab the bottom rope. Lethal pummeled Liger to the mat. Liger countered, which caused Lethal to roll to the outside to regroup.
Liger took control with some chops in the corner. Liger then applied a surfboard in the center of the ring! Lethal screamed in pain, as Liger readjusted into a chin lock with their legs still locked. Lethal broke the hold with a rake to the eyes. Jay went to follow up with his cartwheel/dropkick combo, but Liger moved out of the way! Liger locked Lethal into another hold. Lethal broke it after about ten seconds, but Liger kept his legs locked. After a brief struggle, Jay was able to make it to the ropes. Liger went to follow up. but Lethal rolled to the outside again. Liger went outside after Lethal, but this allowed the champ to shove Liger into the hockey boards, as the show went to its first break at 6:03 of the match.
[Commercial Break]
Back at 8:33, both men were trading blows in the center. Lethal hit a suplex and covered Liger for two. Lethal then applied a Liger-like surfboard hold, but Jushin quickly wriggled free. Lethal dropped a couple of elbows and went for another cover, but Liger kicked out. Lethal dominated the next minute with a couple of chin locks. Liger caused a break, but Lethal dragged him to the middle of the ring. Jay went up top for Hail to the King, but Liger got his boots up!
The match reset, as both men traded blows once again. Lethal seemed to win the battle, until Liger reversed into an armdrag! They jockeyed for position. Lethal went for the Lethal Injection, but Liger reversed with his patented palm strike! Liger followed up with a huracanrana from the top rope! He went for the cover, but Lethal kicked out at two! The show went to another break at 13:05.
[Commercial Break]
Back at 15:35, Liger came off the top rope, but this time Lethal got the knees up! Lethal quickly followed up with the Lethal Combination, but Liger kicked out at two! Lethal went for Hail to the King again, but Liger rolled to the outside. Lethal went for a dive, but Liger blocked it and hit a brainbuster on the floor! The ref counted, as both men were down on the floor. The count reached 19, as both men rolled back into the ring at the last second!
Lethal tried to roll up Liger, but the ref saw that Jay was illegally holding the ropes. Lethal grabbed the title belt and swung at Liger, but missed! Liger then grabbed the belt and was ready to use it, but the referee yanked it away from him, as Lethal hit a superkick and then the Lethal Injection for the pin!
WINNER: Jay Lethal via pinfall in 18:45 to retain the ROH TV TItle.
ANALYSIS: Solid, old-school match between these two. The action wasn’t as intense as a typical Lethal match, but that was to be expected against the older Liger. What they lacked in intense high spots, they made up for with sound technical wrestling that told a great story. (**3/4)
They replayed ROH World Champion Jay Briscoe’s backstage promo from last week, where he said Joe would have to kill him to take his title.
[Commercial Break]
Video Package: Samoa Joe returned to ROH at the 13th Anniversary PPV. Highlights from the main event of that PPV aired, as Joe was shown saying, “whoever walks out of the ring with that belt, their ass belongs to me!” They transitioned to Jay Briscoe’s in-ring promo from ROH TV’s March 15 episode, which was interrupted by Samoa Joe. Joe challenged Briscoe for his title, and that’s how we got to…
2 - ROH World champion JAY BRISCOE vs. SAMOA JOE - ROH World Title match
Both men shook hands, as the crowd chanted “Joe is gonna kill you!” They started the match with a couple of chain wrestling sequences. Both ended in stalemates. They tied up once again, and this time Briscoe started throwing forearms. Joe reversed and punched Briscoe several times in the corner. Briscoe came back with a big boot, but Joe quickly reversed with an enziguiri. Both men traded quick blows in the center, this time with Briscoe nailing a dropkick!
Briscoe went for a suplex, but Joe blocked. Briscoe nailed a couple punches, tried again, and then suplexed Joe hard on the mat! Briscoe followed up with a chin lock. Joe fought his way out of it after about a minute. Joe then charged at Briscoe. Jay tried to low bridge the ropes, but Joe ran into them awkwardly and hurt his knee. Joe then rolled to the outside, which made it seem like he had botched his tumble to the floor. Briscoe went for a dive, but Joe countered with a kick that sent Briscoe back into the ring. Joe followed and delivered some stiff chops to Briscoe. Joe whipped Briscoe into the corner and then hit his signature enziguri.
Joe was in firm control, but began to favor his knee (perhaps he didn’t botch that move earlier). Joe just continued to pummel Briscoe in the corner, as a fan mockingly yelled “Beat Down Clan!” Briscoe briefly escaped and tried to climb up top, but Joe kicked him to the floor and then followed up with a big dive to the outside! The show went to a commercial at the 7:45 mark.
[Commercial Break]
Back at 9:45, Joe was still in firm control of the match. Kevin Kelly said that Briscoe was cut open, but the cut didn’t come across on TV. Joe went for a Musclebuster, but Briscoe reversed into a swinging neckbreaker! The match reset and both men traded blows in the center. Briscoe went to pick up Joe, but Joe fought out of it with several elbow strikes. Jay hit a superkick and then a back suplex. He covered his opponent, but Joe kicked out at two! Both men got to their feet and Briscoe came out swinging with some forearms. Jay went to pick up Joe again, but Joe reversed into the rear naked choke! Briscoe quickly broke free and nailed Joe with a stiff forearm blow. He covered Joe again, but the challenger kicked out! Briscoe hit a Death Valley Driver, but could only score a nearfall.
Jay went for the Jay Driller, but Joe reversed. Joe then swept the legs out from under Briscoe, hit a clothesline and then an inverted atomic drop. Joe quickly followed up with a big boot and then a senton splash. Joe went for the cover, but Briscoe kicked out! Joe went for another Musclebuster, but Jay fought out of it. Briscoe charged at his opponent, but Joe reversed into a powerslam! Joe followed up with a powerbomb into a pinning combination, but Briscoe kicked out. Joe immediately locked on a Boston Crab. Briscoe struggled for a few moments, and then Joe shifted into an STF! Briscoe struggled some more, until Joe transitioned into a crossface! Joe transitioned into yet another hold, but this time Briscoe was able to make it to the ropes!
Both men got to their feet and exchanged blows once more. Briscoe hit a roaring elbow, but Joe came right back with a huge enziguiri! Both men were down on the mat, as the crowd chanted “this is awesome!” Both men got to their knees and traded forearm smashes. They got back on their feet and exchanged blows. Joe came out on top with a stiff kick to Briscoe’s sternum. Briscoe got right up and charged at Joe in the corner, but Joe reversed into a Yuri Nagi! Joe positioned Briscoe for the Musclebuster, but Jay wriggled free! Briscoe hit the Jay Driller out of nowhere for the victory! Both men shook hands and embraced after the hard-fought contest.
WINNER: Jay Briscoe via pinfall in 18:28 to retain the ROH World Title.
ANALYSIS: This was pretty good throughout. Both men brought the intensity from the outset and never looked back. The match built up to some great action toward the finish. While Joe got some big moves in toward the end, it did seem a bit anti-climactic. Maybe the WrestleMania weekend crowd knew Joe wouldn’t be around for long or maybe it was just the fact that I knew the outcome going in, but Joe didn’t seem to have a chance of winning the title. Regardless, this was still the best from Joe I’ve seen in a long time and another great defense for Briscoe. (***1/4)
Next Week: Cedric Alexander vs. Michael Elgin from San Antonio!
FINAL REAX: I really like the “Road Rage” editions of ROH. It’s something the other promotions should look at, as it gives the booker/writing team a week off from writing TV, yet keeps viewers engaged with PPV-quality action. You don’t want to go to the well too often, but I feel this was a great way to wrap up Briscoe-Joe, while building anticipation toward the near future. And the near future looks bright, as this year’s co-promoted shows with New Japan Pro Wrestling are less than a month away!
THE TORCH REACHES MORE COMBAT ENTERTAINMENT FANS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE
PWTorch editor Wade Keller has covered pro wrestling full time since 1987 starting with the Pro Wrestling Torch print newsletter. PWTorch.com launched in 1999 and the PWTorch Apps launched in 2008.
He has conducted "Torch Talk" insider interviews with Hulk Hogan, The Rock, Steve Austin, Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, Eric Bischoff, Jesse Ventura, Lou Thesz, Jerry Lawler, Mick Foley, Jim Ross, Paul Heyman, Bruno Sammartino, Goldberg, more.
He has interviewed big-name players in person incluiding Vince McMahon (at WWE Headquarters), Dana White (in Las Vegas), Eric Bischoff (at the first Nitro at Mall of America), Brock Lesnar (after his first UFC win).
He hosted the weekly Pro Wrestling Focus radio show on KFAN in the early 1990s and hosted the Ultimate Insiders DVD series distributed in retail stories internationally in the mid-2000s including interviews filmed in Los Angeles with Vince Russo & Ed Ferrara and Matt & Jeff Hardy. He currently hosts the most listened to pro wrestling audio show in the world, (the PWTorch Livecast, top ranked in iTunes)
REACHING 1 MILLION+ UNIQUE USERS PER MONTH
500 MILLION CLICKS & LISTENS PER YEAR
MILLIONS OF PWTORCH NEWSLETTERS SOLD
PWTorch offers a VIP membership for $10 a month (or less with an annual sub). It includes nearly 25 years worth of archives from our coverage of pro wrestling dating back to PWTorch Newsletters from the late-'80s filled with insider secrets from every era that are available to VIPers in digital PDF format and Keller's radio show from the early 1990s.
Also, new exclusive top-shelf content every day including a new VIP-exclusive weekly 16 page digital magazine-style (PC and iPad compatible) PDF newsletter packed with exclusive articles and news.
The following features come with a VIP membership which tens of thousands of fans worldwide have enjoyed for many years...
-New Digital PWTorch Newsletter every week
-3 New Digital PDF Back Issues from 5, 10, 20 years ago
-Over 60 new VIP Audio Shows each week
-Ad-free access to all PWTorch.com free articles
-VIP Forum access with daily interaction with PWTorch staff and well-informed fellow wrestling fans
-Tons of archived audio and text articles
-Decades of Torch Talk insider interviews in transcript and audio formats with big name stars. **SIGN UP FOR VIP ACCESS HERE**
